Introduction
“Never trust, always verify.” That’s the core idea behind Zero Trust — a modern security model designed for a world where users, devices, and services operate across networks you don’t control.
Let’s break it down.
1. What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security framework that assumes no one and nothing should be trusted by default, even if they’re inside your network perimeter.
Instead, every access request is verified, continuously.
2. Why Zero Trust is Needed
Old model:
🛑 Once you’re inside the network, you’re trusted.
New reality:
- Remote work
- Cloud infrastructure
- BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
- Supply chain attacks
Zero Trust protects against internal threats and lateral movement.
3. Core Principles of Zero Trust
- Verify explicitly
→ Authenticate and authorize every access request - Use least privilege access
→ Give users only the permissions they need - Assume breach
→ Continuously monitor and inspect traffic - Microsegmentation
→ Isolate networks to contain potential attacks - Device & identity validation
→ Only trusted devices and users can access sensitive systems
4. How Zero Trust Works in Practice
- MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) for every login
- Continuous user and device risk assessments
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Network segmentation
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
It’s a combination of identity, device, network, and application security.
5. Zero Trust in DevSecOps
In DevSecOps, Zero Trust applies to:
- Securing CI/CD pipelines
- Controlling access to secrets and cloud resources
- Validating containers and workloads before deployment
- Preventing lateral movement in microservices
Conclusion
Zero Trust flips the traditional security model on its head — no one is trusted by default, and verification happens at every step. It’s the modern way to secure systems in a dynamic, distributed world.
That’s Zero Trust.