Zero Trust and Identity Security: How the Approach to Website Security Is Changing

Valdonė Butrimaitė
3 days ago
2 min read

For a long time, cybersecurity was understood quite simply: build strong systems, protect servers, secure the infrastructure.

That approach focused on technology first.

But today, most security incidents don’t happen because servers fail. They happen because someone gains access using a real identity.

That’s why the focus is shifting from infrastructure to identity security — and why the Zero Trust model is becoming the new standard.

What Identity Security Actually Means

Identity security is not about documents or personal data alone. It’s about who you are in digital systems and how you access them.

This includes:

email accounts
administrative access
banking and payment systems
social media accounts
work platforms and internal tools

In many cases, once someone gains access to an identity, systems assume everything is fine. That assumption is exactly where problems begin.

Why Traditional “Trusted” Systems Are No Longer Enough

Many platforms and services are technically well protected. Servers are updated. Firewalls are in place.

The weakness usually appears elsewhere:

when login credentials are stolen, not broken
when access looks normal but isn’t
when the same password is reused across platforms
when suspicious behavior goes unnoticed

In these cases, systems don’t need to be hacked. They are simply entered.

What Is the Zero Trust Model?

Zero Trust is built on a simple principle:

Never trust automatically — even if access looks legitimate.

Instead of assuming:“the user is logged in, so everything is fine”

The system constantly asks:

Is this the same device?
Is this the usual location?
Is this behavior normal?
Is the timing typical?

If something looks unusual, access is limited, additional verification is required, or actions are blocked.

Trust is never permanent. It is continuously re-evaluated.

Why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Matters More Than Ever

MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) adds an extra verification step, such as:

a code sent to your phone
an authentication app
biometric confirmation

It’s not a perfect solution. But it significantly reduces automated attacks and account takeovers.

Passwords alone are no longer enough. Today, they are often the weakest part of security.

What Adaptive Access Means in Practice

Adaptive access doesn’t only check who is logging in, but how.

For example:

login from a new country
unusual login time
multiple failed attempts
sudden access to sensitive areas

In such cases, the system may:

request additional verification
limit certain actions
temporarily block access

This is not paranoia. It’s a response to how real attacks actually happen.

What This Means for Website Owners

If you manage a website with:

admin access
contact forms
client data
integrations with email or payment systems

Security is not optional.

Basic steps matter:

strong, unique passwords
MFA for admin accounts
limited access rights
monitoring unusual activity

A clean design or stable hosting does not equal security.

Digital Awareness Is the New Standard

Zero Trust and identity security are not trends meant to scare people. They reflect how digital systems are actually being used — and misused.

Technology evolves quickly. Attacks adapt even faster.

Digital awareness is becoming a basic form of hygiene, not an advanced skill.

Security today is less about building higher wallsand more about understanding who is really trying to enter.