Zero Trust Maturity Model

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) presents this report as a roadmap for agencies to implement a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) to strengthen cybersecurity posture. The report aligns with the federal government’s emphasis on cyber resilience, evident by Executive Order 14028, “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity.” It defines four stages —Traditional, Initial, Advanced, and Optimal. Central to this framework are five foundational pillars: Identity, Devices, Networks, Applications/Workloads, and Data. For each pillar, the report outlines specific functions and best practices required to secure these domains effectively. A consistent theme across all pillars is the integration of three cross-cutting capabilities: Visibility and Analytics, referring to the capacity to observe, measure, and understand the cybersecurity landscape; Automation and Orchestration, describing the ability to implement secure practices through automated and coordinated processes; and Governance, representing the authority and mechanisms to enforce policies and ensure compliance at scale. These elements collectively establish the foundation for a dynamic and resilient Zero Trust implementation strategy.