A staged way to move from perimeter security to Zero Trust: put identity at the centre, verify every request, grant least privilege, and segment the network so one breach does not become many.
Zero Trust replaces the old idea of a trusted internal network with a simple rule: never trust, always verify. Every request to reach a resource is checked on its merits, wherever it comes from, rather than being waved through because it is inside the firewall. With staff working from anywhere and data living in the cloud, the old perimeter no longer exists.
In a Zero Trust model, identity is the new perimeter, so start there. Consolidate onto a single identity provider, enforce strong multi factor authentication for everyone, and move towards phishing resistant methods such as passkeys or hardware keys for your most sensitive access. Get this right and everything that follows becomes easier.
You cannot protect what you have not mapped. Identify your most valuable data and the applications that touch it, and understand how information flows between users, devices and services. This tells you where to focus first, so you protect the crown jewels before spending effort on lower value systems.
A valid login from a compromised laptop is still a risk. Bring devices into management so you can check they are encrypted, patched and running protection before they reach sensitive resources. Use Conditional Access so that access depends on the health of the device and the risk of the sign in, not the password alone.
Start with your highest value applications rather than trying to cover everything at once. A tightly protected finance or HR system earns more security than a broad, shallow rollout across the whole estate.
Give people and systems the minimum access they need, and grant elevated rights only when required and only for as long as needed. Review access regularly and remove what is no longer used. Just in time administration, where admin rights are requested and time limited, sharply reduces the damage a stolen account can do.
Divide the network so that a breach in one area cannot spread freely across the rest. Combine this with continuous monitoring, so unusual behaviour is spotted and access can be pulled quickly. Zero Trust is never finished. It is a posture you maintain and refine as your people, devices and threats change.
Every organisation is different, and a playbook can only take you so far. If you would like a second pair of eyes, or you would rather we handled the work, our strategic security advisory team is here to help. Talk to us about your requirements.
