Zero Trust Architecture

What Is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a security model that eliminates implicit trust from every network transaction. Every user, device, and connection is verified — every time.

Never Trust, Always Verify

Traditional perimeter-based security assumed that everything inside the network boundary could be trusted. That assumption is no longer valid. Remote work, cloud adoption, and the proliferation of OT/IoT devices have dissolved the traditional network perimeter.

IT security solutions — VPNs, firewalls, SDNs — trust what is operating inside the network. But these systems cannot monitor the thousands of different operating systems driving OT and IoT devices or safeguard the various points of entry. Once a hacker gains access to any part of the network, they can move freely, access data from other areas, and deploy malware and ransomware.

"Digital transformation and adoption of mobile, cloud, and edge deployment models fundamentally change network traffic patterns, rendering existing network and security models obsolete."

— Gartner

Zero Trust replaces perimeter security with identity-centric, cryptographic verification of every access request — regardless of location, device, or user. It is dominating network security planning in government and business for exactly this reason.

Core ZTA Principles

The foundational principles defined by NIST SP 800-207 that define a true Zero Trust Architecture.

Verify Explicitly
Always Authenticate
  • Authenticate and authorize using all available data points
  • Identity, location, device health, behavioral context
  • No implicit trust based on network location or prior access
Least Privilege Access
Limit Exposure
  • Access only what is needed for each specific task
  • No standing permissions or implicit access rights
  • Micro-segmented zones with different access privileges
Assume Breach
Design for Resilience
  • Design as if the adversary is already inside
  • Segment access, encrypt all communications
  • Continuously monitor and contain anomalies

What Zero Trust Requires

To achieve Zero Trust protection, organizations need to deploy network security that enables them to:

✓

Identify All Endpoints

Ensure all connected devices are discovered — including OT and IoT assets not recognized by conventional IT security tools.

✓

Separate Network Traffic

Apply cryptographic micro-segmentation to create isolated zones that limit lateral movement and contain breaches.

✓

Continuously Monitor

Maintain situational-aware, continuous monitoring and detection across all network devices and endpoints 24/7/365.

✓

Enable Rapid Deployment

New devices must be rapidly onboarded into the Zero Trust environment without requiring changes to existing infrastructure.


See How Onclave Implements ZTA →

Aligned with NIST SP 800-207

Onclave's TrustedPlatform aligns with the technologies and techniques recommended in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Zero Trust Architecture standard — providing visibility and controlled communications between remote users, devices, applications, workloads, data centers, and cloud environments.


See the Onclave Difference →

Ready to Implement Zero Trust?

Talk to an Onclave specialist about your environment and get a customized Zero Trust roadmap.

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