D-SF-A-24 Dell Security Foundations Achievement Questions and Answers

The main challenge that Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) addresses is the access to the corporate network for third-party vendors.ZTA is a security model that assumes no implicit trust is granted to assets or user accounts based solely on their physical or network location (i.e., local area networks versus the internet) or based on asset ownership (enterprise or personallyowned)12. It mandates that any attempt to access resources be authenticated and authorized within a dynamic policy context.

A .R.T.I.E.'s business model involves contracting with third-party vendors to continue seamless operations, which presents a security challenge.The traditional VPN-based approach to network security is not sufficient for this scenario because it does not provide granular control over user access and does not verify the trustworthiness of devices and users continuously2.

Implementing ZTA would address this challenge by:

Ensuring that all users, even those within the network perimeter, must be authenticated and authorized to access any corporate resources.

Providing continuous validation of the security posture of both the user and the device before granting access to resources.

Enabling the organization to apply more granular security controls, which is particularly important when dealing with third-party vendors who require access to certain parts of the network31.

This approach aligns with the case study’s emphasis on securing the attack surface while supporting vendor access, as it allowsA .R.T.I.E.to grant access based on the principle of least privilege, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems4.

Control Mechanism Selection:

ForA .R.T.I.E.'s scenario, where the concern is about sharing and protecting data off-premises and ensuring that data can be used in decision-making without exposing it to unauthorized access, the most suitable control mechanism would be:

A. Proactive control mechanism

Proactive control mechanisms are designed to prevent security incidents before they occur.They include measures such as strong authentication, encryption, and access controls, which align withA .R.T.I.E.'s requirements for secure migration to the public cloud and maintaining data confidentiality during decision-making processes1234.

Data Encryption:Encrypting data at rest and in transit ensures that even if data is intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals, it remains unreadable and secure2.

Access Control:Implementing robust access control measures, such as role-based access control (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication (MFA), restricts data access to authorized personnel only34.

Firewalls and Network Security:Deploying firewalls and other network security measures helps to protect the cloud environment from unauthorized access and potential breaches2.

Security Monitoring:Continuous monitoring of the cloud environment allows for the early detection of potential security threats and vulnerabilities2.

Security Patching and Upgrades:Regularly updating and patching systems ensures that security measures are up-to-date and can defend against the latest threats2.

These proactive controls are essential forA .R.T.I.E.as they provide a comprehensive approach to securing data in the public cloud, align with the Dell Security Foundations Achievement’s focus on security hardening, and support the Zero Trust model, which assumes no implicit trust and verifies each request as though it originates from an open network5.