Cyberattacks are now part of everyday life. But in many conversations with IT managers, we hear: “We actually feel well protected.”
This perception is often misleading – because attack strategies are evolving faster than traditional protection concepts. This is precisely where the idea of Zero Trust comes in – not as a buzzword, but as an architectural principle for sustainable cyber resilience.
A recent study by Zscaler shows how widespread this security paradox is: Many companies believe they are resilient – but have not yet adapted their strategies to today's threat landscape. We are taking these findings as an opportunity to highlight five practical areas of action that companies can use to implement zero trust at their own pace.
Traditional security models based on protecting the network perimeter are no longer sufficient in the age of cloud, remote work, and hybrid infrastructures. Today, the motto is Zero Trust. Security is not added as an afterthought, but built into the architecture – in other words, resilience by design.
Zero trust means never trusting, but continuously verifying every connection, every access, and every transaction (verify explicitly) and restricting user access exclusively to the areas and resources that are absolutely essential for their work (least privilege). In addition, it is consistently assumed that the IT environment can be compromised and the infrastructure is prepared accordingly in the event of an intrusion (assume breach).
How to implement Zero Trust?
1. From firewalls to access controls: Rethink security
Traditional perimeter-based security solutions such as firewalls and VPNs are still needed in many cases, but they cannot reliably defend against modern attacks. In some cases, they actually increase the attack surface and allow attackers to move laterally within the network.
Recommended action:
The first step toward zero trust is a change in thinking: away from network access and toward application-based access. Check which systems and applications really need to be protected and make access as granular as possible. It is important that you no longer control network access, but rather access to specific applications. Possehl Secure supports you in evaluating existing security architectures and gradually transitioning to a zero trust structure – pragmatically, without replacing everything at once.
2. Data protection does not end at the cloud
Today, data is everywhere: on end devices, in SaaS applications, in cloud environments, or with external partners. Therefore, it is no longer just the location that is crucial, but also access. Traditional security architectures were designed to protect on-premise data and often leave this spread-out data unprotected.
Recommended action:
Develop a consistent understanding of where your sensitive data is located and who actually needs it. Based on this, you can define Zero Trust policies that apply regardless of storage location – automatically and consistently. The experts at Possehl Secure can help you analyze data flows and set the right priorities.
3. Hybrid working requires a focus on identity, rather than on location
Hybrid working models are fundamentally changing the approach to security. Employees need secure and fast access to company resources from anywhere, without having to go through complex VPN structures.
Recommended action:
Zero Trust enables exactly that: identity-based, context-dependent access that combines productivity and security. The key is that access is no longer controlled by network location, but by verified identities and clearly defined permissions. Possehl Secure helps companies analyze existing access processes and gradually transition to a Zero Trust model – without disrupting day-to-day work.
4. Cloud-native security starts at the development stage
Many companies are now creating their own cloud applications or platform services. However, security is often only considered after the fact. Zero Trust takes a different approach: security is integrated into development and operations right from the start – security by design.
Recommended action:
Ensure that permissions, API access, and configuration guidelines are designed according to Zero Trust principles from the outset of development work. This will help you avoid shadow IT and minimize misconfigurations. Our experts will support you in defining security principles and establishing appropriate processes.
5. Transparency is the key to resilience
Without transparency, security remains piecemeal. Isolated monitoring tools for applications, networks, and end devices make it difficult for IT operations and service desk teams to gain a holistic view of the digital cosmos. Problems are usually only solved once they have already affected users and been reported. But the overall view is crucial: What is the real status of applications, network paths, and end devices?
Recommended action:
Consistent and continuous monitoring allows risks to be identified early on, before they affect operations. Possehl Secure helps you consolidate data sources and gain actionable insights from them – so that security is not just reactive, but proactive.
Resilience by Design makes the difference
Zero Trust is not a project that can be “rolled out” – it is a strategic development that affects the organization, processes, and technology in equal measure. This is precisely what Resilience by Design means: security is not reactive, but becomes an integral part of the architecture. Solutions such as Zscaler can provide a technical foundation for this – but the security concept behind it is crucial.
As a partner, Possehl Secure supports companies in finding the right starting position: from the initial situation analysis to the step-by-step implementation of a resilient security architecture. Take the first step toward Resilience by Design and get in touch with us.
More about Zero Trust Protection
Study Insight:
According to the Zscaler study “Unlock the Resilience Factor,” more than half of German companies have experienced a cyberattack in the last six months – yet 94% consider their resilience measures to be effective. The discrepancy shows that many strategies are not yet geared toward current challenges.