Zero trust is a security model built on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” It assumes no user, device, or network segment should be automatically trusted, even if it’s inside the traditional network perimeter. Here’s a high-level summary of its core principles:
1. Verify Explicitly: Every access request is authenticated and authorized based on all available data points (identity, device health, location, time, and behavior patterns), rather than assuming trust because a request originated from inside the corporate network.
2. Least Privilege Access: Users and systems are granted only the minimum access necessary to perform their function, often through just-in-time and just-enough-access policies. This limits the “blast radius” if credentials are compromised.
3. Assume Breach: Design systems as if an attacker is already present. This means segmenting networks (microsegmentation), encrypting data in transit and at rest, and continuously monitoring for anomalous activity rather than relying solely on perimeter defenses.
4. No Implicit Trust Based on Network Location: Being on the corporate LAN or VPN doesn’t grant special trust. Every request, internal or external, goes through the same verification process.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Validation: Trust isn’t a one-time checkpoint at login. Sessions are continuously evaluated, and access can be revoked mid-session if risk signals change (e.g., unusual behavior, a device becoming non-compliant, etc.).
6. Microsegmentation: Networks are divided into small, isolated zones so that lateral movement is difficult even if an attacker gains a foothold in one segment.
7. Device and Endpoint Security: Access decisions factor in the security posture of the requesting device (patch level, presence of endpoint protection, compliance status), not just the identity of the user.
8. Strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), and robust identity governance are foundational, since identity becomes the primary control plane once the network perimeter is no longer the main line of defense.
In short, zero trust shifts security from a “castle-and-moat” model (strong perimeter, implicit internal trust) to one where every access request is treated as potentially hostile until proven otherwise, with granular, continuous, and context-aware enforcement throughout the environment.
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