Zero Trust
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
Zero Trust means 'never trust, always verify.' Even if you're inside the company network, you still have to prove who you are for every request. It's like a building where every door requires a badge scan, even the bathroom. No free passes just because you made it past the lobby.
Real Talk
Zero Trust is a security model that eliminates implicit trust based on network location. Every request is authenticated, authorized, and encrypted regardless of origin. Core principles: verify explicitly, use least-privilege access, and assume breach. Implemented via identity-aware proxies, microsegmentation, and continuous verification.
When You'll Hear This
"Our Zero Trust architecture verifies identity on every API call, not just at the VPN." / "Zero Trust means the corporate network is treated as hostile — same as the internet."
Related Terms
Microsegmentation
Microsegmentation is network segmentation dialed up to 11. Instead of segmenting by subnet, you create rules for EVERY workload.
mTLS
Normal TLS: you check that the website is legit. mTLS: you BOTH check each other. The server verifies your certificate, you verify the server's.
Principle of Least Privilege
Principle of Least Privilege means everyone and everything gets only the MINIMUM access needed to do their job. The intern doesn't get admin access.