Zero Trust is a security framework that requires all users, whether inside or outside the organization's network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated before being granted access to applications and data. It replaces the traditional "castle and moat" security model.
What is Zero Trust?
The core philosophy is "never trust, always verify." Unlike traditional network security that trusts anything inside the corporate network, Zero Trust assumes breach and verifies every request as if it originated from an untrusted network.
This approach is particularly relevant in modern environments with remote workers, cloud services, and BYOD policies where the traditional network perimeter no longer exists.
Core Principles
Verify Explicitly: Always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points (identity, location, device health, service)
Least Privilege Access: Limit user access with just-in-time and just-enough-access (JIT/JEA)
Assume Breach: Minimize blast radius with micro-segmentation, end-to-end encryption, and continuous monitoring
Continuous Validation: Don't just authenticate once—continuously verify throughout the session
Key Components
Identity Provider (IdP): Centralized identity management with SSO and MFA
Device Trust: Verify device health, patch status, and compliance before access
Policy Engine: Real-time access decisions based on user, device, resource, and context
Micro-segmentation: Divide networks into small zones to contain breaches
ZTNA: Zero Trust Network Access replaces VPN with application-level access
Implementation Roadmap
Phase 1: Strengthen identity with SSO, MFA, and conditional access policies
Phase 2: Implement device trust and endpoint detection and response (EDR)
Phase 3: Deploy ZTNA for remote access, replacing traditional VPN
Phase 4: Implement micro-segmentation for workloads
Phase 5: Continuous monitoring and analytics for threat detection
Common Challenges
Legacy Applications: Older apps may not support modern authentication—plan for workarounds
User Experience: Balance security with usability—too much friction drives workarounds
Cultural Shift: Teams accustomed to VPN access need training on new workflows
Cost: Full implementation requires investment in multiple tools and platforms