Trust but Verify
"Trust but verify" means granting access cautiously while continuously monitoring and validating activity to prevent misuse or breaches in security systems.
2 slides · 1 min read · Domain 3
Traditional security models based on defense in depth have long relied on a single authentication of a user (human or nonhuman) upon entry into the system environment. Once authenticated, the user could move laterally within the network, accessing various systems and resources. While sensitive assets were further protected by authorization controls, there were often no additional authentication checks to continuously validate the user's identity or intent. Many small organizational local area networks (LANs) have operated under a "trust but verify" posture.
In a "trust but verify" model, users or devices are granted initial access based in authentication, but their actions are monitored to ensure they behave as expected.
This might involve checking system logs, watching for unusual activity, or conducting periodic reviews of access rights. While this approach adds a layer of oversight, it assumes a baseline of trust that can be risky in modern environments. With threats like stolen credentials and unauthorized lateral movement on the rise, many organizations are shifting toward Zero Trust architecture, which assumes no implicit trust and demands continuous validation at every stage of access, strengthening security access the entire network.