TL;DR
- Zero-trust architecture assumes threats can come from both inside and outside the network—no user or device is automatically trusted.
- It’s built on three core principles: verify everything, enforce least privilege, and assume breach.
- Benefits include stronger data protection, better threat detection, and improved compliance.
- Common challenges include employee resistance, technical complexity, and lack of upfront planning.
- Successful implementation requires clear communication, strategic solution selection, team buy-in, and phased testing.
- Zero-trust isn’t a product—it’s a long-term framework that demands continuous monitoring and adaptation.
Zero-trust architecture has increasingly become known as a pillar of modern security. In fact, according to Gartner, the number of large enterprises implementing zero-trust policies will grow by a factor of 10 over the next year. And there are good reasons for this. Zero-trust architecture has been shown to produce a range of benefits, including improved data security, better threat detection, lower rates of unauthorized access, and even increased compliance.
Yet, despite these benefits, zero-trust architecture has also earned a reputation (for better or worse) as being difficult to implement. “I’ve met many people who have faced a lot of issues when it comes to implementing zero-trust,” says Mohamed Ouardi, a cybersecurity engineer and zero-trust expert at Arab Tunisian Bank. “There is a lot of prior planning that needs to be done.”
In order to learn what it really takes to successfully implement zero-trust architecture, I chatted with Ouardi to get his advice. Here’s what he had to say.
What is zero-trust architecture?
In classical security architecture, the only threats that are worth paying attention to are the external ones. Anything inside the company network is assumed safe. However, the zero-trust approach questions this premise entirely.
“It changed the classical view of security,” said Ouardi. “With zero-trust architecture, we assume that the threat is both inside and outside. We assume that, at any time, we can be breached.”
As Ouardi laid it out, the zero-trust framework can be summed up most clearly by three principles. The first is this concept of no trust. Everything is dangerous inside and outside of an organization, and must be continuously verified as a result. The second is the idea of least privilege. In order to minimize the possibility of a breach, each user should only have access to what they need. Anything more may constitute a threat. Finally, the third is to assume breach. This means organizations should take a proactive approach by implementing security controls, shoring up defenses, and otherwise operating as if a breach has already occurred.
All of this can take time, Ouardi emphasized. But when it is fully realized, the result can be very effective.
Challenges of implementing zero-trust architecture
Putting zero-trust policies in place, however, isn’t as easy as pressing a button. The comprehensive and continuous nature of this framework can make implementation a challenge for many organizations. Here’s where Ouardi identified the most potent obstacles:
- Overcoming employee resistance. Internal friction is one of the most common challenges many organizations will face when adopting zero-trust policies. After all, it can be hard to break old habits. “People will complain,” warned Ouardi. “If they’re used to bringing their own device or connecting without authentication to your network, they might not like it.”
- Technical complexities. Although smaller organizations might be able to implement a zero-trust architecture relatively easily, the same isn’t always true for larger ones. “When you have an infrastructure that must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it can be a huge technical challenge,” said Ouardi. If vital services are unavailable or users cannot access core resources, the disruption can be costly.
- Inadequate planning. In the rush to bolster their security, many organizations can make the mistake of moving too fast and not properly assessing every device and application. As a result, said Ouardi, “they’ll end up having to troubleshoot problems, track down issues, and wasting a lot of time.” Not only is this inefficient, but this lack of planning can also leave glaring security gaps that may go unnoticed.
How to implement zero-trust architecture
Despite the challenges that companies may face when adopting a zero-trust framework, the benefits can be well worth it. All it takes to realize them is a more considered implementation approach. Here’s the basic roadmap Ouardi recommends.
- Start out by getting everyone on the same page. If employee resistance is a common obstacle most organizations face, then one of the most effective ways of countering it is to communicate to everyone about the need to adopt a zero-trust approach. “You need to clarify what you’re doing and why you’re doing it,” said Ouardi. “You should inform them of your plan, tell them when you’re starting, and what they should expect.” This way, everyone will have a chance to prepare.
- Take your time researching security solutions. When considering zero-trust security solutions, Ouardi emphasized the need to be careful. “First, you should take into account your financial situation,” he said. “Don’t choose something expensive if it’s not sustainable.” Closely related to this, he recommended taking time to closely evaluate the features of each solution. “You don’t want to purchase a product and then one day discover that it doesn’t contain everything you need.”
- Get buy-in when selecting your solution. Have you evaluated your features, considered your budget, and decided you’re ready to make your purchase? Not so fast, warned Ouardi. “Before you buy, you need to meet with your team and have extended conversation with the solution provider.” You’ll need to come up with a plan for technical implementation, how to accommodate any changes to your infrastructure, and any other security concerns. Once these have been addressed and you have agreement, you’ll be in a better position to move forward.
- Closely test and monitor the solution. Don’t jump right into organization-wide implementation. Instead, first test out your zero-trust framework within a limited area so that you can see what works and what doesn’t. This will make it easier to spot bugs, note weaknesses, and identify false positives (when access is unintentionally denied). “Give it a specific period, maybe a month or two depending on your organization,” said Ouardi. “Don’t move on until you are absolutely comfortable.”
- Implement company-wide. Once everything has been thoroughly evaluated and tested, you can move on to full implementation. Once you reach this stage, it’s important to keep monitoring and evaluating different parts of your program. But because you have taken your time selecting your solution and planning out its implementation, you should only encounter minimal issues.
Zero-trust architecture is ongoing
Although many organizations now view zero-trust architecture as a comprehensive answer to their security issues, Ouardi was more cautious. “Many companies make the mistake of thinking of zero-trust as a technology, a solution,” he said. “It’s not. It’s a framework. It’s about continuously authenticating, authorizing, and granting secure access to every device.”
“Even with zero-trust architecture,” he went on, “we won’t have 100 percent security. But that’s our job as security experts, right? We need to help minimize threats.”
Interested in learning more about how you can implement zero-trust security at your organization? Cybrary offers a comprehensive overview to get you started. Dive into that course, browse through our full catalog, or request a demo for your team to start accessing our curriculum.
