Your CISO wants to move to zero trust. What does that mean in practice and where would you start?

What the interviewer wants to hear

• Explain no implicit trust based on network location
• Strong identity: phishing-resistant MFA and conditional access
• Device posture checks and least privilege access
• Micro-segmentation and replacing flat VPN access
• Phased roadmap with visibility and continuous monitoring

Model answer

Zero trust means we never give trust just because a request comes from inside the network. Every access to a resource is checked using identity, device health and context, with least privilege, and is re-checked over time, as described in NIST SP 800-207. It is a journey, not a product. I would start with identity, because that is where most attacks begin: single sign-on for all apps, phishing-resistant MFA such as passkeys for admins first, and conditional access policies that consider risk and location. Next comes device posture, so only managed, patched devices with EDR can reach sensitive apps. Then replace flat VPN access with ZTNA that grants access to specific apps, and segment networks so a compromised laptop cannot reach every server. Throughout, we need an inventory of users, devices and data, and good logging to monitor decisions. I would phase it by risk, starting with crown jewel systems, and track measurable progress.

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