<img src="https://ws.zoominfo.com/pixel/6169bf9791429100154fc0a2" width="1" height="1" style="display: none;">
Curious about how StrongDM works? 🤔 Learn more here!
Search
Close icon
Search bar icon

Implicit Trust vs. Explicit Trust in Access Management

Trust is an essential cornerstone in access management. However, not all trust is created equal. When it comes to how you approach access, two types of trust stand out: implicit trust and explicit trust.

What is Implicit Trust?

Implicit trust can be likened to an open-door policy. This type of trust grants access based on the assumption that all actors within a defined system are trustworthy until proven otherwise. That means authorization and activities are assumed to be approved with valid credentials. It also assumes access from any device or location, as well as any activity allowed by the assigned permissions are also approved.

Implicit trust models offer convenience for users because they can navigate systems with minimal friction. However, they pose significant security risks, as malicious users with access can exploit this trust to wreak havoc.

What is Explicit Trust?

Explicit trust, on the other hand, is like a bouncer at a club that verifies you should be accessing a specific system then monitors your activities to ensure they are valid and approved. This model requires each user and device to prove their identity and their need to access certain information before granting permission for access and activities. Explicit trust requires continuous authorization for every activity and access request, including verifying device, location, and if specific activities are approved.

By adopting an explicit trust model, organizations significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and internal threats. However, this model may require more resources and could potentially slow down operational efficiency due to the additional verification layers.

Implicit Trust vs Explicit Trust: A Balancing Act

Balancing implicit and explicit trust requires understanding the nuances of each model and applying them appropriately to different scenarios within your organization. While it would be ideal to implement explicit trust universally, it can be difficult to do so due to the technology requirements and resources required.

For example, certain low-risk resources within your organization might function perfectly well with an implicit trust model. However, high-risk resources that house sensitive data or that are considered critical systems should be protected with an explicit trust model.

Below is an example of how implicit and explicit trust differ:

  Implicit Explicit
Device Every device approved by default Each device is explicitly approved for use
Location Location not considered when authenticating Access from specific locations must be explicitly approved
Actions All actions approved with the permissions Specific actions must be explicitly approved in real time, regardless of the role assigned in a system

The Connection Between Explicit Trust & Zero Trust

Zero Trust is a security philosophy that dictates “never trust, always verify.” Explicit trust plays a critical role in adopting Zero Trust across each organization, as it extends this philosophy to include actions taken while authenticated, and also requires that critical context–such as device used and location–are considered when allowing access and actions.

The addition of explicit trust based on user and device context, as well as real time decisions based on activities, is a natural progression of the Zero Trust methodology, and should be considered a core requirement for organizations that are implementing Zero Trust security frameworks.

StrongDM & Explicit Trust

One of the biggest challenges facing the adoption of Zero Trust and explicit trust is the ability to manage access to infrastructure and resources dynamically. This is where StrongDM comes into play. Legacy privileged access management (PAM) tools leave critical gaps in your access management strategy, such as multi-cloud, databases, and Kubernetes.

StrongDM provides Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) that seamlessly provisions, de-provisions, and monitors access in real-time, enabling you to apply explicit trust for technical users that are accessing sensitive systems.

Conclusion

In the end, both implicit and explicit trust have their roles in access management. Understanding their differences, strengths, and weaknesses can help organizations implement a more secure, efficient, and resilient access management strategy–all while they work towards universal explicit trust and Zero Trust over time.


About the Author

, Technical Marketing Expert, has held marketing leadership roles for Silicon Valley technology companies specializing in database, data management, and data analytics solutions. As head of content marketing at Splunk, Dominic contributed to boosting the company’s market visibility and its growth from a $100M to a $1.3B company. He brings relentless creativity to the task of connecting people with technical products to improve their lives. Dominic holds a B.S. degree in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin. To contact Dominic, visit him on LinkedIn.

StrongDM logo
💙 this post?
Then get all that StrongDM goodness, right in your inbox.

You May Also Like

Securing Network Devices with StrongDM's Zero Trust PAM Platform
Securing Network Devices with StrongDM's Zero Trust PAM Platform
Let’s talk about the unsung heroes of your on-premises infrastructure: network devices. These are the routers, switches, and firewalls that everyone forgets about…and takes for granted—until something breaks. And when one of those somethings breaks, it leads to some pretty bad stuff. If your network goes down, that’s bad, bad, bad for business. But if those devices lack the necessary security, well, that can leave you exposed in an incredibly dangerous way.
What Is Zero Trust for the Cloud? (And Why It's Important)
What Is Zero Trust for the Cloud? (And Why It's Important)
Zero Trust cloud security is a cybersecurity model that operates on the principle that no user, device, system, or action should be trusted by default — even if it's inside your organization’s own network. This approach minimizes the risk of breaches and other cyber threats by limiting access to sensitive information and resources based on user roles, device security posture, and contextual factors.
What Is Zero Trust Data Protection?
What Is Zero Trust Data Protection?
Zero Trust Data Protection isn't just the best way to safeguard your data — given today's advanced threat landscape, it's the only way. Assuming inherent trust just because an access request is inside your network is just asking for a breach. By implementing the latest tactics in authentication, network segmentation, encryption, access controls, and continuous monitoring, ZT data security takes the opposite approach.
Simplify Database Authorization with Policy-Based Action Control
Simplify Database Authorization with Policy-Based Action Control
As enterprises continue to modernize their IT environments, the need for a more advanced and adaptable approach to database authorization becomes increasingly apparent. Traditional models, with their reliance on static roles and broad permissions, are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of decentralized, dynamic infrastructures. StrongDM addresses this gap by offering a solution that emphasizes fine-grained, policy-based action control, enabling organizations to manage database access with the precision and flexibility required in today’s complex business environments.
StrongDM Now Delivers Continuous Authorization for Databases Through Fine-Grained Policy-based Action Control
Access is no longer the primary challenge in enterprise security; it's the actions of users that are most aligned with managing risk. By focusing on how actions are authorized, StrongDM is giving customers a more effective approach to enterprise security. Our policy-based action control ensures that, in addition to access, every user action is scrutinized, delivering a higher level of security tailored to meet the complex demands of modern enterprises.