The Seven Pillars of Zero Trust – NSA Focuses on Network Segmentation

The Seven Pillars of Zero Trust: NSA Emphasizes Network Segmentation

On March 5, the National Security Agency (NSA) released its latest Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CIS) aimed at reinforcing the importance of Zero Trust security principles, with a particular focus on the Network and Environment pillar.

Key takeaway: The NSA strongly recommends network segmentation to prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data. Segmenting and isolating the network helps ensure that even if a system is compromised, the attacker’s movement is restricted, minimizing damage.

What Is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity strategy built on the idea that no one—whether inside or outside the network—should be trusted by default. Every access request must be verified, and users should only be granted the minimum level of access necessary.

The Seven Pillars of Zero Trust

• User: Continually authenticate and monitor user activities to ensure access privileges align with their roles.
• Device: Evaluate the health and compliance status of all devices requesting access.
• Application & Workload: Secure apps from development to deployment using patching, segmentation, and workload protection.
• Data: Encrypt and classify data, ensuring transparency and robust data governance.
• Network & Environment: (NSA's March 2025 focus) Segment and isolate networks with granular policy enforcement to limit lateral movement.
• Automation & Orchestration: Use AI/ML to automate threat response and apply adaptive security controls in real-time.
• Visibility & Analytics: Monitor and analyze behavior patterns, enabling quick anomaly detection and incident response.

Why the Focus on Network Segmentation?

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the NSA underscores that breaches are inevitable. What matters is containing those breaches. By isolating different parts of the network, you prevent attackers from gaining broad access—even if one part is compromised.

This reinforces the idea that Zero Trust is not just about perimeter defense but about limiting trust at every layer, including internal movement.

Final Thoughts

The NSA's latest CIS is a reminder that Zero Trust is more than just a buzzword—it’s a practical, layered approach to modern cyber defense. While the Network and Environment pillar is critical, all seven pillars work together to ensure robust protection against internal and external threats.

Start with segmentation. Strengthen with visibility. And never assume trust—verify it.

📎 Read more: NSA’s Zero Trust Network and Environment Pillar (PDF)