The Road to Zero Trust (Security)

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has the ability to fundamentally change the effectiveness of security and data sharing across DoD networks. From a security perspective, ZTA can better track and block external attackers, while limiting security breaches resulting from internal human error. From a data sharing perspective, ZTA can better manage rules of access for users and devices across DoD to facilitate secure sharing, from the enterprise center to the tactical edge. Furthermore, the network design and flexibility of ZTA will help DoD more rapidly adopt and implement critical network technologies and enablers, ranging from cloud computing to artificial intelligence and machine learning.

DoD cybersecurity is at a critical juncture. Its networks are growing in size and complexity, requiring massive amounts of rapid data transfer to maintain situational awareness on the digital and physical battlefield. This expansion is stretching existing cybersecurity apparatuses to their breaking point, as an ever-growing number of users and endpoints increases the attack surface of the network.