Zero Trust Cybersecurity Models: What They Are and What They Mean

The Zero Trust cybersecurity model is centered around one key principle: Trust no one by default. It’s a security strategy that operates on the assumption that threats can come from any source, at any time.

When Zero Trust is implemented, all users inside or outside a computer network must be authenticated, authorized, and continuously verified to gain access to data and resources. Requiring multiple layers of security controls helps protect against increasing ransomware and cybersecurity threats.

Zero Trust is a departure from traditional perimeter-based models, which defend an IT system like a castle – fortifying a network’s perimeter with firewalls and other defenses. But as cyberattacks become more sophisticated, Zero Trust’s continuous verification model has become more appealing to organizations.

What are the Key Principles of Zero Trust Models?

There are three core Zero Trust security principles that guide the strategy’s design and implementation:

1. Verify Explicitly
2. Least Privilege Access
3. Assume Breach

Verify Explicitly: "Never trust, always verify" stipulates that every access request must be authenticated using multiple methods. These can include multi-factor authentication (MFA), user credentials, location, or biometric verification such as facial or fingerprint reading.

Least Privilege Access: This principle states that a user, device, or application should only have access to the data required to complete its task. Limiting access is a way to reduce potential damage if an account or device is compromised.

Assume Breach: The Zero Trust model assumes that a breach is inevitable and any device or user could be compromised. This means organizations that use the model constantly monitor for threats and validate access. It’s a pessimistic approach, but also realistic.

What Are the Five Pillars of Zero Trust?

Another way the Zero Trust security framework can be defined is by the five pillars that support its architecture:

1. Identity: Verifying the user accessing a computer system.
2. Device: Ensuring the device is secure.
3. Network: Securing communication across the network.
4. Application: Protecting applications from unauthorized access.
5. Data: Ensuring sensitive data is encrypted and protected at all times.

Do Zero Trust Models Apply to Every Employee?

Yes, Zero Trust models are designed to apply to every user, device, and system in an organization. This means a company or government’s employees, partners, and external contractors are all treated the same when it comes to security.

The Zero Trust strategy is especially useful for organizations that have a mix of remote and in-office workers. The rise of remote work and cloud computing has changed how users access company networks and resources. Now they may be regularly working from different locations and on several devices, so security measures that assume an "internal safe zone" are no longer practical.

Organizations that handle sensitive information such as government agencies or healthcare institutions are also increasingly choosing Zero Trust models. Many work with external specialists or consultants and the Zero Trust system can grant these collaborators temporary access while safeguarding sensitive data. Looking to expand your, or your employee’s knowledge of common cybersecurity threats? Take a read of this guide on the top 10 cybersecurity threats.

How Businesses are Implementing Zero Trust Security

Putting a Zero Trust security model in place is a multi-step process that requires technological and operational changes. Here's how businesses put it into practice:

1. Network Segmentation: This framework divides a network into smaller sections or subnets. Because each network segment acts as its own network, security teams can more easily control the traffic that flows into their systems. Network segmentation also reduces the potential impact of a breach by limiting movement to inside one subnet instead of across the entire network.

2. Continuous Monitoring: By using software tools that operate constant IT network surveillance, security teams can be alerted to unusual behavior or unauthorized access attempts in real-time. This allows threats to be addressed quickly.

3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Also known as two-step authentication, this authentication method requires a user to prove their identity at least twice in order to access a website or application. This way even if a person’s username and password are stolen, an attacker cannot gain access without secondary authentication.

4. The Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP): Limiting which users or systems can access sensitive information reduces the risk of insider threats. Under the Principle of Least Privilege, data permissions are granted based on only what information users need to do their jobs.

5. Data Encryption: This security method scrambles data, making it unreadable without a decryption key. Encrypting sensitive information ensures that stolen data is unreadable to cybercriminals.

6. Endpoint Security: Endpoints are employee devices such as laptops and smartphones, which are common entry points for cybercriminals. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems are key to a Zero Trust approach because they monitor devices for signs of compromise.

Using these methods, the Zero Trust model helps companies ensure their sensitive data and resources are protected even when users are spread across locations and devices.

Real-World Examples of Zero Trust in Effect

The Zero Trust model is becoming the cybersecurity standard. A 2023 Cisco study found that more than 86% of companies had begun adopting Zero Trust principles, though only 2% were implementing all of the pillars.

Here are a few examples of organizations that use Zero Trust security:

1. The U.S. Federal Government: In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring the federal government to advance toward a Zero Trust architecture. All federal agencies are now required to adopt Zero Trust principles, though some have implemented more than others. Many U.S. state and local governments have also followed suit, including California and Florida.

2. Google's BeyondCorp: BeyondCorp is one of the most well-known Zero Trust implementations. Google’s security framework creates secure remote work environments by shifting access controls from perimeter-based security to individual devices and users. BeyondCorp replaced the company’s previous traditional VPN-based approach to remote access.

3. Akamai Technologies: Akamai is a cybersecurity company that offers Zero Trust security as a service. The Akamai Guardicore Platform can help customers achieve Zero Trust, reduce ransomware risk, and meet compliance requirements. This AI-powered platform verifies identity, determines destination, and assesses risk.

Many companies using and providing Zero Trust security methods, including Akamai, have participated in VivaTech. Join us at VivaTech 2025 to learn more about how Zero Trust is transforming the way organizations protect their assets and making companies more resilient in an increasingly complex cybersecurity reality.