63% of Organizations Embrace Zero-Trust Security Strategies, Paving the Way for New Cybersecurity Measures in 2024

Zero-trust security strategies have emerged globally as the dominant cyber-security trend, with 63% of organizations worldwide having fully or partially implemented them, as revealed by a recent Gartner survey. 

According to a report published by CrowdStrike, “Zero Trust is a security framework requiring all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted or keeping access to applications and data.” 

Another survey conducted by Gartner in the fourth quarter of 2023 polled “303 security leaders whose organizations had already implemented (fully or partially) or are planning to implement a zero-trust strategy.” Notably, the primary motivation for adopting zero-trust, cited by 56% of organizations, is its recognition as an “industry best practice.” However, many enterprises remain uncertain about the optimal implementation methods for zero-trust strategies. 

The data reveals that for 78% of organizations, the investment in zero-trust represents less than 25% of their overall cybersecurity budget. 

Gartner’s John Watts, VP Analyst and KI Leader, noted that a typical zero-trust strategy addresses only half or less of an organization’s environment and mitigates one-quarter or less of overall enterprise risk. To address these challenges, Gartner recommends three key practices for security leaders implementing zero-trust: 

• Organizations should establish a clear scope for the zero-trust strategy early on.  
• Organizations should communicate success through strategic and operational metrics tailored to zero-trust outcomes.  
• Lastly, organizations should anticipate increases in staffing and costs without expecting delays. Gartner reports that 62% of organizations expect cost increases, and 41% anticipate higher staffing requirements due to zero-trust implementations.  

According to IBM’s website, “Zero trust is a framework that assumes a complex network’s security is always at risk to external and internal threats. It helps organizations strategize a thorough approach to counter those threats.”  

Many Fortune executives believe the future of work will be shaped by digital communication and highly distributed teams. Organizations that can effectively balance the need for solid security practices with the challenges of implementation and resource allocation will reflect how easy an organization positions itself in the coming years. 

By setting clear goals, measuring success, and proactively addressing budgetary considerations, organizations can harness the potential of zero-trust to fortify their cybersecurity posture in an increasingly digital landscape.