As two of the top password managers today, both Bitwarden and 1Password offer quality password management — albeit in different ways. Bitwarden is an open-source solution with a strong emphasis on affordability and transparency. Meanwhile, 1Password is a closed-source service that offers a streamlined user experience with top-tier security. In this article, we take a look at which password manager is best for you and your organization. Bitwarden: Best for users who need a high-quality password manager that’s both free and open-source. 1Password: Best for users who prioritize having an intuitive and well-designed user interface with many extra security features included. NordPass Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Activity Log, Business Admin Panel for user management, Company-wide settings, and more Dashlane Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Micro (0-49 Employees), Small (50-249 Employees), Medium (250-999 Employees), Large (1,000-4,999 Employees), Enterprise (5,000+ Employees) Micro, Small, Medium, Large, Enterprise Features Automated Provisioning ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features Access Management, Compliance Management, Credential Management, and more Bitwarden vs 1Password: Comparison Bitwarden 1Password Our rating 4.6 out of 5 stars 4.3 out of 5 stars Starting price (monthly) $0.83 per month $3.99 per month Encryption AES 256 encryption AES 256 encryption Authentication options Authenticator apps, email, FIDO2 WebAuthn, YubiKey, Duo Security, face scan, fingerprint Authenticator apps, security keys like YubiKey and Titan Customer support Knowledge base guides and articles, email and ticketing system, community forum Knowledge base guides and articles, AI chatbot, email and ticketing system, community forum Platform support Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Edge, Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo for Mac, iOS, Android, CLI Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Chrome OS, CLI, iOS, Android Free version Yes No Free trial Yes Yes Bitwarden vs 1Password: Pricing Both Bitwarden and 1Password divide their paid subscriptions into Personal and Business tiers. In terms of free plans, only Bitwarden has a free version, while 1Password doesn’t currently offer a dedicated free plan. Fortunately, both password managers have free trials for their paid subscriptions. Of the two, 1Password is more generous as it provides a 14-day free trial for all its plans, except for its Enterprise subscription. In contrast, Bitwarden has a respectable seven-day free trial for both its Bitwarden Teams and Enterprise subscriptions. Bitwarden pricing Bitwarden Personal: Free: Unlimited passwords, unlimited devices. Premium: $0.83 per month; unlimited devices; integrated authenticator, file attachments, emergency access, among others. Families: $3.33 per month; up to 6 users; unlimited sharing, unlimited collections, organization storage. Bitwarden Business: Teams: $4 per month per user; data sharing, event, and audit log monitoring, user groups, directory integration, among others. Enterprise: $6 per month per user; all Teams features plus enterprise policies, passwordless SSO integration, and account recovery capabilities. Custom quote: Contact sales for pricing; scalable subscription. If you want to learn more, read our full Bitwarden review. 1Password pricing Compared to Bitwarden’s monthly subscriptions, 1Password provides an option for either a monthly or an annual plan. Below is an overview of the pricing of 1Password’s plans for both contract options: 1Password Personal Plan Monthly Annual Individual $3.99 per month $2.99 per month, paid annually Covers 1 user, autofill capabilities, password sharing, end-to-end encryption Families $6.95 per month $4.99 per month, paid annually Covers 5 family members, all Individual features, plus simple admin controls and unlimited shared vaults 1Password Business Plan Monthly Annual Teams Starter Pack $19.95 per month $19.95 per month, paid annually Covers up to 10 users; actionable security alerts, domain breach report, 1Password Developer Business $9.99 per user per month $7.99 per user per month, paid annually Covers unlimited seats; includes all Teams Starter Pack features plus integration with Okta, Entra ID, and others; advanced reporting, granular admin controls Enterprise Contact sales for a quote Contact sales for a quote All Business features plus a dedicated account manager, tailored onboarding, quarterly and annual business reviews, and priority for new business features If you want to learn more, read our full 1Password review. Bitwarden vs 1Password: Feature comparison Security and encryption Winner: Tie Both Bitwarden and 1Password offer high-end security with their respective password managers. In terms of encryption, both services utilize the AES-256 encryption algorithm, which is widely considered the industry standard in the space. In addition, I’m happy to report that both Bitwarden and 1Password take third-party testing seriously. In the realm of security software, safety and security claims can only do so much. That’s why independent security audits are a critical feature to look out for. For Bitwarden, they’ve shown a strong commitment to third-party testing with its suite of security audits dating back to 2018. It’s also SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA-compliant. Its most recent third-party audit was an assessment of its Web App conducted by security firm Cure53 back in August 2023. Bitwarden’s third-party audits. Image: Bitwarden On the other hand, 1Password likewise offers an impressive portfolio of third-party audit results. As of May 2024, 1Password has 24 third-party audits covering various aspects of its password management service. Compilation of 1Password audits. Image: 1Password 1Password has also achieved SOC 2 type 2, ISO 27001:2022, 27017:2015, 27018:2019, and 27701:2019 certifications — showing it meets industry and international standards for information security. On August 6, 2024, 1Password shared that a vulnerability on 1Password 8 for Mac (versions before 8.10.36) was discovered, possibly affecting the application’s platform security. Per 1Password, the issue “enables a malicious process running locally on a machine to bypass inter-process communication protections.” 1Password for Mac issue. Image: 1Password Fortunately, 1Password has patched the issue with 1Password for Mac version 8.10.36 and has said that there have been no reports of the issue being exploited by anyone else. In this instance, I commend 1Password for

A startup called Scenexus has unveiled plans to build digital twins of cities around the world. A spin-off from Dutch research organisation TNO, Scenexus launched this week with a new platform for urban planning. The software blends multiple datasets to clone entire cities and regions. Planners and engineers then use the replicas to precisely analyse the impacts of their ideas. The next big thing? It might be you… TNW Conference is here to support startups & scaleups to become the next big thing. Be part of the journey. Price increase on Friday. According to Scenexus, the platform can accelerate their assessments from days to just minutes. They can then forecast the social, environmental, and economic impacts of developments. A host of factors can be reviewed, from traffic and safety to financial growth and resident sentiment. The concepts can then be fine-tuned to address pressing challenges, such as the housing crisis and congestion. The platform has already attracted clients in Amsterdam, San Diego, and Singapore. More cities are slated to sign up soon. Scenexus has also revealed a new backer for the project. The Hague-based business has raised €1.6mn from the LUMO Rise Fund, a €100mn pot of capital for impact-driven technologies. Scenexus is the first investment from the fund, which is managed by Dutch VC firm LUMO Labs. Andy Lürling, a founding partner at LUMO Labs and a TNW Advisory Board member, has great expectations for the startup. “The range of application domains is nearly unlimited,” Lürling told TNW. He highlighted 10 particularly promising targets: smart mobility, air quality, noise, climate, spatial development, equity, well-being, liveability, resilience, and energy. To support these applications, Scenexus will supply its digital twin platform as a software-as-a-service solution. Building digital twins Under the system’s hood, thousands of calculations are processed in parallel by algorithms running on graphical processing units (GPUs). Scenexus said the results arrive up to 1,000 times faster than the leading planning software on the market. Thanks to this speed, clients can rapidly develop new urban planning concepts. Scenexus will now focus on bringing more cities to its platform. The startup has also joined digital cities projects with Microsoft and a European consortium. Lürling is bullish about the company’s plans. “With Scenexus, cities directly save time, money, and effort, and uncover unforeseen challenges before they arise,” he said. “At the same time, it enables lasting improvement of the city’s liveability and safety, and the well-being of residents and visitors.” source

年度茶藝界盛事「茶迴 TEA ROUND 2025」將於一月登陸!由本地年輕團隊Tearoundhk主辦、PMQ元創方及朝顏堂協辦的茶文化盛會 ，將於1月17日至19日在PMQ元創方舉行。 元創方是中西文化交匯地，亦是香港的創意設計地標。元創方一直致力為新晉創意專才提供機會，讓他們實踐創意理念及汲取營商經驗。這場備受業界認同與支持的盛事，以「Tea Round 茶迴」作主題，象徵新舊品茶世代和而不同的交流融合。大會除了匯聚本地多個老字號茶行，更引入不少新派茶館，以及台灣、韓國、泰國等多地人氣茶商聚首一堂，合作推動飲茶潮流!現場 集合接近40個人氣品茶與美食攤位，加上流水茶席、府城封茶、展覽與多個茶藝工作坊，無論是品茗專家還是閒來一杯的飲茶愛好者都能樂在其中。 最大型!茶迴新年市集:40個品茶 + 美食攤位一連三日的TEA ROUND 2025既是一個業界交流平台，也是大眾周末放假食買 玩打卡好去處!屆時PMQ地面廣場將化身成城中最大型茶市集，有接近40個品茶與美食攤位，包攬茶葉茶包、特調茶飲、烘焙美點、陶瓷、茶具和生活精品等， 應有盡有!亮點攤檔必數中環老字號蓮香樓，茶居特別以傳統茶融合手搖飲品創製出「蓮香茶」;年輕茶館「老去茶事」則大推茶湯關東煮，於冷冷冬日加添暖意 ;近年人氣急升的大安茶冰廳更呈獻桂花烏龍拿鐵與多款的茶蛋撻，如大熱的抹茶紅豆蛋撻及港式奶茶蛋撻，相信會成為一眾Foodie打卡焦點。 首推喜氣洋洋茶福袋及禮品迎新年 臨近新年，TEA ROUND更是辦年貨好地方!除了各式高質靚茶和手工陶器可作賀年伴手禮，今年大會更首推以茶作主角的福袋，福袋「寶物」全由茶藝師精心挑選，包括新星茶莊2015探花熟磚、1980年代台灣老烏龍、德化獨立陶藝家小茶杯，以及迷你收藏版府城封茶，睇頭十足!配上型格的包裝設計，無論送禮或自用都適合不過。福袋售價為$180，數量有限，從速搶購! 一次品嚐港台韓泰多個地區茶風味不同地方出產和製作的茶，風味有何不同?來到TEA ROUND便能親身感受!今年參展的茶商陣容強大，既有本地傳統與新派茶職人，更有來自台灣、韓國、泰國等茶館茶商參展!注目的要數韓國OMOT，品牌致力推廣韓國種植茶葉，讓大家捕捉韓國原料和季節的風味香氣，在當地舉行的茶席深受歡迎。來自台灣的 「蕪茶不歡」，由出身於南投茶葉世家的五代目醒茶人主理，專注研究在「荒蕪」中 成長、產量極少的「野放茶」，茶葉不用農藥、肥料及灌溉技術栽種，含天然韻味， 茶湯純淨甘甜，必試! 精彩茶事活動浪接浪:府城封茶、流水茶席第18屆台南府城封茶(香港區)今年載譽歸來!這個傳統茶文化活動，去年首次於香港舉辦，今年踏入第二屆，在台南發起人帶領下，參加者齊齊將茶葉裝進茶甕(或茶罐)內，並在內籤寫下自己對未來的祈願或對親友的祝福，用封條封存， 經歲月催化，茶葉將展現出獨有風味，一盞茶香，既能傳承禮俗，亦是對新一年的祝福。TEA ROUND今年延續這個傳統，在一月這去舊迎新的時刻別具意義。 喜歡坐低飲杯茶的，別錯過TEA ROUND另一重頭戲——流水茶席!由設計師精 心打造的露天環型茶席，座落在場地中央，自成一國卻吸引大眾眼球!由本地和 海外侍茶師分別坐陣四個茶席，參加者流水式逐一品嚐各家茶湯，並觀賞沖茶手藝，交流品茗心得與喜好，寫意有趣。 連日精彩活動還有不同店家分享會和工作坊，包括評茶師品評體驗，教大家如何 品評一杯好飲檸茶!愛玩愛打卡愛小手作的，必選一日茶師體驗和手繪青花瓷體驗!至於進階茶人，推介參加普洱品鑒茶席和茶事比賽!逛完市集，別錯過 「普洱迴廊」展覽，可以走進「時光隧道」，看到不同年代普洱珍藏。多元化的茶活動，務求讓大眾從多角度了解茶藝，愛上飲茶! 首度驚喜登場!市集限定1+1品茗套裝為Tea Tasting加分 為方便茶迷於活動期間輕鬆試茶打卡，今年活動首次推出Tea Round市集限定 1+1品茗套裝，當中包括一隻限量版小茶杯及一張現金優惠券。限量製作的白瓷杯上有「茶」字主題標誌，小巧可愛，精緻設計絕對是值得收藏的紀念品;而套裝 內的$20現金優惠券則可於場內本地店家使用。Tea Round市集限定1+1品茗套 裝定價港幣$50，大家可在活動現場購買或於網上預訂，數量有限，售完即止。 網上訂購請按三天精彩節目，讓你一起投入茶的繽紛世界，感受茶的無限可能性! TEA ROUND 2025 茶迴主辦:Tearoundhk協辦:PMQ元創方、朝顏堂 日期:2025年1月17日(星期五)至1月19日(星期日) 時間:1月17日(星期五)3pm-7pm;1月18日及19日(星期六及日)11am-7pm 地點:中環鴨巴甸街35號PMQ元創方地面廣場入場費用:全免 LinkedIn Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp source

The federal government on Jan. 13 proposed a global policy to limit the distribution of powerful, U.S.-made GPUs, an effort to promote U.S. dominance over China in the AI chip industry. “To enhance U.S. national security and economic strength, it is essential that we do not offshore this critical technology and that the world’s AI runs on American rails,” the White House’s announcement reads. The White House moved forward with the proposal despite pushback from several tech giants, including NVIDIA and Oracle. If the rule is implemented, it will be enforceable after 120 days, after a comment period. The incoming administration will determine whether the rule will go into effect. What’s hot at TechRepublic Proposed rule sorts countries into allied, restricted, or limited categories The Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion proposes restrictions on U.S. chip distribution to secure U.S. market share against competing technologies in China. Issued under the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, the rule mitigates national security risks exacerbated by generative AI, including cyberattacks. The rule has six main parts: 18 U.S. allies will have unlimited access to chip sales. “Chip orders with collective computation power up to roughly 1,700 advanced GPUs” are exempt, the White House said. Therefore, most universities and medical and research institutions can place chip orders without roadblocks. Trusted partners known as “Universal Verified End Users” have U.S. permission to place a small percentage of their global AI computational capacity globally. Countries on neither the U.S. “country of concern” nor close ally list that meet certain security requirements can be listed as “National Verified End Users.” This designation allows them to purchase computational power equivalent to up to 320,000 advanced GPUs from the U.S. for use within neutral countries over the next two years. (The “countries of concern” are China and its Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong and Macau.) Foreign governments, health care providers, and businesses outside of the U.S. or its close allies not designated National Verified End Users can purchase up to the equivalent of 50,000 advanced GPUs from the U.S. per country. Governments that sign arrangements with the U.S. to specify export control, clean energy, and technology security efforts can double their allotted number of chips. China will be restricted from advanced U.S. technology in general and AI foundation model weights. Russia also remains blocked from purchasing advanced chips from the U.S. Which countries have unlimited access to U.S. AI chips? The 18 ally countries with unlimited access to U.S. AI chips under the policy are: Australia. Belgium. Canada. Denmark. Finland. France. Germany. Ireland. Italy. Japan. Netherlands. New Zealand. Norway. Republic of Korea (South Korea). Spain. Sweden. Taiwan. United Kingdom. As CNN points out, the categories of countries with caps on how much U.S. chip technology they can access could help prevent China from acquiring U.S.-made chips or getting its foothold in the advanced tech industry in those countries. Israel and Mexico are among the countries with limited access. Depending on the size of their operation, companies outside the U.S. could see delays in their supply chains or limited opportunities to add AI features to their products due to the policy. “Although administration rulings and export controls produce a narrow, short-term advantage, they may produce a broader, long-term loss to American technological leadership,” Benjamin Lee, University of Pennsylvania professor of engineering and computer science, told TechRepublic in an email. “In the short-term, export controls will slow some country’s deployment of the most advanced GPUs and the largest AI data centers. But in the long-term, export controls will cause other countries to develop their own hardware architectures or software models.” NVIDIA, Oracle strongly oppose the move NVIDIA Vice President of Government Affairs Ned Finkle disagrees with the new rules on two major points. He says that distributing powerful AI chips is a matter of national security and that restricting AI purchasing in some countries will benefit the U.S. “While cloaked in the guise of an ‘anti-China’ measure, these rules would do nothing to enhance U.S. security,” Finkle wrote. “The new rules would control technology worldwide, including technology that is already widely available in mainstream gaming PCs and consumer hardware.” SEE: The EU approved a major merger between simulation software company Ansys and chip design software provider Synopsys. Ken Glueck, executive vice president of Oracle, acknowledged the importance of some restrictions around AI use in cases such as weapons of mass destruction and super-intelligent AI. However, he also opposes the new White House policy, calling the rule “highly complex and wildly overbroad” in a blog post on Jan. 5. “In a single confusing action, the BIS retroactively regulates global cloud GPU deployments; shrinks the global market for U.S. cloud and chip suppliers; establishes volume restrictions; tells 20 countries they can be trusted only if they agree to new unilaterally imposed terms—including certification and semi-annual reporting requirements—and likely pushes the rest of the world to Chinese technology,” wrote Glueck. However, in a statement to the Associated Press, Microsoft President Brad Smith was less critical: “We’re confident we can comply fully with this rule’s high-security standards and meet the technology needs of countries and customers around the world that rely on us.” source

Arc Browser: Fast facts Key features: User-centered, highly customizable design, rich in features, integrates apps with web browsing to create an all-in-one multitasking experience. Pricing: Free. Best for: Users looking for a modern, customizable, and private browser. Web browsers have always been a sector dominated by big names, but Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Microsoft’s Bing have a new competitor in Arc. The concept behind this hyper-personalized browser, developed by The Browser Company, is to provide a customizable web experience and act as the web’s operating system, integrating online content with apps and files. Pricing Arc is a freeware web browser. It’s available for free to all Mac and Windows users. Arc is also available for iPhone,  iPad, and Android users in a stripped-down version. Is Arc available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS? As of January 2025, Arc is available for Mac and Windows but not Linux. Arc is mainly designed as a desktop browser; therefore, its mobile iOS version for iPhones, iPads, and Android has some limitations. SEE: The U.K.’s competition watchdog in November alleged Apple’s WebKit browser engine restricts competition and consumer choice. Key features of the Arc browser Not only has The Browser Company invested in a modern design, but Arc has a wide range of features for advanced and nonadvanced users. Going vertical with tabs The main features of most web browsers are always positioned at the top in a horizontal structure, but in Arc, everything a user needs is on a left panel.  This includes the search bar, tab list, bookmarks, apps, and more. The vertical placement of the browser’s features creates an original design and frees up space while allowing users to multitask. For example, a user could browse in Arc during a video meeting. Arc can be customized and organized extensively. Tabs can be pinned, and “Spaces” can be created to manage tabs. The browser also offers split-screen mode. Split-screen mode in Arc. Image: Arc Design, design, design Everything in Arc is oriented toward user experience. From colors and themes to layouts, users can play with the browser’s settings intuitively, remixing components effortlessly. Arc’s user interface is a modern, decluttered, minimalistic, clean design. Image: Arc Browser Boosts With Arc’s Boosts, users can save and share their themes and customizable browsing experiences with other users. Arc shares the best Boosts users create in a central gallery. More advanced users with HTML, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript knowledge can modify known websites and even remove entire sections of sites such as YouTube, TikTok, and Gmail. The original websites aren’t modified; the only aspect that changes is how users see that website when they deploy a Boost. Arc Boost for YouTube created and shared by a user on the main gallery. Image: Arc Currently, Arc hasn’t faced legal problems due to giving users the power to change websites; however, media like Engadget have referred to this feature as capable of ” … vandalizing any website.” Rapid onboarding Setting up Arc Browser is a fast and intuitive process that only takes a few steps. From the start, users are asked to choose a color and theme, create their account, and import bookmarks and other web browser data if they want. The browser can also sync between devices with its proprietary functionality. Arc Sync. A browser or an OS? Why not both? The Browser Company wants its browser to be the “web’s operating system.” To meet this goal, the company innovates and creates different apps integrated within the web browser. Apps can be used without ever leaving the browser. Apps and Easels Arc can integrate known apps such as Gmail and Google Calendar and present them to users as apps instead of web pages by placing quick access on the left panel. Arc’s vertical tabs include apps and bookmarks. Image: Arc Additionally, the browser has its own apps. The Easel feature is used to create smart whiteboards; users can draw, write, add images, take screenshots, and collect and share ideas while browsing the internet. The Easel features include tools for typing and drawing and each Easel can be kept private, shared with others, and even posted online. Arc has a notebook app that can be accessed from the left panel. Other apps and features of the Arc Browser include: Little Arc: A small floating window that allows users to quickly browse new tabs without cluttering their workspace. Proactive tab management: This feature automatically closes tabs that haven’t been used in a while, keeping the browser tidy, and cleanup time can be customized. Ad blocker: This feature blocks ads to improve browsing experiences and safety while speeding up the browser. Smart picture-in-picture: Users can watch videos in a floating window while multitasking. Listen to music while browsing: Users can play music or podcasts when browsing the web and integrate apps such as Spotify into their browsers. Arc Search: This is a version of the Arc browser for mobile devices. Users can sync Spaces and pinned tabs between Arc Search and the main browser. Tidy Tabs: Organize tabs with one click. Instant Links: Use Search + Shift after typing a query in the search bar to bring up the top results for that query. Peek: A preview of a Pinned or Favorited Tab will appear when a user clicks on the link from the tab. Multitasking in the Arc browser with the integrated Spotify app. Image: Arc Mobile Companion Arc has a mobile version called Mobile Companion, a stripped, lightweight app for users to take their Spaces and Tabs anywhere. The mobile app is available for iPhones via the Apple App Store or Android phones via Google Play. Profiles Using Arc, users can create customized Profiles. The Profile feature allows users to switch from work to school or personal mode with only one click. Each profile can store multiple login credentials and save browsing history and cookies. The Profile feature can also be customized with themes, colors, Spaces, and tabs. Privacy Besides the ad blocker, Arc has strong

By Theresa Schliep ( January 16, 2025, 8:36 PM EST) — Google and Kove IO Inc. have settled claims that the technology behemoth infringed three of the Chicago software company’s patents covering cloud storage technologies, the parties told an Illinois federal court, concluding a dispute similar to another involving Amazon where Kove won a $673 million jury award, plus interest…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

“A lot of companies have plenty of ability to implement AI capabilities in-house if they’re smart about the way they build those capabilities and they’re very careful and conscious about the cost profile of the technologies they put in place,” he says. “There is absolutely a sweet spot of relatively easy-to-access capability at a modest price that many technology organizations are perfectly capable of reaching.” Liberty Mutual has been experimenting using its own nonpublic, internal version of ChatGPT, called LibertyGPT, for the past two years and has nine use cases in production, including document summarization at scale; 18 use cases in R&D; and a long list of potential uses. Tony Marron, managing director of Liberty IT in Belfast, Northern Ireland, says the nine production use cases save the company about 200,000 hours of human labor and generates about $100 million in savings.  Reaping those benefits required a very high level of change management and integrating business and technology team members, Marron says, including data scientists, engineers, and operational employees. There is no plan for an AGI use case, he maintains. source

Zero-trust architecture has emerged as the leading security method for organizations of all types and sizes. Zero-trust shifts cyber defenses away from static, network-based perimeters to focus directly on protecting users, assets, and resources.  Network segmentation and strong authentication methods give zero-trust adopters strong Layer 7 threat prevention. That’s why a growing number of enterprises of all types and sizes are embracing the approach. Unfortunately, many security leaders continue to deploy zero-trust incorrectly, weakening its power and opening the door to all types of bad actors.  To prevent the mistakes that many organizations make when planning a transition to zero-trust security, here’s a look at six common misconceptions you need to avoid.  Mistake One: A single security vendor can supply everything  One vendor can’t provide everything your organization needs to implement a zero-trust architecture strategy, warns Tim Morrow, situational awareness technical manager in the CERT division of Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute.  “It’s dangerous to accept zero-trust architecture vendors’ marketing material and product information without considering whether it will meet your organization’s security priority needs and its capability to implement and maintain the architecture,” Morrow says in an email interview.  Related:What Does Biden’s New Executive Order Mean for Cybersecurity? Mistake Two: Zero-trust is too costly to implement  Aside from the costs saved by reducing the risk of a breach, zero-trust can help save long term expenses by improving asset utilization, operational effectiveness, and reduced compliance costs, says Dimple Ahluwalia, vice president and managing partner, security consulting and systems integration at IBM via email.  Mistake Three: Underestimating the technical challenges  IT and security leaders often overlook the need to implement and manage foundational security practices before establishing a zero-trust architecture, says Craig Zeigler, an incident response senior manager at accounting and business advisory firm Crowe, in an online interview. They may also fail to identify potential gaps, such as vendor-related issues, and ensure that the chosen solution is not only compatible with their specific needs but also equipped with the appropriate controls to provide equal or greater security. “In essence, without security leaders having a thorough understanding of their team and endpoints, implementing zero trust becomes a daunting task.”  Mistake Four: Failing to align zero-trust architecture strategy with overall enterprise assets and needs  Related:3 Strategies For a Seamless EU NIS2 Implementation Cyberattacks are growing in number and severity. “A continuous vigil concerning the organization’s security operations … must be maintained,” Morrow says. The zero-trust architecture must fully mesh with business operations and goals.  Understand your organization’s current assets — data, applications, infrastructure, and workflows — and set up a procedure to update this information periodically, Morrow advises. “Yearly updates of your organization’s assets will definitely no longer be enough.”  Organizations also need to remember that their business and reputation are on the line each and every day, Morrow says. “Not doing your best to reduce your organization’s risks to cyber threats can be very costly.”  Mistake Five: Viewing zero-trust as a solution rather than an ongoing strategy  It’s essential for security leaders to understand that zero-trust is not a static goal, but a dynamic, evolving strategy, says Ricky Simpson, solutions director at Quorum Cyber, a Microsoft cybersecurity partner. “Building a culture that prioritizes security at every level, from executive leadership to individual employees, is critical to the success of zero-trust initiatives,” he notes via email.  Related:Microsoft Rings in 2025 With Record Security Update Simpson feels that continuous education, regular assessments, and a willingness to adapt to new threats and technologies are key components within a sustainable zero-trust framework. “By fostering collaboration and maintaining a vigilant stance, security leaders can better protect their organizations in an increasingly complex and hostile digital environment.”  Mistake Six: Believing that implementing zero-trust is simply a one-and-done project  Zero-trust is actually a holistic and strategic approach to security that requires ongoing evaluations of trust and threats. “It’s not a quick fix but a long-term shift in strategy,” says Shane O’Donnell, vice president of Centric Consulting’s cybersecurity practice.  Underestimating zero-trust implementation poses two major risks, notes O’Donnell in an email interview. First, unrealistic timelines and expectations can derail project planning, exhaust budgets, and drain resources. Second, hasty or flawed execution can actually create new security vulnerabilities, defeating the very purpose of a zero-trust architecture.  O’Donnell says this misconception can be addressed through continuous education and understanding. “It’s vital for security leaders to realize that transitioning to a zero-trust architecture means substantial technological and organizational changes,” he says. “This strategy should be treated as an ongoing commitment that lasts way beyond the initial set-up stage.”  source