Until relatively recently, enterprises relied on fixed perimeters using firewalls and VPNs to control access to networks and resources. Traditional network security assumed that everything within the network could be trusted, while external users were granted access with simple password protection.

As cyber threats increased in frequency and sophistication along with the rise of phishing and ransomware attacks, this “moat and castle” approach and traditional security measures are no longer enough to protect users, devices and applications from vulnerabilities and breaches.

Over the past decade, the rise of cloud computing, SaaS, IaaS and the decentralization of work environments have transformed network architectures and amplified security challenges. Today’s digital landscapes are borderless. That's where the superpowers of software-defined perimeter (SDP) and zero trust come in.

While the zero trust access (ZTA) model has become a well-known security framework, there’s still limited awareness that it shares common principles with SDP. With both methods, by default no access is granted. The doors are always locked, and authorization to access resources is only obtained if the context behind the request – such as user, identity, risk ratings and application sensitivity – can be validated.

When combined, SDP and zero trust provide the most effective approach to application security in the modern cloud landscape. SDP establishes a barrier around applications, while zero trust verifies every user and device attempting to access those applications. Only SDP and ZTA can offer the scalability, flexibility and security on a cloud-native platform that organizations need to achieve that high level of protection.

What is zero trust?

Zero trust, a security model that assumes all users and devices are untrusted, has become a cornerstone of application security. By enforcing strict access controls based on identity, device and context, zero trust significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches and denial-of-service attacks.

Implementing zero trust involves a combination of technologies and strategies, including SDPs, multi-factor authentication, least-privilege access, data encryption and continuous monitoring. SDPs establish dynamic security perimeters around applications, while zero trust minimizes the potential for lateral movement of attackers by verifying identities, endpoints and networks.

Zero trust benefits

Continuous monitoring provided by user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) is a crucial part of zero trust, as it tracks user activity and detects anomalies that may indicate a security breach, allowing for immediate response and mitigation.

Zero trust delivers a proactive and responsive security posture, ensuring that applications remain protected against evolving threats and unauthorized access. It emphasizes continuous verification of identity, context and behavior before granting access to resources.

By adopting zero trust, organizations can confidently secure applications in the cloud where traditional perimeter-based security models built on hardware such as firewalls, routers and VPNs are no longer viable. Businesses thereby reduce security risks, safeguard sensitive data and critical assets, improve compliance and maintain a competitive advantage.

SDPs reduce attack surface

SDP is an ingenious approach to perimeter security and one of the best and most advanced ways to implement zero trust.

SDP is based on the concept of micro-segmentation, which divides a network into smaller, distinct security zones. Each zone has its own set of security controls, and traffic among zones is continuously monitored. This allows organizations to define and enforce specific access controls for each zone, limiting the potential impact of a security breach and preventing threats from moving laterally. By confining unauthorized users to specific segments, SDP reduces the attack surface and helps protect sensitive data from exposure.

The flexibility of SDP makes it applicable to a wide range of environments, including on-premises, cloud and hybrid infrastructures. SDP's ability to integrate with existing security infrastructure also simplifies deployment and management, enabling organizations to leverage existing investments to improve their security posture.

Value of combining zero trust and SDP

SDP improves the security posture of businesses facing the challenge of continuously adapting to expanding attack surfaces that are, in turn, increasingly more complex. Implementing zero trust along with SDP enables organizations to defend against new variations of attacks that are constantly emerging in existing perimeter-centric infrastructure and networking models.

The combination of SDP and zero trust lets organizations establish a proactive and adaptive approach that enhances security posture by minimizing trust assumptions and enforcing strict controls. SDP fortifies the perimeter, while zero trust ensures only authorized users and devices can access applications. This multi-layered defense significantly reduces the risk of breaches and data exfiltration, providing organizations with enhanced protection.

Ivanti Neurons for ZTA with SDP can help

Ivanti Neurons for Zero Trust Access (ZTA) empowers organizations to adopt a security model built on continuous verification and least-privilege access. The Ivanti zero trust secure architecture features a software-defined perimeter that ensures data integrity with isolated control and data planes.

By dynamically assessing user identities, device posture and application access, Ivanti’s Zero Trust Access solution enforces granular access controls, granting authorized users access to only the resources they need. Integrated UEBA identifies anomalous user behavior, providing per-application micro-segmentation and preventing lateral-movement threats before they become a problem.

Simplify and streamline your enterprise-wide application and network access management with the Ivanti Unified Client. Experience seamless integration of zero trust access, SDP, software gateways and behavior analytics – all within one comprehensive platform.

Learn more by reading our Ivanti Neurons for Zero Trust Access (ZTA) data sheet.