Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” This guide walks through practical implementation steps for organizations of any size.

Core Principles

  1. Verify explicitly — Always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points
  2. Use least privilege access — Limit user access with just-in-time and just-enough-access
  3. Assume breach — Minimize blast radius and segment access

Step 1: Identify Your Protect Surface

Start by mapping your most critical data, assets, applications, and services (DAAS). Unlike the attack surface, the protect surface is small and well-defined.

Step 2: Map Transaction Flows

Document how traffic moves across your network in relation to the protect surface. Understanding these flows is essential for designing effective policies.

Step 3: Build a Zero Trust Architecture

Design your network around the protect surface. Key components include:

  • Identity Provider (IdP) with MFA
  • Software-Defined Perimeter or next-gen firewall
  • Micro-segmentation policies
  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Step 4: Create Zero Trust Policies

Define who can access what resources, under which conditions. Use the Kipling method: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

Step 5: Monitor and Maintain

Zero Trust is not a one-time project. Continuously monitor all traffic, inspect and log all transactions, and update policies as your environment evolves.