Zero Trust is a term that gets thrown around constantly in cybersecurity circles, often accompanied by confusion or intimidation. Is it a product? A single software installation? A philosophy? For many organizations, the concept can feel out of reach or reserved only for large enterprises with massive budgets.
However, a closer look at the principles of Zero Trust reveals that it is not about buying a “silver bullet” solution. As Eric Langford, Instructor of Computer Science and Cybersecurity, explains, it is fundamentally a shift in perspective.
“Zero Trust is a… it’s really a change in the way that you think about security,” Langford says. “It is a framework or a mindset for your organization.”
This mindset moves away from the old “castle and moat” doctrine, where everything inside the network is trusted. Langford notes that while the medieval castle model worked in the past, “nowadays, that’s not the case” due to cloud computing, remote work, and BYOD policies. Instead, trust is never granted unconditionally and is constantly reevaluated.
Why Environments are Permissive, Not Just Sophisticated
While cyberattacks are often described as sophisticated, the truth is that many attackers succeed simply because environments are too permissive. When asked if attackers succeed due to sophistication or permissiveness, Langford is clear: “I’m gonna say it’s because environments are permissive.”
He points out that the industry has “banged this drum for decades” regarding basic hygiene like updates, patches, and password security, yet these remain primary attack vectors. This permissiveness often extends to application control. In many organizations, users still have administrative access, which allows them to install unverified software. This “shadow IT” creates a massive blind spot. As Langford notes, “If you have employees that can just go out and install what they want, you have no idea what’s running on your environment.”
A Shift to Prevention
A critical component of closing these gaps is execution control, specifically through allowlisting. Traditionally, security has relied on “detect and respond” models that catch threats after they enter. Zero Trust flips this model by adopting a “prevention first” approach.
“If you can prevent it, then it never gets into your environment,” Langford states. “Ideally you actually stop it before it ever even gets into your environment.”
This preventative approach also helps alleviate “alert fatigue,” a common issue where IT staff become so overwhelmed by security notifications that they miss critical alerts. By preventing unauthorized applications from running in the first place, security teams can focus on more complex threats.
Overcoming the Fear of Blocking
Historically, organizations feared allowlisting would disrupt business operations by blocking legitimate applications. Langford acknowledges this valid concern, noting that “it hinders business processes” if not planned correctly.
However, he emphasizes that communication is the key to a successful rollout. “If you communicate out to your people why you’re doing something, a lot of times that makes a big difference,” he advises. When staff understand that these measures are for protection rather than restriction, they are often more accepting of the changes.
Not a Silver Bullet
Implementing Zero Trust does not happen overnight, and it is not a cure-all. It requires a foundation of basic security practices.
“It’s a great tool to put in place, but don’t think… that it’s a silver bullet that’s gonna secure everything for you,” Langford warns. He urges organizations not to neglect the basics, such as general cyber hygiene, monitoring, and identity access management. “The more basics you can have in place, the easier it is going to be to implement a zero trust.”
Zero Trust is a journey, not a destination. By shifting the mindset to prevention and securing the basics, organizations of any size can effectively reduce their attack surface.
Watch the Full Webinar Replay
Want to dive deeper into these strategies? You can watch the full recording of the webinar, Simplifying Zero Trust Through Allowlisting and Prevention, below.
