What Is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust Security Model
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no user, device, or network is trusted by default — even inside the corporate firewall. Every request must be verified: authenticate the user, validate the device, check permissions, and encrypt the connection. 'Never trust, always verify.'
How Zero Trust Works
Traditional security: trust everything inside the corporate network (castle-and-moat). Zero Trust: verify every request regardless of origin. An employee on the office Wi-Fi goes through the same authentication and authorization as someone on public Wi-Fi. Tools: BeyondCorp, Cloudflare Access, Tailscale.
Key Concepts
- Verify Explicitly — Authenticate and authorize every request based on all available data — identity, location, device, resource
- Least Privilege — Grant minimum necessary access — just-in-time permissions that expire
- Assume Breach — Design systems assuming attackers are already inside — limit blast radius, segment networks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zero Trust just a buzzword?
The term is overmarketed, but the principles are sound. 'Verify every request' and 'least privilege' are genuinely better than 'trust the internal network.' Adopt the principles, not just the vendor products.