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Zero Trust is a cybersecurity model based on a simple principle: no user, device, application or network should be automatically trusted.
Rather than assuming that everything within an organisation's internal network is safe, the Zero Trust model requires continuous verification before granting access to systems, data and applications.
In practice, this means that every access request must be assessed based on factors such as identity, device, location, behaviour, permissions and risk level.
For many years, IT security was based on the concept of a security perimeter.
Organisations protected their internal networks and considered everything within them trustworthy. Anything outside that perimeter was treated as potentially dangerous.
This model became less effective as digital environments evolved.
Today, organisations use cloudservices, SaaS applications, remote working solutions, mobile devices, external suppliers and teams distributed across different locations. Data is no longer stored exclusively within an internal network.
As a result, protecting only the organisation's network perimeter is no longer enough.
The Zero Trust model works through continuous access verification.
Whenever a user or device attempts to access a resource, the request must be assessed before access is granted.
This assessment may include:
The goal is to ensure that only necessary, legitimate and controlled access is permitted.
1. Verify explicitly
No access request should be automatically approved.
2. Apply the principle of least privilege
Each user should only have the permissions necessary to perform their role. This reduces the potential impact if an account is compromised.
3. Segment access
Resources should be separated according to access levels and security requirements. This ensures that even if one access point is compromised, the potential movement of an attacker within the environment is limited.
4. Monitor continuously
Organisations should monitor usage patterns, access attempts, suspicious activities and changes in risk levels.
5. Protect data and applications
Zero Trust does not apply only to the network. It should also protect data, applications, devices, identities and cloud.
Zero Trust is not a single tool.
It is a security approach that combines policies, processes and technologies to enforce stricter access controls. It may involve multi-factor authentication, identity management, access controls, network segmentation, continuous monitoring, cloud protection, threat detection and behavioural analysis.
The key is ensuring that these measures work together as part of an integrated security strategy.
Adopting a Zero Trust approach helps organisations to:
Zero Trust implementation should follow a structured approach.
The first step is to understand the organisation's current environment, including users, devices, applications, critical data, existing permissions and main security risks. From there, organisations can define access policies, strengthen authentication, review permissions, segment resources, monitor activities and improve their incident response capabilities.
Implementation should not start with technology. It should start with an assessment of existing risks and access permissions.
The ORBCOM supports organisations in defining and implementing cybersecurity strategies aligned with their operational requirements.
Through specialised services in cybersecurity, networking, cloud, infrastructure, IT consulting and custom development, we help businesses strengthen access controls, protect critical data and improve their incident response capabilities.
A well-implemented Zero Trust strategy helps reduce risk, increase visibility and better protect users, applications, devices and sensitive information.
Get in touch with our team at info@orbcom.pt.
The case of unauthorised access to SNS user data demonstrates the importance of controlling credentials, permissions and access in organisations that manage sensitive information. A compromised credential can enable improper access to critical data, especially when there is no adequate monitoring or visibility over who is consulting the information.
Compromised credentials can allow apparently legitimate access to internal systems, exposing personal data, health information, internal processes and essential services. This type of access is often difficult to detect immediately, increasing the potential impact of a security incident.
The cybersecurity directly affects service continuity, the protection of citizens’ data, public trust and the response capacity of organisations. For this reason, it should be seen as a strategic and operational priority, not just a technological responsibility.
No. Security does not depend only on the amount of technology implemented. Without integration, monitoring, access control and well-defined processes, an organisation can remain vulnerable even when using several tools. Visibility and governance are essential factors for reducing risk.
Public entities can strengthen their security posture through access control, multi-factor authentication, permission management, continuous monitoring, endpoint protection, cloud security, detection of anomalous behaviour and regular team training. Process traceability is also essential to prevent and respond to incidents.
The ORBCOM supports public entities through cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, networking, technology consulting and custom development services. It also provides solutions such as JAT Fleet, for fleet management, JAT Center, for centralised communications and service flows, and Rolling Legal, for legal process management. The goal is to increase security, operational efficiency and organisational response capacity.
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