Pass the Cloud Security Alliance Zero Trust CCZT Questions and answers with CertsForce

The first step in Zero Trust planning for an organization is to define the scope of the initiative. This involves determining which systems, networks, and data will be covered by the Zero Trust policies and what the specific objectives are. A clearly defined scope helps in prioritizing efforts, allocating resources effectively, and setting clear goals for what the Zero Trust implementation aims to achieve.

The rule-based security policies configured on the Policy Decision Point (PDP) are designed to define rules that specify how information can flow within an organization's network. These rules are integral to implementing the principle of least privilege and ensuring that data is accessed only by authorized entities under strict conditions. By controlling information flow, the PDP helps in mitigating the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, reinforcing the Zero Trust model's emphasis on stringent access control and continuous verification of trust.

In a continual improvement model, policy administrators are the ones who maintain the ZT policies. Policy administrators are ZTA policy entities that are responsible for crafting and maintaining the policies that govern the access to resources in a ZT environment1. Policy administrators define the rules and conditions that specify who, what, when, where, and how an entity can access a resource, based on the principle of least privilege2. Policy administrators also update and review the policies periodically to ensure they are aligned with the changing business and security requirements3.

References =

Zero Trust Architecture | NIST

Zero Trust Architecture: Policy Engine and Policy Administrator

Zero Trust Architecture: Policy Administration

ZTA is based on the principle of never trusting any user or device by default, regardless of their location or ownership. ZTA policies can use various methods to verify the identity and context of third-party users and devices, such as tokens, certificates, multifactor authentication, device posture assessment, etc. ZTA policies can also enforce granular and dynamic access policies that grant the minimum necessary privileges to third-party users and devices for accessing specific resources, while hiding all other assets from their view. This reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorized access and lateral movement within the network.

Data and asset classification is a prerequisite action to understand the organization’s protect surface clearly because it helps to identify the most critical and sensitive data and assets that need to be protected by Zero Trust principles. Data and asset classification also helps to define the appropriate policies and controls for different levels of data and asset sensitivity.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 2: Data and Asset Classification

Business continuity and disaster recovery are the activities of the ZT implementation preparation phase that ensure the resiliency of the organization’s operations in the event of disruption. Business continuity refers to the process of maintaining or restoring the essential functions of the organization during and after a crisis, such as a natural disaster, a cyberattack, or a pandemic. Disaster recovery refers to the process of recovering the IT systems, data, and infrastructure that support the business continuity. ZT implementation requires planning and testing the business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and procedures, as well as aligning them with the ZT policies and controls.

References =

Zero Trust Planning - Cloud Security Alliance, section “Monitor & Measure”

Zero Trust architecture: a paradigm shift in cybersecurity - PwC, section “Continuous monitoring and improvement”

Zero Trust Implementation, section “Outline Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) implementation steps”

ABAC is an access control method that uses attributes of the requester, the resource, the environment, and the action to evaluate and enforce policies. ABAC allows for fine-grained and dynamic access control based on the context of the request, rather than predefined roles or privileges. ABAC is suitable for SaaS and PaaS, where the features within a service may vary depending on the customer’s needs, preferences, and subscription level. ABAC can help implement ZT by enforcing the principle of least privilege and verifying every request based on multiple factors.

References =

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) Definition

General Access Control Guidance for Cloud Systems

A Guide to Secure SaaS Access Control Within an Organization

Data sources are the ZT element that provide information that providers can use to keep policies dynamically updated. Data sources are the inputs that feed the policy engine and the policy administrator with the relevant data and context about the entities, resources, transactions, and environment in the ZTA. Data sources help to inform the policy decisions and actions based on the current state and conditions of the ZTA. Data sources can include identity providers, device management systems, threat intelligence feeds, network monitoring tools, etc.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 3: ZTA Architecture and Components

For a successful implementation of Zero Trust security, planning and aligning incident and response management processes with existing access procedures are crucial. These processes ensure that the organization is prepared to effectively respond to security incidents and breaches, minimizing potential impacts. Aligning these processes with Zero Trust principles enhances the organization's resilience and ability to quickly adapt to threats, maintaining the integrity and availability of its systems and data​​.

Different SDP deployment models have different advantages and disadvantages depending on the organization’s use case, such as the type of resources to be protected, the location of the clients and servers, the network topology, the scalability, the performance, and the security requirements. Network architects should consider their use case before selecting an SDP model that best suits their needs and goals.

References =

Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) prepkit, page 21, section 3.1.2

6 SDP Deployment Models to Achieve Zero Trust | CSA, section “Deployment Models Explained”

Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) and Zero Trust | CSA, page 7, section 3.1

Why SDP Matters in Zero Trust | SonicWall, section “SDP Deployment Models”