Zero Trust Security is a modern cybersecurity approach that assumes no user or device should be trusted by default. Every access request must be verified, following the principle of “never trust, always verify.”
Traditional Zero Trust strategies typically focus on software and network policies but often overlook a critical layer: the physical layer (Layer 1). Sepio addresses this gap by providing hardware-level security, ensuring that every device on your network is authenticated, continuously monitored, and fully controlled.
What is Zero Trust Architecture?
The concept of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has existed since 1994, but its relevance has grown with modern cyber threats. Historically, enterprise networks trusted internal users and devices by default. Today, insider threats and the expanding attack surface make that trust unsafe.
Even internal users can act maliciously, and organizations face significant risks due to limited visibility and control. Zero Trust eliminates automatic trust, requiring continuous verification of users and devices before granting access.
Challenges in Modern Network Security
Securing networks has become increasingly complex with expanding assets, cloud environments, and remote work (WFH). Remote employees often use personal (BYOD) and household IoT devices, which may lack proper security controls. These devices introduce additional entry points for attackers, increasing the risk of insider threats and network compromise.
Traditional network and endpoint detection tools cannot fully address these challenges. Malicious actors continuously develop techniques to bypass protections, and social engineering exploits user privileges, leading to potential data breaches or operational disruption.
Why Traditional Zero Trust Falls Short
While Zero Trust reduces risk by enforcing the principle of least privilege and applying micro-segmentation, it often lacks visibility at the hardware level.
- Spoofed or rogue devices can bypass software-based access controls.
- BYOD and shadow IT create hidden gaps that traditional solutions cannot detect.
- Micro-segmentation policies fail when devices remain invisible or impersonate legitimate assets.
Without physical-layer verification, attackers can exploit these blind spots to move laterally across networks and compromise critical assets.
Zero Trust and Hardware Access Control
Zero Trust is not without its challenges. Limited network asset visibility creates blind spots in identity and access management (IAM) evaluations, affecting the effectiveness of access requests. Traditional security solutions often overlook the physical layer visibility, allowing spoofed devices to bypass Zero Trust protocols. The use of BYOD and shadow IT introduces additional concerns.
According to PulseSecure’s Zero Trust Progress Report, 71% of organizations are seeking to improve their IAM, highlighting the need for deeper visibility. Existing security solutions do not cover the physical layer. This means that spoofed devices, are able to impersonate legitimate devices and subsequently bypass Zero Trust Hardware Access (ZTHA) protocols.
So, despite Zero Trust enabling the safe use of BYODs and IoT, the model is not enough to protect against compromised assets. In fact, BYOD and shadow IT exposures are a cause for a concern among 43% and 40% of organizations, respectively. As a result of a lack of visibility, there are spillover effects that create additional challenges. Naturally, malicious actors seek to exploit the visibility blind spot and turn to hardware attacks (operating on the Physical Layer).
To overcome these challenges, Sepio’s platform provides physical layer visibility, Hardware Access Control capabilities, and Rogue Device Mitigation. By addressing the blind spots and enhancing the Zero Trust approach, Sepio enables organizations to achieve a complete Zero Trust environment. Zero Trust Hardware Access is the missing piece of the puzzle to strengthen security and ensure comprehensive protection.
Complete Layer 1 Zero Trust Security
Sepio addresses these challenges by providing full Layer 1 visibility, giving organizations control over every device connected to their network.
Full Hardware Visibility
Zero Trust Architecture relies on accurately identifying both users and devices before granting access. However, hardware-based attacks often involve rogue devices that hide or spoof their identities. These hardware attacks tools manipulate authentication and authorization processes, presenting themselves as legitimate assets.
As a result, Zero Trust controls may be bypassed, and access is granted based on false information. This undermines the effectiveness of Zero Trust security and enables attackers to infiltrate the network.
How Sepio Mitigates This Challenge
Sepio provides complete asset visibility through Physical Layer (Layer 1) fingerprinting. As the only solution offering full Layer 1 coverage, Sepio detects all assets operating within the enterprise environment—managed, unmanaged, and hidden.
Using physical-layer electrical characteristics combined with machine learning, Sepio generates a unique digital fingerprint for every connected asset. These fingerprints are compared against an extensive threat intelligence database to:
- Reveal the true identity of devices
- Detect rogue and spoofed assets
- Identify vulnerable or malicious hardware in real time
- Ensure continuous visibility across the infrastructure
This enables organizations to validate every connect asset based on immutable physical attributes.
Policy Enforcement and Micro-Segmentation
Zero Trust relies on access policies to enable micro-segmentation and the principle of least privilege (PLP). These policies define which network segments and resources each entity may access.
However, when hardware attack tools impersonate legitimate assets or remain invisible to security systems, policies cannot be enforced effectively. Unauthorized devices may bypass segmentation controls and move laterally across the network.
Additionally, access policies are built on asset and traffic data. Incomplete visibility leads to inaccurate policies, weakening their reliability and effectiveness.
How Sepio Mitigates This Challenge
Sepio enforces Hardware-Based Access Control that governs network access using device-level physical characteristics rather than easily spoofed credentials.
Key capabilities include:
- Policy enforcement based on hardware fingerprints
- Granular and adaptive access controls
- Real-time alerts for vulnerable or high-risk devices
- Integration with threat intelligence
This ensures that micro-segmentation policies are applied to all devices, visible or hidden, using accurate, verified information. As a result, enterprises can implement reliable, risk-based access controls.
Insufficient Protection of Data and Resources
When visibility and access controls are compromised, organizations cannot confidently protect their critical assets. If a rogue device is mistakenly trusted, attackers can exploit access privileges to steal data, disrupt operations, or compromise systems.
This creates uncertainty around the integrity and security of enterprise resources.
How Sepio Mitigates This Challenge
Sepio’s Rogue Device Mitigation capability automatically initiates response actions when unauthorized or malicious hardware is detected.
Once a device violates predefined security policies, Sepio:
- Blocks the device immediately
- Prevents lateral movement
- Stops unauthorized access attempts
- Enforces Zero Trust controls at the hardware level
By neutralizing threats at the point of entry, Sepio prevents attackers from bypassing micro-segmentation and other security mechanisms. This proactive approach protects sensitive data and critical infrastructure from hardware-based attacks.
Benefits of Layer 1 Zero Trust Security
Implementing Zero Trust with physical-layer verification offers:
- Elimination of network blind spots
- Prevention of spoofed or rogue device access
- Reliable micro-segmentation across all devices
- Reduced insider threat risk
- Continuous, real-time monitoring and proactive mitigation
In conclusion, implementing Zero Trust Hardware (ZTH) is crucial in today’s threat landscape. By adopting the Zero Trust approach and incorporating hardware-level security measures, organizations can effectively mitigate risks. Overcome visibility challenges and establish a robust security framework. Partnering with Sepio’s enables organizations to enhance their Zero Trust implementation. Protect against hardware based attacks and create a secure environment for their digital assets.
Ready to secure every connected assets in your network?
Talk to a Sepio expert today and discover how Layer 1 Zero Trust Security can protect your digital assets from insider threats and rogue hardware attacks tools.
