Zero Trust Relies on Teamwork, Federal Cyber Leaders Say

Federal cyber leaders emphasize the importance of teamwork in implementing a Zero Trust security approach. Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no user, device, or network is trustworthy, and requires constant verification and authentication of every device, user, and application trying to access resources. During a panel discussion at a recent cybersecurity summit, leaders from the National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Department of Defense emphasized that Zero Trust is not a product or a tool, but a security model that requires collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders, including IT teams, security professionals, and end-users. They also highlighted the importance of understanding the risks and tradeoffs associated with implementing Zero Trust and recommended starting with small pilot projects to build momentum and demonstrate value.

Federal cyber leaders from NASA, DOE, and HHS have emphasized the importance of communication and collaboration among agencies as they implement zero trust strategies. They recognize the need to work across service lines and share common guidance and goals to achieve successful implementation. They also noted the benefits of zero trust in creating more robust user profiles and preventing fraud. Cross-platform communication will help prevent federal sectors from experiencing repeated challenges and help identify best use cases and methods for zero trust implementation.