By Zac Abdulkadir, President and CEO of Netready
April 14, 2025

Zero Trust: Why Trust Is No Longer a Given in Cybersecurity

In today’s hyper-connected world, security no longer begins and ends at the perimeter. The digital walls we once relied on to keep threats out—firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection systems—are being tested like never before. Remote work, cloud infrastructure, and SaaS platforms have dissolved the traditional network edge. In response, businesses are embracing a new paradigm that assumes breach and verifies everything: Zero Trust.

What was once a buzzword has matured into a strategic imperative. Zero Trust is not a single product or silver bullet; it’s a security framework rooted in the principle of “never trust, always verify.” And it’s quickly becoming the new gold standard for modern enterprise security.

The Collapse of the Traditional Perimeter

The story starts with the changing nature of IT environments. A decade ago, most corporate applications lived in on-premises data centers. Employees came into the office, authenticated once, and were granted broad access inside the network. It was the digital equivalent of a castle-and-moat model: build a strong outer wall, and those inside were trusted.

But cybercrime evolved. Attackers stopped storming the gates and started sneaking in through phishing, social engineering, and compromised credentials. Once inside, lateral movement allowed them to escalate privileges and exfiltrate data unnoticed.

We saw this firsthand during a high-profile investigation featured in Cyber Crime Investigations, where a global firm suffered a multimillion-dollar breach because a contractor’s credentials were reused and trusted by default. The attacker moved undetected for weeks—all because internal access wasn’t segmented or challenged.

This kind of risk exposure is exactly what Zero Trust aims to eliminate.

What is Zero Trust, Really?

At its core, Zero Trust is a strategic security model that treats every user, device, and network request as untrusted—regardless of whether it originates inside or outside the network.

Zero Trust involves:

• Verifying explicitly: Always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points, including user identity, device health, location, and behavior.
• Applying least privilege access: Users and systems should only have the minimum access necessary to perform their tasks.
• Assuming breach: Design systems as if an attacker is already present—because in many cases, they are.

This approach aligns with what I call in Exposed to Secure the “Reality Security Principle”: security should mirror the real-world dynamics of risk, not the illusion of control. Trust must be earned continually—not given based on network location.

Why Businesses Are Making the Shift

The movement toward Zero Trust isn’t just technical, it’s driven by business needs:

1. Hybrid Work is Here to Stay: With remote and hybrid work models becoming permanent, employees access systems from personal devices and home networks. You can’t rely on a VPN tunnel to enforce security anymore.
2. Cloud and SaaS Proliferation: Applications like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and AWS are accessed over the internet. There's no perimeter around these services. You need identity-based controls at the application level.
3. Supply Chain Risk: Third-party access is one of the most common breach vectors. Zero Trust ensures that partners and contractors are tightly governed with granular, revocable permissions.
4. Ransomware and Credential Attacks: According to recent studies, 80% of breaches involve stolen or weak credentials. Zero Trust, combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and continuous monitoring, makes it harder for attackers to exploit those credentials.

Building a Zero Trust Architecture

Implementing Zero Trust is not an overnight transformation. It’s a journey that begins with visibility and risk-based prioritization. At Netready, we often guide clients through the following foundational steps:

1. Inventory Users, Devices, and Applications: You can't protect what you can't see. Start by mapping all endpoints, users, and cloud assets. Solutions like endpoint detection and response (EDR), identity governance, and asset discovery help build this baseline.
2. Strengthen Identity and Access Management (IAM): Enable strong authentication (MFA), enforce conditional access policies, and regularly audit permissions. Leverage identity providers like Azure AD or Okta that support Zero Trust principles.
3. Segment Your Network: Microsegmentation limits lateral movement. If a system is compromised, it shouldn't be able to “talk” freely across the network. Use software-defined networking to enforce policy at a granular level.
4. Monitor and Respond in Real Time: Integrate security analytics, user behavior analytics (UBA), and automated response. Assume that compromise will happen, and design systems that detect and contain threats rapidly.

Culture Change: The Human Side of Zero Trust

Zero Trust isn't just about technology, it’s a mindset. It requires rethinking workflows, user behavior, and even organizational structure.

Too often, security is seen as a blocker. But when implemented correctly, Zero Trust can improve user experience. With contextual access and passwordless authentication, users spend less time fighting security tools and more time getting work done—safely.

Executives must champion this shift, making security a business enabler, not just a compliance checkbox. When leaders frame Zero Trust as a way to protect customers, intellectual property, and operational continuity, adoption increases across departments.

The Future is Zero Trust – Whether You're Ready or Not

Governments and regulators are also embracing Zero Trust. The U.S. federal government has mandated Zero Trust adoption across agencies. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 60% of organizations will embrace Zero Trust as a starting point for security strategy. Those who resist risk being left exposed.

This isn’t fear-mongering—it’s foresight. In a digital age where data breaches cost millions and reputations are lost overnight, Zero Trust offers a path to resilience.

At Netready, we work with businesses across industries to make Zero Trust not just achievable, but business aligned. Whether it’s through secure cloud migrations, identity modernization, or managed detection and response, the goal is the same: protect what matters without slowing innovation.

Final Thoughts

Zero Trust isn’t a product you can buy—it’s a principle you live by. And just like in the real-world investigations I’ve led, the organizations that thrive are the ones who treat trust as a privilege, not a default.

Security doesn’t have to be complex. It must be intentional. With the right mindset and a roadmap tailored to your business, Zero Trust becomes more than a framework, it becomes your competitive advantage.

The cyber battlefield has changed. Trust is no longer given. It’s earned, continuously.

Are you ready?

Lets Discuss Your IT Strategy

Call Us Today 213-463-2100
Book a Free Consultation.

Zac Abdulkadir
President and CEO of Netready

With a career spanning more than 25 years, Zac Abdulkadir
is a recognized authority in cybersecurity and IT compliance,
dedicated to protecting businesses from evolving threats.