How to Configure Firewalls for Zero Trust Security: Best Practices

Traditional network defense mechanisms are falling short against threats because the cyberriskscape is evolving in real-time. Many modern architectures are adopting the latter model, a zero trust security model to achieve greater security. We will dig into how the firewalls are key to zero trust architectures and provide a guide on configuring them in line with zero trust principles.

In Brief: Zero Trust Security

The Zero trust security is a model originally created as an alternative to the traditional castle-and-moat perimeter security, but the underlying principles have been extended and adapted in other ways today too. Every individual and device must be vetted through very extensive identity verification should they wish to access anything on the network, no matter where in the world they are. The whole point of Zero Trust is trust no one, verify every access as if it were from an open network. This is a very different approach to conventional security models, which work implicitly in trust mode with all the users within the network.

What Firewalls Play Into Zero Trust

The same is true when working on zero trust architectures — all step-in processes must be similar to firewalls. They act as a sentry, examining and sorting all data that moves in and out of the network. Zero Trust Firewalls are not like traditional firewalls, which for the most part means border defense; instead, they have been integrated into the network as a whole. They implement micro-segmentation, decrease attack surfaces and offer the least privileged access by configuring firewalls securely.

Zero Trust Firewalls Core Capabilities

• Traffic Segmentation: Zero trust firewalls allow you to make the shears of your infrastructure significantly smaller and seclude or compartmentalize specific customer systems from each other, effectively hampering breaches from moving laterally.
• Identity and Access Manager — One of key benefit is integration with Identity Management systems which facilitate a robust access control and stringent identity verification.
• Threat prevention and detection — These firewalls observe traffic as it happens, analyzing data to identify such suspect traffics or any activities that could lead to potential compromises.

Best Practices to Configure Zero Trust Firewall

1. Enable Micro-Segmentation

Zero trust firewalls can be used to segment your network so that it is divided into manageable pieces. Each segment could get types of security policies that would suit them according to their needs and threat landscapes.

• Ensure that these segments are audited on a regular basis for compliance and configuration drift detection.
• Reduce manual process wherever possible.

2. Least Privilege Access

• Layer 1: Configuring firewalls to enforce least privilege by using only the necessary port and setting access controls as granular as possible. Check on access-level permissions as often as possible in order to reduce risk and limit weak-links attackers could use to come in.

3. Continuous Monitoring and Analytics

Advanced threat detection systems that provide continuous and real-time monitoring —deploy them.

• Turn on logging and auditing capabilities in your firewalls for visibility into traffic patterns and discovering anomalous behaviors!
• Tap into analytics to quickly identify threats and behave accordingly.

4. Integrated Security Policies

Check that the firewall policies match with security policies and goals of greater service.

• Leverage automation and orchestration tools to enforce policies consistently across the network in order to reduce human error and administrative inefficiencies.

5. Upgrade Firewalls and Patches Out the Latest

• Update your firewall with the latest firmware and security patches.
• Routinely assess vulnerabilities so that necessary steps can be taken to mitigate them.

P J Networks’ Zero Trust Implementations

P J Networks has been leading the charge in providing zero trust security implementation through incorporation of secured firewall configurations with various network solutions. Their approach involves:

• Customized Zero Trust Strategies: Business-specific solutions providing micro-segmentation and least privilege access to comply with company-specific security regulations.
• Integrated System Management: Complete system integration of zero trust firewalls on your end with additional security tools and identity management systems in the workplace architecture.
• Proactive Threat Management: Roll out improved threat detection and response capabilities to anticipate, prevent, and contain security threats in real-time.

This brings with it a sign of a good security posture so that the customers can focus on their business critical operations by minimizing risk and ensuring secure data handling, thanks to P J Networks’ commitment to zero trust principles.

Conclusion

Zero trust principles within your network’s firewalls configurations are paramount to hardening your cybersecurity defense. Embracing Micro-segmentation, least privilege access management and continuous monitoring helps establish a secure environment that assumes breach and goes above and beyond to prevent insider as well as outsider threats. Involvement by savvy experts such as P J Networks is critical to strategic and resilient implementations that safeguard your most valuable organizational assets in a persistent and dynamic cyber threat landscape. Secure your business in the digital world by implementing zero trust firewall configurations today.