NIST Zero Trust Architecture: Never Trust, Always Verify

NIST Special Publication **800-207** defines **Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)** as cybersecurity paradigms that eliminate implicit trust based on network location. Access decisions use identity, device state, and resource sensitivity on every request.

Core concepts include **Policy Engine**, **Policy Administrator**, and **Policy Enforcement Point** components coordinating authentication, authorization, and telemetry. Micro-segmentation limits lateral movement inside corporate networks and cloud VPCs.

Implementations combine SSO (OIDC/SAML), device compliance checks (MDM), MFA, and least-privilege RBAC/ABAC. Logging feeds SIEM for anomaly detection.

Zero Trust is a journey, not a single product purchase. Read NIST SP 800-207 and CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model when planning phases; adapt to hybrid work and SaaS-heavy estates.