How federal agencies can navigate zero trust compliance

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When the SolarWinds breach ripped through federal networks in 2020, it exposed a sobering truth: traditional security perimeters had failed to protect our most sensitive systems.

The attack, which compromised multiple federal agencies, including the Justice Department and the Department of Defense, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It sparked President Biden’s Executive Order 14028 and fundamentally changed how the U.S. government approaches cybersecurity.

The order mandated a governmentwide shift to zero trust architecture (ZTA) and imposed a Sept. 30, 2024, deadline for federal agencies to submit their zero trust implementation plans. That date has come and gone, and now it’s time to execute — which is easier said than done.

Federal agencies can’t afford to treat zero trust as a checkbox exercise. Each component must work in concert to create a security framework that assumes no user or system can be trusted by default. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA’s) five-pillar model provides the foundation, but agencies must understand how these elements interconnect to build an effective defense.

The 5 pillars of zero trust

Identity sits at the center of zero trust implementation. Federal systems process millions of authentication requests daily, and each one represents a potential entry point for attackers. Modern identity management goes beyond simple username and password combinations. Agencies must implement continuous verification systems that analyze user behavior patterns, location data, and device health before granting access to sensitive resources.

Device security forms another critical pillar. Federal networks are a web of countless endpoints — and each device must be inventoried, monitored, and validated before accessing network resources. This requires automated systems that can track device compliance, patch status, and security posture in real time.

Network security transcends traditional perimeter defenses. Modern federal networks must support remote work, cloud services, and interconnected systems while maintaining strict security controls. This demands sophisticated microsegmentation, encrypted communications, and continuous monitoring of all network traffic for abnormal behavior.

Data protection requires agencies to fundamentally rethink how they classify, store, and access information. Zero trust principles demand granular control over data access, with encryption both at rest and in transit. Agencies must implement robust data classification schemes and administer strict access controls determined by an individual’s role and security clearance.

Applications and workloads complete the zero trust framework. Federal agencies rely on countless applications to fulfill their missions, from legacy systems to modern cloud services. Each one must integrate with zero trust controls, ensuring strict access policies and continuous monitoring for suspicious behavior.

Why most zero trust implementations stumble

Security teams often face considerable obstacles when executing their zero trust plans. Many agencies operate with a patchwork of security solutions acquired over decades. These siloed systems often can’t share critical security data, creating blind spots that sophisticated attackers can exploit.

Agencies also can’t simply rip and replace legacy mission-critical systems that lack modern security capabilities. Instead, they need strategies to gradually modernize while maintaining operational continuity. This requires careful planning and specialized expertise to bridge old and new security architectures.

Resource constraints compound these technical challenges. Federal IT teams must balance zero trust implementation with existing operational demands. Without additional staff or expertise, many agencies struggle to maintain momentum on transformation initiatives while managing day-to-day security operations.

Building a strategic path forward

To achieve zero trust compliance, federal agencies should take the following steps:

• Assess your security posture. Conduct a comprehensive security posture review. This evaluation must examine every aspect of your infrastructure, from user access patterns to data flows, application dependencies, and network architecture. Only then can you identify critical gaps and vulnerabilities and prioritize improvements.
• Enact strong identity and access management (IAM). Adopt sophisticated IAM systems with multi-factor authentication, least privilege access principles, and continuous validation of user credentials.
• Implement network segmentation. Since traditional perimeter defenses no longer work when threats can originate anywhere, you must divide your network into smaller, manageable segments to limit lateral movement by attackers.
• Enhance endpoint security. Constantly monitor every device accessing federal networks. This includes real-time tracking of device compliance, patch status, and security posture. Analytics-driven monitoring provides crucial threat intelligence that helps identify potential threats before they exploit vulnerabilities.

Of course, even the best defenses can fail, so agencies must also develop comprehensive strategies for detecting, containing, and recovering from security incidents. That’s why incident response planning — which includes clear protocols for communication, containment, and system restoration — is equally important.

How SHI supports the federal zero trust journey

Transforming decades of ingrained security practices and siloed systems into a dynamic, continuously verifying defense structure is no small feat. Fortunately, SHI can help.

Our cybersecurity services help you map your current security posture against CISA’s five pillars for ZTA and known exploitability vulnerability (KEV) reporting requirements. We analyze your current infrastructure, identify vulnerabilities and gaps that could compromise your zero trust implementation, and help you prioritize investments and maximize existing security tools.

SHI’s IAM solutions integrate seamlessly with federal systems, implementing multi-factor authentication and least privilege access without disrupting operations. Our endpoint security services deliver advanced threat protection and device management across your infrastructure. At the same time, our network architecture expertise helps you design and implement effective segmentation strategies tailored to your needs.

When incidents occur, SHI’s response services assist agencies in executing well-defined recovery strategies that minimize downtime and data loss. Ultimately, this comprehensive and holistic approach ensures your agency can manage its zero trust strategy effectively and sustainably while meeting compliance requirements.

Third-party risk isn’t going away, and neither are the sophisticated attackers targeting federal systems. As threats evolve, agencies must implement zero trust architectures that can adapt and respond accordingly.

Ready to move from ZTA planning to execution? Contact SHI to learn how our experts can accelerate your transformation while ensuring compliance with all federal requirements.