What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security model based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." It assumes that threats exist both inside and outside traditional network boundaries and requires strict verification for every person and device trying to access resources.
Core Principles
- Verify Explicitly: Always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points
- Least Privilege Access: Limit user access with just-in-time and just-enough-access (JIT/JEA)
- Assume Breach: Minimize blast radius and segment access. Verify end-to-end encryption
Zero Trust Pillars
- Identity: Strong authentication and authorization for all users
- Devices: Device health validation and compliance
- Networks: Micro-segmentation and encryption
- Applications: Secure application access and shadow IT discovery
- Data: Data classification, protection, and governance
- Visibility: Analytics and automation for threat detection
Implementation Steps
- Define your protect surface (critical data, assets, applications, services)
- Map transaction flows
- Build a Zero Trust architecture
- Create Zero Trust policies
- Monitor and maintain
Common Challenges
- Legacy system integration
- User experience friction
- Complexity of implementation
- Ongoing maintenance requirements
Scapien and Zero Trust
Scapien helps validate your Zero Trust implementation by testing security controls, identifying gaps, and ensuring your architecture truly follows Zero Trust principles.