Zero Trust Architecture

Never Trust.
Always Verify.

Implement a comprehensive Zero Trust architecture — from identity verification and micro-segmentation to continuous adaptive access across every pillar.

NIST 800-207 AlignedMulti-Pillar ApproachEnablement-First
Zero Trust Pillars
Identity
Weak MFA, no Conditional Access, implicit trust
Devices
No posture assessment, unmanaged endpoints
Network
Flat networks, VPN-based access, no segmentation
Applications & Data
Broad access, no classification, no DLP
Plaidnox Zero Trust Enablement

We don't just deploy ZTNA — we build comprehensive Zero Trust programmes across all five pillars with phased roadmaps your team can execute.

92% Surface Reduction
Eliminate implicit trust everywhere
92%
Attack Surface Reduction
Eliminated implicit trust and standing access
85%
Fewer Lateral Movement Paths
Micro-segmentation and identity-aware access
100%
Access Request Verification
Every request evaluated in real-time
60%
Reduction in VPN Costs
ZTNA replaces legacy remote access

Platforms We Deploy & Manage

Zero Trust Platforms We Work With

Multi-vendor expertise across ZTNA, SASE, micro-segmentation, and identity-first Zero Trust.

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange

Cloud-native ZTNA, SWG, CASB, and DLP delivered as a unified platform with inline inspection and policy enforcement.

Palo Alto Prisma Access / SASE

Converged SASE platform with ZTNA 2.0, cloud SWG, CASB, ADEM, and autonomous digital experience management.

Microsoft Entra Private Access

Identity-centric ZTNA replacing legacy VPN with Conditional Access, Global Secure Access, and Entra ID integration.

Cloudflare Zero Trust

Developer-friendly Zero Trust with Access, Gateway, Browser Isolation, and Email Security on a global edge network.

Illumio / Guardicore

Micro-segmentation platforms providing host-based enforcement, workload visibility, and lateral movement containment.

Okta / CrowdStrike Identity

Identity-first Zero Trust with adaptive authentication, device trust, and identity threat detection and response.

The Plaidnox Difference

Why Enablement Matters as Much as the Technology

Why Zero Trust Programmes Stall

ZTNA is deployed for remote access but legacy VPN remains for everything else

Conditional Access policies exist but are too permissive to provide real security

Micro-segmentation is on the roadmap but nobody has mapped application dependencies

Zero Trust is treated as a product purchase instead of an architectural transformation

Most Zero Trust programmes stall because they focus on deploying products instead of transforming architecture, policies, and operational practices across all five pillars.

How Plaidnox Is Different

Building phased roadmaps that deliver measurable security improvement at every stage

Training your team to operate, tune, and extend Zero Trust policies independently

Mapping application dependencies before implementing segmentation — not after

Measuring maturity progress against NIST 800-207 with quarterly reviews and adjustments

The result is a Zero Trust programme that matures over time because your team owns the architecture, understands the policies, and has the skills to evolve it.

What We Deploy

Zero Trust Capabilities

From ZTNA and micro-segmentation to SASE — complete Zero Trust enablement.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

We replace legacy VPN with identity-aware, context-driven access to applications — granting access per-session based on user identity, device posture, location, risk score, and application sensitivity. ZTNA eliminates the concept of a "trusted network" — every access request is evaluated individually regardless of where the user is connecting from. Applications are never exposed to the internet, and users only see the applications they are authorised to access. The result is a dramatically smaller attack surface and better user experience than traditional VPN.

Micro-Segmentation

Granular network and workload segmentation that prevents lateral movement, even if perimeter defences are breached. We design and implement micro-segmentation using host-based enforcement (Illumio, Guardicore) or network-based controls (firewalls, SDN) depending on your environment and maturity. Segmentation policies are built from workload communication maps — understanding what actually talks to what before applying restrictive policies. The goal is to contain breaches to the smallest possible blast radius.

Continuous Verification

Real-time identity, device posture, and behavioural risk assessment at every access request. Conditional Access policies evaluate signals including user risk, device compliance, sign-in risk, location, impossible travel, and application sensitivity before granting access — and continue evaluating throughout the session. If risk signals change mid-session (device falls out of compliance, anomalous behaviour detected), access is stepped up or revoked automatically. This is Zero Trust in practice — not just at the gate, but throughout the session.

Visibility & Analytics

Full visibility into who is accessing what, from where, when, and how — across on-premises, cloud, and SaaS applications. Traffic flows, authentication events, and access decisions are centralised for monitoring, anomaly detection, and risk scoring. Dashboards provide both operational and executive views — analysts see real-time access patterns and anomalies, while leadership sees adoption metrics, risk trends, and compliance posture. Visibility is the foundation of Zero Trust — you cannot enforce what you cannot see.

Least Privilege & Dynamic Policy

Dynamic access policies that grant minimum required permissions based on role, context, and real-time risk level. Policies are designed to be adaptive — a user accessing a low-risk application from a managed device on a corporate network gets seamless access, while the same user accessing a high-risk application from an unmanaged device in an unusual location gets stepped-up authentication or is blocked entirely. Policies are reviewed quarterly and tuned based on access patterns and business requirements.

SASE & SSE Architecture

Secure Access Service Edge architecture combining ZTNA, SWG, CASB, FWaaS, and DLP into a unified, cloud-delivered security platform. For organisations with distributed workforces, branch offices, and multi-cloud environments, SASE provides consistent security policy enforcement regardless of user location. We design and deploy SASE architectures that consolidate point solutions into a single platform — reducing complexity, improving user experience, and providing centralised visibility and policy management.

Our Approach

Zero Trust Implementation Journey

From maturity assessment to continuous adaptation — Zero Trust done right.

01

Zero Trust Maturity Assessment

We evaluate your current architecture against NIST 800-207 and the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model across all five pillars — identity, devices, network, applications, and data. The assessment identifies where you have implicit trust, where access decisions lack context, and where lateral movement is possible. For organisations starting their Zero Trust journey, we establish a baseline maturity score. For those already in progress, we identify the highest-impact improvements to prioritise next.

02

Architecture & Roadmap Design

We design your Zero Trust architecture spanning all five pillars — with specific technology decisions, policy designs, and integration requirements for each. The architecture accounts for your existing technology investments, compliance requirements, user experience expectations, and operational maturity. The roadmap is phased — quick wins first (Conditional Access, MFA gaps, VPN migration), followed by deeper capabilities (micro-segmentation, continuous verification, data classification). Every phase delivers measurable security improvement.

03

Identity & Device Trust Foundation

The identity and device pillars are the foundation of Zero Trust. We deploy strong authentication (phishing-resistant MFA, Conditional Access), device compliance checks (posture assessment, certificate-based trust), and continuous verification policies. Identity is the control plane — every access decision is tied to a verified identity with evaluated risk signals. Device trust ensures that only managed, compliant, and healthy devices can access sensitive resources. These two pillars enable everything that follows.

04

Network & Application Segmentation

ZTNA replaces VPN for remote and branch access. Micro-segmentation restricts lateral movement between workloads. Application-level access controls ensure that users only reach the specific applications they are authorised to use. Software-defined perimeter makes applications invisible to unauthorised users. Network policies are built from actual traffic patterns — not assumptions — and validated before enforcement to avoid connectivity disruptions.

05

Continuous Monitoring & Adaptation

Automated policy enforcement, behavioural analytics, and iterative improvement across all trust pillars. Session-level risk evaluation continues throughout access — not just at initial authentication. Policy effectiveness is monitored through KPIs including adoption rates, policy match rates, risk score distributions, and access anomalies. Quarterly reviews assess maturity progress against the roadmap, adjust priorities based on emerging threats, and continuously tighten policies as the organisation matures.

Where We Help

Zero Trust Use Cases

VPN to ZTNA Migration

Replace legacy VPN with identity-first, per-application access — improving security, user experience, and reducing infrastructure costs.

Hybrid & Remote Workforce Security

Consistent security policy for remote, hybrid, and office workers regardless of location, device, or network.

Cloud Application Access Control

Granular access policies for SaaS and cloud applications with real-time risk evaluation and inline data protection.

Third-Party & Vendor Access

Time-limited, context-aware access for contractors and vendors without VPN, agents, or permanent credentials.

M&A Integration Security

Secure workforce integration during mergers and acquisitions with identity federation and segmented application access.

Regulatory Compliance (NIST, CMMC)

Zero Trust architectures aligned to NIST 800-207, CMMC 2.0, and CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model requirements.

OT/IT Network Convergence

Secure OT/IT convergence with micro-segmentation, identity-based access, and protocol-aware policy enforcement.

Insider Threat Mitigation

Behavioural analytics, continuous session evaluation, and least-privilege enforcement to reduce insider threat risk.

Deliverables

What You Receive

Zero Trust Maturity Assessment Report

Comprehensive assessment across all five pillars with maturity scores, gap analysis, and prioritised roadmap aligned to NIST 800-207.

Zero Trust Architecture Documentation

Full architecture documentation including policy designs, technology decisions, integration maps, and phased implementation roadmap.

ZTNA & SASE Deployment Package

Complete deployment artefacts including ZTNA configurations, Conditional Access policies, SASE setup, and integration documentation.

Team Enablement & Policy Runbooks

Operational runbooks for policy management, access troubleshooting, device compliance, and Zero Trust incident response.

Monthly Zero Trust Metrics Reports

Monthly reporting on adoption rates, policy effectiveness, risk score distributions, access anomalies, and maturity progress.

Quarterly Maturity Reviews

Structured quarterly reviews assessing maturity progress, tightening policies, and adjusting priorities based on emerging threats.

Start Your Zero Trust Journey.
Build Architecture That Defends.

Start with a free Zero Trust maturity assessment aligned to NIST 800-207. Walk away with clarity on your maturity across all five pillars and a phased roadmap to improve.