Adrian's KB

DoD Zero Trust Reference Architecture v2.0 (Military and Defense)

2 min read

Overview

Info

The Zero Trust Reference Architecture (v2.0) is a strategic document developed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Security Agency (NSA) to guide the adoption of Zero Trust principles across defense networks.

The architecture aims to modernize cybersecurity by shifting from perimeter-based defenses to a model where trust is never assumed. It’s designed for defense environments but aligns with broader Zero Trust principles used across sectors.

Core Principles

  • Continuous Verification
    Always verify user, device, and application identity before granting access—every time, not just once.

  • Least Privilege Access
    Grant users only the access they need to perform their tasks—nothing more.

  • Assumed Breach
    Design systems with the assumption that threats already exist inside the network.

Key Pillars

The framework organizes security into several focus areas, often called pillars:

  1. User – Identity, authentication, and access controls
  2. Device – Monitoring and trust evaluation of devices accessing resources
  3. Application & Workload – Secure development and deployment of applications
  4. Data – Data protection, classification, and access governance
  5. Network & Environment – Micro-segmentation and encrypted communications
  6. Visibility & Analytics – Real-time monitoring and behavioral analysis
  7. Automation & Orchestration – Automated responses to threats and policy enforcement

Purpose and Goals

Tip

The goal of the Zero Trust approach is not to eliminate trust but to verify it continuously and dynamically, using as much context as possible.

  • Enhance security resilience across all defense systems
  • Mitigate insider and external threats more effectively
  • Enable secure access to resources from any location
  • Support mission readiness and cybersecurity compliance

Who It’s For

  • Defense agencies and contractors
  • DoD IT and cybersecurity teams
  • Architecture and policy planners

Final Thoughts

Note

While designed for defense, the DoD’s Zero Trust model sets a useful standard for any organization looking to strengthen its security posture through Zero Trust concepts.

Penguinified by https://chatgpt.com/g/g-683f4d44a4b881919df0a7714238daae-penguinify

Graph View