Cloud resources are reachable in ways classic perimeters never imagined. Zero Trust means verify identity continuously, grant least privilege, and assume networks are hostile.
Prefer private endpoints and identity-aware access over broad bastion exposure. Short-lived credentials beat standing VPN trust.
Segment workloads and encrypt east-west traffic where risk warrants it. Log authentication and authorization decisions for review.
Zero Trust is a direction, not a product SKU. Implement it in layers your teams can operate.
Map human and workload identities separately; they fail differently.
Encrypt sensitive east-west traffic where lateral movement risk is high.
Treat policy exceptions as temporary with owners and expiry dates.
Key takeaways
- Verify identity continuously; do not trust broad network location alone.
- Prefer private endpoints and short-lived credentials over standing VPN trust.
- Log authz decisions and segment high-risk workloads deliberately.
FAQ
Is Zero Trust a product we can buy?
No. It is an architecture direction combining identity, device posture, least privilege, and network controls you operate over time.
Where should we start in cloud?
Eliminate standing admin credentials, enforce MFA/PIM, private-ize data stores, and replace shared bastions with identity-aware access.