The traditional network perimeter is dead. With cloud services, remote work, and mobile devices, there's no inside or outside to protect. Zero Trust starts from a simple principle: never trust, always verify.
Core Tenets
- Verify explicitly - Authenticate and authorize every request
- Least privilege access - Just enough permissions, just in time
- Assume breach - Design systems assuming attackers are inside
Identity as the Control Plane
In Zero Trust, identity becomes the primary control plane:
Request → Identity Verification → Device Health → Location Risk → Access Decision
Implementation Steps
Start with the crown jewels:
- Inventory critical assets
- Map access patterns
- Implement strong authentication
- Add conditional access policies
- Monitor and adapt
Zero Trust is a journey, not a destination.