Future of Cloud Technology – Zero Trust, Least Privilege & VPNs

January 1, 2024 By Nancy William No Comments 5 minutes

A growing reliance on the cloud and digital technology has streamlined digital processes. But it has also increased the risk of cyber threats. Many organizations are taking additional steps to keep their systems safe.

Shaping the Future of Cloud Technology

Note – Right now, VPNs help aid in the development and future of cloud technology. However, not all VPNs works the same. Some are free and don’t secure your connection, while others like FastestVPN come with industry-leading features. FastestVPN is fast, simple to use, and creates a safe internet environment for the future of Cloud Technology.

Three technologies will take the forefront in cybersecurity: zero trust, least privilege, and VPNs. This article will explore how these frameworks relate to one another and how organizations can implement them to reduce risk.

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The Future of Cloud Technology With the Aid of 3 Pillars

What is the future of cloud technology? How do VPNs, Zero Trust, and Least Privilege help it grow? Take a look below:

Zero Trust

Zero trust is a security outline that assumes all traffic and visitors are distrustful unless proven otherwise. It uses three key principles to ensure systems are safe:

Continuous Verification: The system continuously verifies all resources.
Limits Blast Radius: Zero trust will minimize impact if a breach occurs.
Continuous Learning: The tool analyzes behavioral data to provide more accurate responses

The system integrates various security processes such as multi-point authentication, endpoint technology, cloud workload technology, and identity protection to verify data. It protects emails and scans assets before allowing a connection. It works with encrypted systems.

Zero trust varies from the “trust but verify” methods that put systems at risk. It continuously monitors and validates users to ensure they have the necessary privileges and attributes. It surpasses on-time validation considering threats and user attributes may change.

Organizations that wish to effectively implement zero trust must use analytics and AI models to monitor activities and respond when suspicious behavior is detected. They must audit their infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities and plan a strategy to minimize damage if an attack occurs. The practice is especially useful in multi-cloud environments, in legacy systems, and in SaaS apps.

Least Privilege

Least privilege is a security concept that provides a minimal level of access to users ensuring they have just enough to complete their tasks. It can be applied to systems, applications, and connected devices. It allows organizations the flexibility of balancing security and compliance to suit their needs.

This cybersecurity best practice reduces privilege creep which occurs when users gain access to a digital property for business-related purposes. Their privileges are rarely revoked. Over time, more users have more access to more sensitive data, and vulnerability increases.

When enforced correctly, least privilege reduces privilege creep. It also helps streamline compliance and audits, provides timely privileges to increase cybersecurity, and keeps systems safe from malware and cyberattacks.

There are several steps an organization must take to implement the least user privileges in their organization. They must:

Audit the environment to determine privileged accounts
Eliminate unprivileged users
Separate administrator accounts from standard accounts to determine which users should gain access to sensitive data
Send administrator account credentials to a digital vault where accounts are managed
Change passwords after each use
Monitor all activity and enable automatic detection of suspicious activity
Enable just-in-time access to users who need to access accounts on an as-needed basis
Continually review permissions across environments and remove unnecessary permissions

VPNs

A VPN is a virtual private network. It protects virtual data by creating an encrypted tunnel that hides your IP address so you can use systems securely. It also allows you to use public Wi-Fi hotspots without sharing your information.

The network has three main characteristics as follows:

Virtual: The system does not require physical cables.
Private: It does not let anyone else see your data or private activity
Network: Your computer and VPN server network together to maintain an established system

Here are some benefits a VPN provides:

The network will secure sensitive data like financial information and location. It encrypts your data so it cannot be read by anyone without a data key.
It disguises your local data so you can stream content from anywhere.
The remote server masks your IP address to prevent third-party tracking.
It allows companies and individuals to work from home and keep their networks protected
Its location spoofing technology allows you to circumvent firewalls and blocked sites

How the Systems Work Together

Zero Trust and Least Privilege: Least privilege is one of the many technologies incorporated in zero trust. It ensures users have the access they need to complete tasks while keeping other assets secure. They work together to minimize cyberattacks.
Zero Trust and VPNs: A VPN can be integrated into zero-trust networks for added security. However, a zero-trust network will not provide zero trust because it grants full access to authenticated users. Additional tools like multi-factor authentication and micro-segmentation allow the systems to work together for optimal security.
Least Privilege and VPNs: VPNs do not offer the least privilege capabilities. Organizations must implement additional access controls to ensure privileges are granted to the right users.

To Conclude

Zero trust, least privilege, and VPNs are systems and technologies that keep the digital world safe. They work towards different goals, but they can be combined to serve a similar purpose. They are cybersecurity trends that will prevent future attacks.