The National Security Agency (NSA) has announced the launch of its new Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines (ZIG) Webpage, designed to support organizations planning or currently implementing Zero Trust (ZT) architecture. The initiative is aimed particularly at National Security Systems (NSS), Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and Department of Defense (DoD) system owners.
According to the NSA, the ZIG webpage streamlines more than 1,000 pages of technical documentation into an interactive and customizable platform, making Zero Trust guidance more accessible and easier to apply in operational environments.
The platform is intended to help organizations organize and prioritize cybersecurity investments and operations while ensuring comprehensive coverage of critical security functions. By simplifying implementation guidance, the NSA hopes to accelerate adoption of Zero Trust principles across government and defense-related systems.
Organizations interested in learning more can visit the official ZIG webpage for additional resources and implementation guidance.
Overview
Zero Trust is “a collection of concepts and ideas designed to minimize uncertainty in enforcing accurate, least privilege per-request access decisions in information systems and services in the face of a network viewed as compromised.” (NIST SP 800-207) Zero Trust concepts assume that a breach is inevitable or has likely already occurred, so implementations constantly monitor for anomalous or malicious activity and continuously verify and limit access to automatically contain damage from the breach. To continuously verify and limit access, Zero Trust concepts focus on allowing only authorized entities to access network resources by making access control decisions and enforcement as granular as possible.
Zero Trust Guidelines Primer
The purpose of the Primer is to provide an overview and linkage to the overarching guidance provided by the DoW, CISA, and NIST for achieving a ZTA at the Target-level. The Primer provides direction and guidance for using the ZIGs, which outline the steps to implement the technologies and processes that will enable the Target-level ZT Capabilities, Activities, and Expected Outcomes described in the DoW CIO ZT Framework. The Primer describes the methodology used to break down the ZT Activities further so that system owners and practitioners have a deep understanding of how to best utilize the ZIGs.
The Primer is a companion to the ZIGs, which map to the DoW-defined Target-level ZT Implementation.
Download the full Primer.
Discovery Phase – DoD Zero Trust Framework
The Discovery Phase of the DoW Zero Trust framework is designed to collect critical information about the current IT environment. This includes identifying and documenting:
- Data, Applications, Assets, Services (DAAS)
- Users
- Privileged Entities (PEs)
- Non-Privileged Entities (NPEs)
This foundational phase ensures a comprehensive understanding of the operational landscape, supporting informed decision-making and strategic planning.
The Department of War(DoW) has 14 core capabilities in the Discovery Phase that guide the assessment and understanding of the current environment.
Download the full Discovery Phase ZIG.
Phase One – DoD Zero Trust Framework
The ZIGs are structured to align with the DoW’s Target-Level phased implementation strategy. Phase One encompasses 36 Activities that enable 30 Capabilities specific to this phase. In the Phase One ZIG, the Activities build upon or further refine the organization environment(s) to establish a secure foundation that supports ZT Capabilities.
Download the full Phase One ZIG.
Phase Two – DoD Zero Trust Framework
The ZIGs are structured to align with the DoW’s Target-Level phased implementation strategy. Phase Two encompasses 41 Activities that enable 34 Capabilities specific to this phase. These Activities represent the initial integration of distinct Zero Trust (ZT) foundational solutions within the Component environment. Remaining Activities and Capabilities are addressed in other ZIGs, namely Discovery and Phase One, as appropriate.
- Phase Two ZIG includes 41 Activities supporting 34 Capabilities.
- These Activities initiate the integration of core ZT solutions within the Component environment.
Download the full Phase Two ZIG.
DoW Zero Trust Pillars
📌 User Pillar
The User Pillar focuses on securing and managing access to Department of Defense Authoritative Data Sources by both human and non-human entities. It emphasizes identity-based controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Privileged Access Management (PAM) to safeguard sensitive functions. To maintain a secure environment, organizations must continuously authenticate users, authorize access, and monitor behavior patterns, ensuring that all interactions are governed, protected, and aligned with Zero Trust (ZT) principles.
📌 Device Pillar
The Device Pillar focuses on securing and managing all devices that interact with enterprise resources. It emphasizes continuous, real-time authentication, inspection, and assessment to ensure devices are trustworthy before granting access. Tools like Mobile Device Management (MDM), Comply to Connect (C2C), and Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) help evaluate device posture and enforce access controls.
Every access request should trigger a device-level check, examining factors such as compromise status, software versions, security protections, encryption settings, and configuration integrity. A Zero Trust (ZT) approach requires the ability to identify, authenticate, inventory, authorize, isolate, secure, remediate, and control all devices across the environment.
📌 Application and Workload Pillar
The Application and Workload Pillar focuses on securing all tasks and services, whether running on-premises or in the cloud, across the full technology stack, from the application layer down to the hypervisor. This includes managing and protecting applications, virtual machines, and compute containers to ensure they operate within a trusted environment.
Zero Trust (ZT) principles are applied through secure delivery methods like proxy technologies, which serve as decision and enforcement points for access control. Security begins at the development stage, where source code and shared libraries are rigorously vetted using DevSecOps practices to embed protection from the start.
📌 Data Pillar
The Data Pillar centers on protecting an organization’s Authoritative Data Sources by ensuring visibility, classification, and control across the enterprise. A successful Zero Trust (ZT) architecture begins with a thorough understanding of the data—its mission criticality, sensitivity, and usage patterns.
Organizations must implement a robust data management strategy that includes consistent ingestion of valid data, classification by importance, schema development, and encryption of data both at rest and in transit. Technologies such as Digital Rights Management (DRM), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Software Defined Environments, and granular data-tagging play key roles in securing critical data and enforcing access policies.
📌 Network and Environment Pillar
The Network and Environment Pillar focuses on securing both on-premises and off-premises infrastructure by segmenting, isolating, and controlling access at a granular level. Through macro-segmentation and microsegmentation, organizations can enforce precise policy restrictions and strengthen protections around Authoritative Data Sources.
This pillar emphasizes the importance of managing privileged access, monitoring internal and external data flows, and preventing lateral movement within the network. By applying Zero Trust principles, organizations gain tighter control over their environments and reduce the risk of unauthorized access or data compromise.
📌 Automation and Orchestration Pillar
The Automation and Orchestration pillar focuses on replacing manual security tasks with policy-driven, automated actions that operate across the enterprise with speed and scale. By integrating Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms with tools like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), organizations can unify and streamline disparate security systems.
Automated security responses rely on clearly defined processes and consistent policy enforcement across all environments. This enables proactive command and control, reduces response times, and strengthens overall security posture, core principles of a Zero Trust enterprise.
📌 Visibility and Analytics Pillar
The Visibility and Analytics pillar enables organizations to gain contextual insights into performance, behavior, and activity baselines across all other ZT pillars. This enhanced visibility strengthens the ability to detect anomalous behavior and supports dynamic adjustments to security policies and real-time access decisions.
By leveraging telemetry, sensor data, and other monitoring systems, organizations build a comprehensive picture of their environment. A Zero Trust enterprise goes further by capturing and inspecting traffic at the packet level, beyond basic network telemetry, to uncover hidden threats and intelligently guide defensive actions.
This continuous observation and analysis ensure that security decisions are informed, adaptive, and aligned with Zero Trust principles.
NSA Zero Trust Guidance: Cybersecurity Information Sheets (CSI)
The initial series of CSIs focuses on Zero Trust and provides an overview of the seven pillars of Zero Trust, along with an introductory CSI addressing the Zero Trust model as a whole. Collectively, these CSIs offer comprehensive security guidance for National Security Systems, the Department of War, and other network owners and operators. these guides supports the implementation of Zero Trust principles and the maturation of cybersecurity protections, incident response capabilities, and operational resilience over time.
Download CSI: Embracing a Zero Trust Security Model (February 2021)
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity throughout the User Pillar (April 2023 Update)
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Device Pillar
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Application and Workload Pillar
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Data Pillar
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Network and Environment Pillar
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Automation and Orchestration Pillar
Download CSI: Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Visibility and Analytics Pillar
Access the NSA Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines webpage HERE
