Zero Trust Security Implementation Services
The traditional security perimeter is gone. Remote work, cloud adoption, and sophisticated attacks mean you can no longer trust anything inside or outside your network by default. Petronella Technology Group implements zero trust architectures aligned with NIST SP 800-207 that verify every user, device, and connection before granting access — every time.
NIST SP 800-207 • Identity-Centric Security • Microsegmentation • Continuous Verification • Least Privilege • CMMC • HIPAA • SOC 2
Q: What is zero trust security? Zero trust is a security model based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." Instead of assuming everything inside your network is safe, zero trust requires continuous verification of every user, device, and application before granting access to any resource. PTG implements zero trust architectures aligned with NIST SP 800-207 for organizations across Raleigh, Durham, RTP, and nationwide. Schedule a zero trust assessment →
The Perimeter-Based Security Model Is Broken
VPNs, firewalls, and network segmentation alone cannot protect modern organizations. Zero trust addresses the realities of today's threat landscape.
Remote and Hybrid Work Eliminated the Perimeter
Your employees access company data from home networks, coffee shops, airports, and personal devices. Your applications run in multiple clouds. Your vendors need remote access to your systems. The idea of a secure corporate perimeter that you defend with a firewall is a fiction. Zero trust replaces perimeter-based trust with identity-based trust, verifying every access request regardless of where it originates. PTG designs zero trust architectures that support productive remote work without the security compromises of traditional VPN-based access.
Lateral Movement Is the Attacker's Primary Tactic
Once inside a traditional network, attackers move laterally to find high-value targets — domain controllers, file servers, databases, and backup systems. Flat networks give them free rein. Zero trust micro-segmentation ensures that even if an attacker compromises one system, they cannot reach other resources without passing additional verification checks. PTG implements network microsegmentation, application-level access controls, and identity-aware policies that contain breaches to a single point of compromise.
Compliance Frameworks Are Moving Toward Zero Trust
CMMC 2.0 requires multi-factor authentication and least-privilege access controls. HIPAA mandates minimum necessary access to ePHI. PCI DSS 4.0 requires targeted risk analysis for access control exceptions. The SEC's cybersecurity rules demand documented security governance. Federal Executive Order 14028 mandates zero trust adoption across government agencies and their contractors. PTG's zero trust implementations satisfy the access control requirements of CMMC, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, and NIST frameworks simultaneously.
The Five Pillars of Zero Trust Architecture
PTG's zero trust implementation covers all five pillars defined by the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model, ensuring comprehensive protection across your entire environment.
Identity
Strong authentication, conditional access policies, identity governance, and continuous session validation for every user and service account.
Devices
Device posture assessment, endpoint detection and response, certificate-based device identity, and compliance enforcement before granting access.
Network
Microsegmentation, encrypted communications, software-defined perimeters, and network access control that eliminates implicit trust zones.
Applications
Application-layer access controls, API security, secure development practices, and runtime protection that verifies authorization at every request.
Data
Data classification, encryption at rest and in transit, DLP enforcement, and access logging that protects sensitive information regardless of location.
PTG's Zero Trust Implementation Capabilities
Zero Trust Maturity Assessment
PTG evaluates your current security posture against the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model across all five pillars. We identify where you stand today, map your gaps, and deliver a prioritized roadmap with specific technology and policy recommendations for each maturity level. The assessment includes stakeholder interviews, technology inventory analysis, and architecture review.
Identity & Access Management (IAM)
Implement the identity pillar of zero trust: multi-factor authentication for all users, conditional access policies based on risk signals (location, device health, behavior), single sign-on for SaaS and on-premises applications, privileged access management for administrative accounts, and identity governance for joiners, movers, and leavers. PTG integrates with Azure AD, Okta, and Duo for identity-centric access control.
Network Microsegmentation
Eliminate flat networks by implementing microsegmentation that creates individual security zones around every workload, application, and data store. PTG designs segmentation policies that restrict lateral movement, enforce application-level access rules, and log all cross-segment traffic for threat detection. We implement these controls using next-generation firewalls, software-defined networking, and host-based micro-agents.
Endpoint Trust Verification
Verify device health and compliance before granting access to any resource. PTG deploys endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, device posture assessment, certificate-based device identity, and conditional access policies that deny access from unmanaged, non-compliant, or compromised devices. Device trust extends to BYOD, contractor devices, and IoT endpoints with appropriate risk-based controls.
Cloud Zero Trust Architecture
Extend zero trust to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud environments. PTG configures cloud-native security controls including workload identity, service mesh encryption, cloud access security brokers (CASB), and infrastructure-as-code security scanning. We ensure your cloud workloads enforce the same zero trust policies as on-premises resources, with centralized policy management across hybrid environments.
Continuous Monitoring & Analytics
Zero trust requires continuous verification, not one-time authentication. PTG implements security information and event management (SIEM), user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), and real-time policy enforcement that detects and responds to anomalous access patterns. Session risk scores are continuously recalculated, and access can be revoked mid-session if risk indicators change.
How PTG Implements Zero Trust
Zero trust is a journey, not a product. PTG takes an incremental approach that delivers security improvements at every stage while building toward full zero trust maturity.
Assess & Map
Evaluate current maturity across all five pillars. Map data flows, identify protect surfaces, and document current access patterns.
Design Architecture
Create a zero trust architecture blueprint aligned with NIST SP 800-207, tailored to your technology stack and compliance requirements.
Incremental Deployment
Implement zero trust controls in priority order starting with identity and the highest-risk protect surfaces. Each phase delivers measurable security improvement.
Optimize & Mature
Continuous policy refinement, maturity level advancement, and expansion to additional protect surfaces as your organization progresses through the zero trust maturity model.
Zero Trust Questions, Answered
What is zero trust security in simple terms?
Zero trust is a security approach that assumes no user, device, or network connection should be trusted by default. Instead of relying on a network perimeter (like a VPN or firewall) to keep bad actors out, zero trust verifies the identity and security posture of every user and device for every access request. Think of it as requiring a badge scan at every door in your building, not just the front entrance. PTG implements zero trust architectures that make this verification seamless for users while dramatically reducing your attack surface.
How long does a zero trust implementation take?
Zero trust is a maturity journey, not a single deployment. PTG typically delivers the initial assessment and roadmap within 2-4 weeks, implements the identity pillar (MFA, conditional access) within 30-60 days, and progresses through network microsegmentation, device trust, and continuous monitoring over 6-18 months depending on environment complexity. Each phase delivers standalone security value, so you do not have to wait for full implementation to see results.
Do we need to replace all our existing security tools?
No. Zero trust is an architecture and philosophy, not a single product. PTG builds zero trust on top of your existing investments wherever possible — integrating with your current firewalls, identity providers, endpoint protection, and cloud platforms. We identify gaps that require new capabilities and recommend solutions that complement rather than replace your existing security stack.
Is zero trust required for CMMC, HIPAA, or SOC 2 compliance?
While none of these frameworks explicitly mandate "zero trust" by name, they all require the individual controls that zero trust implements: multi-factor authentication, least-privilege access, network segmentation, continuous monitoring, and data protection. Implementing zero trust satisfies these requirements comprehensively and positions your organization ahead of evolving regulatory expectations. Federal contractors should note that Executive Order 14028 mandates zero trust adoption for federal agencies and their supply chains.
Will zero trust slow down our employees?
A well-implemented zero trust architecture should be nearly invisible to users during normal operations. Modern conditional access policies evaluate risk signals in real time — if a user is on a managed device, from a known location, with healthy endpoint status, authentication happens seamlessly. Users only encounter additional verification steps when risk signals change: new devices, unusual locations, or anomalous behavior patterns. PTG tunes policies to minimize friction while maintaining security.
What is the difference between zero trust and a VPN?
A VPN grants broad network access once authenticated — once you are connected, you can typically reach many resources on the corporate network. Zero trust grants granular, application-specific access based on identity, device health, and context. A VPN trusts you once at the front door; zero trust verifies you at every resource you attempt to access. PTG helps organizations transition from VPN-based remote access to zero trust network access (ZTNA) that provides more granular control with a better user experience.
Start Your Zero Trust Journey Today
Schedule a free zero trust maturity assessment with PTG. We will evaluate your current security posture across all five pillars and deliver a prioritized roadmap to zero trust architecture tailored to your organization.
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