What is a Zero Trust security model?

A Zero Trust security model is fundamentally centered around the principle of "never trust, always verify." This model emphasizes that no user, device, or application should be trusted by default, regardless of its location within or outside the network perimeter. Instead, every access request must undergo strict verification before granting permissions, thereby reducing the risk of insider threats and minimizing the potential impact of external attacks.

Implementing a Zero Trust model often involves multifactor authentication, continuous monitoring, and the least-privilege access principles. By requiring strict verification for all requests, the model ensures that users and entities are authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated in real-time, thus enhancing the overall security posture of an organization.

In contrast, other models that either assume trust for internal traffic or rely solely on external mechanisms fail to provide the rigorous checks needed in today’s complex cybersecurity landscape.