Zero Trust Architecture Cheat Sheet
Explains zero trust principles, core architectural components, and practical steps for shifting from perimeter-based to identity-based security.
2 PagesAdvancedFeb 15, 2026
Core Zero Trust Principles
The foundational tenets defined by NIST SP 800-207.
- Never trust, always verify- No implicit trust based on network location (inside vs. outside the perimeter)
- Least-privilege access- Grant minimum necessary access per request, not broad standing access
- Assume breach- Design controls as if an attacker is already inside the network
- Continuous verification- Re-authenticate and re-authorize based on ongoing signals, not one-time login
- Micro-segmentation- Enforce granular access boundaries between individual workloads, not just network zones
Key Architectural Components
Building blocks of a zero trust deployment (per NIST SP 800-207).
- Policy Decision Point (PDP)- Evaluates access requests against policy and current context
- Policy Enforcement Point (PEP)- Enforces the PDP's decision, allowing or blocking the connection
- Identity provider (IdP)- Authenticates users/devices and supplies identity attributes for policy decisions
- Device posture assessment- Verifies device health/compliance (patched OS, EDR running) before granting access
- ZTNA- Zero Trust Network Access; replaces traditional VPN with per-app, identity-aware access
Signals Used in Access Decisions
Contextual factors evaluated on every access request.
- User identity & role- Who is requesting access and what's their authorization level
- Device trust/posture- Is the device managed, patched, and free of known compromise indicators
- Location & network- Anomalous geography or IP reputation can trigger step-up authentication
- Behavioral analytics- Deviation from a user's normal access patterns
- Resource sensitivity- Higher-value resources require stronger verification
Pro Tip
Start a zero trust migration with your highest-value assets and identity/device posture signals first, not a wholesale network overhaul — trying to zero-trust everything at once typically stalls the project entirely.
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