What is Zero Trust Data Access? Comprehensive Guide

Zero Trust Data Access (ZTDA) constitutes a fundamental aspect of the wider Zero Trust security framework, which entails limiting data access.

The Zero Trust security approach follows the principle of “never trust, always verify,” regardless of where access is granted. It differs from traditional security models that rely on trusting entities within an organization’s perimeter.

Zero Trust Data Access is a data security approach that prioritizes protecting data by constantly verifying access rights instead of relying on perimeter security.

By 2026, it is expected that the market for zero-trust protection will be worth $52 billion.

DoControl’s 2023 SaaS Security Threat Landscape Report [Download] finds that 50% of enterprises and 75% of mid-market organizations have exposed public SaaS assets.

How Does ZTDA Work?

The Zero Trust Data Access (ZTDA) model is an emerging security concept redefining how information is accessible and secured, particularly in the context of cloud-based, web-based SaaS applications.

Zero Trust Data Access (ZTDA) fundamentally alters the traditional approach to granting trust based on network location. Rather than relying on location, ZTDA emphasizes the “never trust, always verify” principle, which requires a thorough examination of every access request, regardless of its origin. Essentially, ZTDA prioritizes security over trust.

ZTDA focuses on ensuring the safety of data and limiting access to only approved entities, following strict rules.

This keeps people from having broad and uncontrolled access. Continuous authentication and permission methods are put in place. 

Why Should Companies Adapt ZTDA to Secure SaaS Apps & Data

Changing Threats: Traditional security methods built on a border are becoming less useful. With the rise of remote work, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) rules, and the use of SaaS, the old network boundary is almost nonexistent. ZTDA thinks that danger can come from inside and outside a group.

The number of businesses using SaaS is growing: Many businesses are now “SaaS-first” or rely significantly on various SaaS apps for daily operations. This spread of data across multiple systems makes it easier to lose or steal data.

Data-Centric Approach: Instead of focusing on network or device security, ZTDA protects data at its source. ZTDA helps DLP by ensuring that only authenticated and allowed users can view specific data sets.

Minimized Insider Threats: Because ZTDA doesn’t automatically trust any person, the chance of insider threats is reduced. Even if a private account is hacked, the damage can be minimized with strict verification methods and least-privilege access models.

Granular Access Control: ZTDA supports the concept of least authority. Users and tools can only see the information they need. This makes it less likely that data will be lost since even if an attacker can access an account, they can only see a small amount of data.

Continuous Monitoring and Real-Time Response: Data access monitoring is often available in real-time in ZTDA systems. As a result, any abnormal activity can be swiftly identified and managed, which is an enormous benefit to DLP.

Integration with DLP Tools: ZTDA solutions often work well with dedicated DLP tools. This lets organizations apply data access rules, keep an eye on how data moves, and stop people from sending data without permission.

Compliance with regulations: Many businesses have to follow rules that say private data must be kept safe. By giving businesses strong control over data access, ZTDA can help them follow these rules.

Reduced Attack Surface: ZTDA lowers the overall attack surface by verifying every access request and making sure that each request comes from a known and verified source. This makes it harder for attackers to find weaknesses.

Visibility and Auditing: ZTDA lets organizations see who gets what info and when. This thorough logging is very helpful for audits, forensic analysis, and knowing how data moves, which can be very important for DLP efforts.

Protecting SaaS Software and Data with ZTDA:

SaaS apps are attractive to cybercriminals because they may be accessed from anywhere. ZTDA improves the safety of SaaS in the following ways:

• The data is encrypted both while it is stored and while it is being sent.
• ZTDA can identify unusual patterns of behavior and warn of impending attacks.
• ZTDA provides a unified security architecture, making administration easier for companies employing numerous SaaS services.
• Threats from angry workers or careless insiders can be mitigated by regularly checking even internal access requests.
• ZTDA can immediately revoke access or initiate further verification procedures if suspicious activity is discovered.

Benefits of ZTDA:

• Enhanced Security: By continually verifying access requests, potential breaches are detected and thwarted in real-time.

• Reduced Attack Surface: With data segmented and each segment having its own access rules, attackers can’t roam freely even if they breach a part of the system.

• Scalability: ZTDA is agile, allowing organizations to scale their operations without compromising on security.

• Compliance: With rigorous access controls, companies can ensure they meet stringent data protection regulations.

How to Secure Business-Critical SaaS Applications with DoControl ZTDA

As a ZTNA industry leader, DoControl offers a unified approach to security for an organization’s entire estate of SaaS applications, focusing on centralizing the implementation of least privilege across the identity, network, and device levels.

Implementing granular data access controls will allow enterprises to strengthen their security posture and enjoy a more comprehensive zero-trust architecture. 

This will be accomplished by implementing higher layers of protection across all of the SaaS apps responsible for driving the company forward.

Continuous monitoring, least privilege, and automation are the backbone of DoControl’s ZTDA.

Continuous Monitoring – Having real-time visibility into indicators of compromise or a data breach requires Continuous monitoring of mission-critical SaaS apps and data.

Organizations may enhance their security posture, reduce vendor risk, and fulfill strict regulatory and compliance requirements with the help of DoControl’s continuous monitoring.

Zero Trust Least Privilege: Least Privilege refers to providing people or computers with the minimum set of permissions necessary to carry out their assigned tasks.

You may prevent people from accidentally or intentionally abusing their privileges by granting them only the least amount of access they need to do their jobs. Similarly, the damage that may result from a compromised account is limited.

Automation: DoControl can automatically search for and categorize private information in a wide range of cloud-based services. This aids businesses in pinpointing the location of their most critical data and identifying who has access to it.

To Protect Your SaaS Apps and data, Download the free Enterprise SaaS Security Technical Guide here.