Zero Trust Evaluation Checklist for Organizations

This guide presents a checklist for organizations to evaluate zero trust solutions and discern genuine implementations from those that merely claim to adhere to zero trust principles. It outlines five critical questions that should be asked before committing to a zero trust solution. The first question addresses whether the solution replaces VPNs or eliminates network access entirely, emphasizing that true zero trust allows users to connect directly to applications without exposing them to the internet. The second question focuses on lateral movement, noting that true zero trust enforces least-privilege access to prevent compromised users from accessing other applications. The third question examines whether zero trust is applied uniformly across all users and devices, highlighting the risks of fragmented implementations. The fourth question assesses the complexity of the solution, advocating for consolidated security tools. Finally, the fifth question evaluates user experience, asserting that effective zero trust solutions should enhance productivity while maintaining security.