Practical Pointers For Getting Started with Zero Trust

Starting a zero-trust journey is no small feat, but it's essential.

Hey, congrats! You've sifted through the noise and realized that zero trust isn't just a buzzword, and no single product will magically solve everything—it’s a strategy, a mindset, and a belief system. At its core, zero trust means “verify, then trust” instead of the old “trust, then verify” approach.

So, what’s next?

First off, dive in a bit more. Zero trust is built on a cybersecurity maturity model from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA). It’s all about blocking unauthorized access to data and services and having super-detailed access control. Think of it as “perimeter-less security,” meaning you shouldn’t trust users or devices even if they’re on a known network like your corporate LAN. The key idea is "least privilege," giving users, systems, and devices just the permissions they need—nothing more.

Check out CISA’s Zero Trust Maturity Model Version 2.0. It’s a solid read and breaks down tech into identity, devices, networks, applications, and data pillars. This framework is great for spotting IT security gaps. The 2.0 model even includes Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), which the initial model lacked.

How do I begin to apply the zero-trust framework to harden the cybersecurity defenses of my organization?

I had the same question, so I tapped into my network to see how my peers have strengthened their cybersecurity with Zero Trust principles. Here are some best practices I picked up and used to move my organization forward:

Get An External Assessment

Bringing in an expert to evaluate your system helps uncover hidden vulnerabilities. A good assessment reveals weak spots, misconfigurations, and compliance gaps, giving you a clear view of your current security stance. You can measure yourself against many frameworks, but the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF) is top-notch. For my organization, I also mapped our progress to ISO 27001 and 27701 standards since our customers often require those certifications.

Address The Low-Hanging Fruit

An external assessment gives you a map to fill your security gaps. If your starting point is like ours, some gaps are Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs). Start with the easy stuff. Simple projects could be fortifying your identity and access management, auditing your BYOD policy, testing disaster recovery plans, or updating employee cybersecurity training. These smaller wins build momentum and help get leadership buy-in for tackling the bigger challenges.

Tackle The Hard Stuff Step-By-Step

Your cybersecurity assessment can point out some major gaps where your company needs to invest more to prevent serious compromises. Once you have the resources, take it step-by-step. My team had to secure a fully remote workforce using a cloud-based infrastructure, which was tough. Some solutions took 18 to 24 months to fully implement. We learned a lot about estimating time, hiring and training resources, and managing the executive team’s perceptions along the way.

Don't Underestimate The Commitment

Implementing a zero-trust roadmap is a big task, even if things go smoothly. But it’s worth it—each step makes your security stronger. During a recent business continuity tabletop exercise, our IT team realized they were much better prepared for a ransomware incident than their executives expected, including me.

Starting a zero-trust journey is no small feat, but it's essential. The effort and patience it requires pays off with progressively better security. Every step you take makes your organization more resilient and secure than before.