What is the concept of Zero Trust?

The concept of Zero Trust fundamentally revolves around the principle of "never trust, always verify." This means that no device, user, or application—whether inside or outside the network perimeter—should be trusted by default. Instead, strict identity verification is required for anyone or anything attempting to access resources. This approach helps mitigate risks associated with insider threats, compromised accounts, and vulnerabilities that could be exploited from both external and internal sources.

Zero Trust architecture emphasizes continuous verification and the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users have access only to the resources necessary for their roles. By applying strict identity checks and validating the context of access requests—such as user identity, device health, and the location of the connection—organizations enhance their security posture against unauthorized access and potential breaches.

This model contrasts sharply with approaches that assume security based on network location or trustworthiness, as it treats every access attempt as a potential threat. Hence, the correct answer reflects the essence of Zero Trust, focusing on rigorous identity verification for secured access to resources.