What is the Origin of Zero-Trust Security?

The model was developed in the early 2010s by John Kindervag at Forrester Research in response to the increasing complexity of network environments and the failure of traditional perimeter-based security models to protect against internal and external threats. Its adoption in healthcare is driven by regulatory mandates and the high-value target status of patient health information. It is a modern standard for data protection laws.

What is the Mechanism of Zero-Trust Security?

The core mechanism involves micro-segmentation, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring of all user and device access to clinical systems and patient records. Before granting access to a specific dataset, the system rigorously authenticates the user, verifies the device's security posture, and confirms the user's explicit authorization for that particular resource. This continuous verification process supports patient data control and advanced encryption methods.

Zero-Trust Security ∞ Area

Zero-Trust Security

Meaning

Zero-Trust Security is a robust information security model that operates on the fundamental principle of “never trust, always verify,” requiring strict identity verification for every person and device attempting to access resources on a private network, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network perimeter. In clinical practice, this is paramount for protecting sensitive patient hormonal and wellness data. This model assumes that no user or device is inherently trustworthy.