Zero Trust Security Model
Zero Trust is a security concept centered on the belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside their perimeters. This guide is part of the documentation available in SecBoard. It explains core Zero Trust principles—verify explicitly, least privilege, assume breach—and how to align policies, identity, access, and monitoring with that mindset. SecBoard modules such as Cabinet, Access, Document Register, SOC, Incident Register, Risk Assessment, and Framework Compliance support identity, least privilege, visibility, and evidence when used as part of a Zero Trust journey.
What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no implicit trust based on location (e.g. “inside the network”) or asset. Every access request is verified, and access is limited to what is needed for the task. The goal is to contain and limit damage if an account or device is compromised. Zero Trust is not a single product but a set of principles and capabilities: verify explicitly (identity, device, context); least privilege (minimal rights, just-in-time where possible); assume breach (segment, monitor, respond); and continuous assessment (ongoing verification and risk signals). Organizations adopt Zero Trust incrementally by strengthening identity, access, segmentation, and visibility.
Core Zero Trust principles
Authenticate and authorize every request using identity, device, location, and other signals. No default trust for “internal” traffic or users. Use MFA, device health, and conditional access.
Grant the minimum access needed for the role or task. Limit lateral movement with segment boundaries and role-based access. Use just-in-time and just-enough-access where feasible.
Design for the possibility that identities or systems are compromised. Segment networks and applications; encrypt and monitor; minimize blast radius. Have incident response and recovery ready.
Zero Trust pillars (summary)
| Pillar | Focus |
|---|---|
| Identity | Strong authentication (MFA), identity governance, lifecycle (on/off/change). Verify every sign-in and context. |
| Devices | Device inventory, health and compliance (patch, config). Only healthy, managed devices get access. |
| Applications | Application-level access control, visibility, and protection. No implicit trust by network location. |
| Data | Classify and protect data; control access by sensitivity. Encrypt and restrict flow. |
| Network | Segment; reduce reliance on network location as trust. Micro-segmentation and encrypted channels. |
| Visibility & analytics | Log and monitor; detect anomalies; drive conditional access and response. Assume breach. |
Getting started with Zero Trust
- Identity: Strengthen authentication (MFA for all, especially privileged); maintain accurate user and role data; remove orphaned and excessive access. Use identity as the primary control plane.
- Access: Enforce least privilege; review access regularly; use groups/roles and attribute-based logic where possible. Document who has access to what (e.g. SecBoard Cabinet).
- Segment: Limit lateral movement; segment critical assets and data. Use network and application-level segmentation.
- Monitor: Centralise logs; monitor access and behaviour; use signals for conditional access and incident response. Assume breach and reduce time to detect and respond.
- Policy and governance: Document Zero Trust objectives and policies; align with risk assessment; evidence controls for compliance (e.g. Framework Compliance).
How SecBoard modules support Zero Trust
SecBoard does not implement Zero Trust by itself but helps you govern identity, document policy, monitor and respond, and evidence controls.
| SecBoard module | Zero Trust pillar | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet (app_cabinet) | Identity, least privilege | Manage users and groups; assign permissions and scope. Enforce least privilege and regular access review. Document “who has access to what” for identity governance. Cabinet Users Guide and Org Structure Guide available. |
| Access (app_access) | Identity, applications | Manage application and resource access. Use with Cabinet for role-based and least-privilege access. Combine with MFA and conditional access at IdP/app level. |
| Document Register (app_doc) | Policy, governance | Store Zero Trust and access policies, acceptable use, and procedures. Link to Framework Compliance. Mandatory Processes for recurring access reviews and control checks. |
| SOC / Wazuh (app_soc) | Visibility, assume breach | Centralise logs; monitor access and changes. Support detection and response. Use for visibility and “assume breach” evidence. FIM Dashboard Guide available. Attach reports in Framework Compliance. |
| Incident Register (app_incident) | Assume breach, response | Record and manage security incidents. Document containment and response. Supports “assume breach” and response readiness. Link to Framework Compliance. |
| Risk Assessment (app_risk) | Risk-based access | Assess risk to drive prioritisation (identity, segmentation, monitoring). Document risk treatment and link to Zero Trust controls. Evidence for Framework Compliance. |
| Asset management (app_asset) | Devices, data scope | Maintain inventory of devices and critical assets. Support segmentation and “protect what matters” scope. Asset Guide available. |
| Framework Compliance | Evidence, governance | Map Zero Trust–related controls (identity, access, monitoring) to frameworks (e.g. NIST, ISO 27001). Attach policy and evidence. Track status for audits. |
| Study / Training (app_study) | Identity, awareness | Train staff on secure behaviour and policy. Support identity and access hygiene (e.g. reporting suspicious access). Use for awareness evidence. |
Quick mapping: Zero Trust pillar → SecBoard
| Pillar | SecBoard modules to use |
|---|---|
| Identity | Cabinet, Access, Document Register (policy), Study (awareness). |
| Least privilege | Cabinet, Access, Document Register, Mandatory Processes (access review). |
| Visibility, assume breach | SOC, Incident Register, Document Register (response plan). |
| Devices / assets | Asset management, Document Register (device policy). |
| Policy and evidence | Framework Compliance, Document Register, Risk Assessment. |
Zero Trust and SecBoard
This guide is part of the documentation available in SecBoard. Zero Trust means not automatically trusting anything inside or outside the perimeter. Use SecBoard Cabinet and Access for identity and least-privilege access; Document Register for policies; SOC and Incident Register for visibility and response; Risk Assessment and Asset for scope and prioritisation; Framework Compliance to evidence controls. Adopt Zero Trust incrementally and document your approach in SecBoard.
Verify explicitly, apply least privilege, and assume breach—with SecBoard supporting governance, visibility, and compliance evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zero Trust? — A security model that assumes no implicit trust. Every access is verified; least privilege is applied; organizations assume breach and limit blast radius through segmentation and monitoring.
Is Zero Trust only for large organizations? — No. The principles (verify explicitly, least privilege, assume breach) can be applied at any scale. Start with identity and access, then add segmentation and visibility as you grow.
How do we start? — Strengthen identity (MFA, accurate user/role data); enforce least privilege and regular access review; improve visibility (logging, monitoring); document policy and response. Use SecBoard to document and evidence these steps.
How does SecBoard support Zero Trust? — Cabinet and Access for identity and least privilege; Document Register for policies; SOC for visibility; Incident Register for response; Risk Assessment and Asset for scope; Framework Compliance to evidence controls. SecBoard does not replace IdP, EDR, or network controls but supports governance and evidence.