The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rapid, widespread shift to remote work, necessitating a new approach to security. Many public sector agencies are responding by adopting a Zero Trust Architecture Model and it is more important than ever to include in your cyber security strategy.
Participants of OMNIA Partners have access to innovative cyber security solutions on competitively solicited and publicly awarded cooperative contracts. We act as your advocates to leverage cooperative purchasing as a strategic part of your procurement strategy so you can drive efficiency, effectiveness and real savings within your agency or organization. Participants save money by piggybacking on a previously awarded contract.
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What is A Zero Trust Architecture Model?
DLT, an OMNIA Partners supplier, has assigned each aspect of information security to one of seven Zero Trust categories:
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Why Should Public Agencies Care About Zero Trust?
Innovation occurs because current methods are no longer effective. That is certainly the case with Zero Trust. In the past, security often followed a perimeter-based approach. If we kept the bad guys outside of your networks, we felt secure and trusted everyone and everything inside the network. But if they manage to get inside the network (as they very often do) they can access everything.
With Zero Trust, trust based on network location or IP address is replaced with explicit, limited trust verified through identity, behavior, and context-based factors. This verification limits access for users, devices, and applications, and categorizes, organizes, and segments data according to sensitivity.
How Can Your Agency Implement A Zero Trust Architecture Model?
Successfully transitioning to Zero Trust requires a fundamental shift in mindset. However, this doesn’t mean a “rip and replace” strategy. In fact, government agencies already have many of the tools and capabilities required for Zero Trust.
Implementing Zero Trust may seem intimidating and overwhelming, but it actually simplifies and consolidates security efforts. By building incrementally, using security tools and solutions your agency already has, you can begin your journey toward a Zero Trust Architecture Model.
In a 2020 interview with Security Intelligence Podcast, Chase Cunningham, principal analyst with Forrester’s security and risk team, at Forrester, says, “The easy place to start is actually around devices and users.” He suggests that agencies “pick really small problems that have relatively binary solutions and fix those first.” Cunningham recommends agencies start by addressing issues like poor passwords, multi-factor authentication, unpatched guest systems, and other basic security hygiene measures.
To start your journey to a Zero Trust Architecture Model, DLT Solutions introduces their new Zero Trust Hub. Participants of OMNIA Partners have access to the DLT Solutions Hub, and are able to find frameworks, infographics, reference guides, blogs, articles, white papers, and most importantly, solutions to implement a Zero Trust Architecture Model. 
About DLT Solutions and OMNIA Partners
For more than 25 years, DLT Solutions has been dedicated to solving public sector IT challenges. Guided by their relentless focus, DLT has grown to be one of the nation's premier government IT solutions aggregators. DLT offers participants of OMNIA Partners, subject matter expertise and in-depth knowledge of government-mandated requirements and initiatives in areas such as cloud computing, cyber security, and data center optimization. Participants can utilize the OMNIA Partners cooperative contract with DLT Solutions to save time and money on IT products, services, and solutions. Discover the entire OMNIA Partners cooperative contract portfolio today for all your procurement needs. Not a participant? Join us today.
This article was originally posted on DLT Solutions blog.
