An attacker is already inside your network. The onboarding process for the Zero Trust Maturity Model is how you take back control.

Zero Trust is not a single product. It is a security framework that treats every request as untrusted until verified. The maturity model defines stages for adopting it. Moving from theory to execution starts with a clear, enforceable onboarding process that sets the foundation.

Stage One: Define Access Boundaries
Identify all users, devices, and services. Map their relationships. No shortcuts. This inventory becomes the reference point for every policy you create.

Stage Two: Establish Strong Identity Verification
Require multi-factor authentication for all accounts. Integrate with identity providers that support modern standards like SAML and OpenID Connect. Verify each identity before granting any resource access.

Stage Three: Implement Least Privilege Policies
Assign minimal permissions required for each role. Remove broad access controls. Automate audits and revoke unused privileges. This reduces the attack surface inside your environment.

Stage Four: Continuous Monitoring and Logging
Track all access requests in real-time. Flag anomalies immediately. Store logs securely and make them searchable. Monitoring is not optional—it is how you enforce and refine Zero Trust over time.

Stage Five: Iterate and Mature
The Zero Trust Maturity Model outlines progression from initial deployment to adaptive, automated enforcement. Onboarding is the point where you transition from planning to actual constraints on the network. Revisit policies regularly and tighten them based on real-world events.

A strong onboarding process ensures that Zero Trust is not a vague aspiration but an operational reality. It accelerates movement up the maturity model, enabling faster response to threats and cleaner access control across all systems.

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