Zero Trust Security

Zero trust is a security model that rejects the notion of a trusted internal network. Instead, it treats all devices, users and applications as untrusted by default and requires continuous verification of identity and context. By enforcing least privilege and segmenting resources, zero trust architectures minimize the blast radius of breaches and make it harder for attackers to move laterally.

Core Principles

• Verify explicitly: Authenticate and authorize every user and device based on all available signals (identity, location, device health, behavior) before granting access.
• Least privilege access: Grant the minimum level of access needed for each task and revoke privileges as soon as they are no longer required.
• Assume breach: Design systems as if attackers are already inside. Segment networks, monitor traffic and detect anomalies to limit lateral movement.

Implementation Steps

• Identify protect surfaces: Catalog critical data, assets, applications and services.
• Map data flows: Understand how users and systems interact with protect surfaces to define trust boundaries.
• Architect micro‑perimeters: Use segmentation gateways, software‑defined perimeters or access brokers to enforce policies at each boundary.
• Implement continuous verification: Employ multi‑factor authentication, device posture checks and behavioral analytics to re‑evaluate trust at each request.
• Monitor & improve: Collect telemetry, detect suspicious activity and update policies as threats and business requirements evolve.

Benefits

• Reduce the attack surface and limit damage from compromised accounts or devices.
• Enhance visibility into user and device activity across hybrid and cloud environments.
• Align security controls with modern distributed architectures and remote workforces.
• Support compliance requirements through strong access controls and auditing.

Implementing zero trust is a journey, not a single product. It requires collaboration across networking, identity, security and application teams, and builds on foundational practices like secure development, vulnerability management and incident response.

Free Resources

• NIST SP 800‑207 – NIST’s Zero Trust Architecture framework defines principles and high‑level design guidance for implementing zero trust.
• CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model – A maturity model from CISA to help organizations assess and plan their zero trust journey.
• CISA Zero Trust Architecture Guidance – Practical guidance for implementing zero trust in enterprise networks.