Verify explicitly
Authenticate and authorize using all available signals: identity, device, location, risk, and workload context.
Security · Lesson
Zero Trust 101 A practical starter guide
Zero Trust is not a product—it’s a strategy. This page explains the core ideas in plain terms and gives you a checklist you can actually apply.
Last updated: 2025-12-30
The three core principles
A good mental model before tools and architecture.
Use least privilege
Give only what’s needed, just-in-time, and ideally time-bound. Reduce standing access.
Assume breach
Design as if an attacker is already inside. Limit blast radius with segmentation, logging, and rapid response.
Controls that usually matter first
If you’re starting from scratch, focus on these before anything fancy.
Identity
MFA, conditional access, strong auth for admins, and clean group / role design.
Device
Managed devices, posture checks, encryption, patching, and a clear BYOD stance.
Network
Reduce implicit trust: segment, restrict inbound paths, prefer private endpoints, monitor east-west traffic.
Workload access
Use workload identities, rotate secrets, and avoid shared credentials between services.
Logging
Centralize logs early. If you can’t see it, you can’t defend it.
Recovery
Backups, break-glass accounts, and tested incident response playbooks.
A simple rollout checklist
Keep it small, iterate, and measure impact.
Week 1: baseline
Inventory users, devices, apps, and admin roles. Turn on audit logs. Define “managed device”.
Week 2–3: protect identity
Enforce MFA, reduce standing admin access, add conditional access policies with monitoring mode first.
Week 4: protect apps + data
Start with the highest value apps. Add least-privileged access patterns and strengthen data controls.
Ongoing: measure + improve
Track sign-in risk, policy blocks, helpdesk volume, and incident response improvements.
Next: I can add a deeper Azure-focused version when you’re ready.
Want this tailored?
Tell me your environment (cloud/on-prem, team size, biggest risks) and I’ll adapt the checklist.