Zero Trust is a security model that operates on the principle of 'never trust, always verify.' It assumes that every part of your network could be potentially hostile, regardless of whether it is inside or outside the traditional perimeter. This approach is increasingly important as organizations face threats that can bypass initial security measures, such as firewalls, and exploit inherent trust within the network. By implementing Zero Trust, organizations can enhance their security posture and minimize the risk of breaches.

Zero Trust addresses several significant security challenges, including the risk of compromised credentials, which account for nearly one-third of breaches according to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. It also tackles the issue of lateral movement within networks, where attackers exploit trust to access sensitive data. By continuously verifying users, devices, and applications, and enforcing strict access controls, Zero Trust helps organizations limit the potential impact of security incidents.

The three pillars of Zero Trust are: 1) Zero Trust for the Workforce, which ensures that only authorized users and secure devices can access applications; 2) Zero Trust for Workloads, focusing on secure interactions between applications and services; and 3) Zero Trust for the Workplace, which secures all devices connecting to enterprise networks. Each pillar addresses specific risks and helps organizations create a comprehensive security framework that adapts to the evolving threat landscape.