Part 5: Zero Trust and IAM – Two Sides of the Same Coin

As organizations develop their identity strategies, many face a key decision: security architectures must evolve in a world where perimeter-based defenses are no longer sufficient. Enter Zero Trust is a model that shifts from “trust but verify” to “never trust, always verify.”

But here’s the key: Zero Trust depends on strong Identity and Access Management (IAM). Identity acts as the link connecting users, devices, applications, and data in the modern enterprise. It forms the foundation of Zero Trust.

In this fifth part of our IAM series, we explore the strong link between IAM and Zero Trust. We’ll explain why IAM is not just part of Zero Trust but also the key operational element that makes it possible.

Before we dive in, if you’re looking for real data on cybersecurity trends, key vendors, and market direction, explore our Cybersecurity Intelligence Page. You’ll find free reports and insights to help you make confident decisions.

1. What Exactly Is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is often misunderstood as only a product or a vendor solution. In truth, it is a security philosophy and architecture that assumes:

• No entity (user, device, workload) is inherently trustworthy, even inside the network.
• Every access request must be explicitly verified based on identity, context, and risk.
• Access should be minimized to only what’s necessary (least privilege).
• Continuous monitoring replaces static trust assumptions.

Zero Trust is particularly vital in today’s hybrid, cloud-first, work-from-anywhere environment, where traditional boundaries have disappeared.

2. Identity at the Heart of Zero Trust

Zero Trust begins with identity because you can’t make informed access decisions without knowing who is requesting access, what they are using, and why.

IAM systems provide the vital signals, policies, and enforcement tools that establish Zero Trust:

Without these IAM controls, Zero Trust is only a concept on paper.

3. Key IAM Capabilities That Enable Zero Trust

A. Strong, Adaptive Authentication

Zero Trust starts with verifying that the user is who they claim to be. This requires:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is the baseline
• Passwordless authentication (e.g., biometrics, FIDO2)
• Risk-based authentication that adapts based on context (e.g., location, device, behavior)

IAM must instantly evaluate each login attempt by analyzing different signals to assess trustworthiness.

B. Fine-Grained Authorization

Not every user requires access to everything. IAM encourages least privilege by:

• Assigning users to roles or attribute-based policies
• Enabling dynamic access decisions based on context
• Supporting just-in-time (JIT) and just-enough-access (JEA) models

This limits the blast radius of compromised accounts or insider misuse.

C. Continuous Access Evaluation

In Zero Trust, access decisions aren’t made just once but constantly re-evaluated. IAM solutions assist by:

• Re-authenticating users during risky sessions
• Terminating sessions upon anomalous behavior
• Feeding telemetry into SIEM/SOAR systems for coordinated response

D. Identity Federation and Interoperability

In a hybrid or multi-cloud environment, IAM must support federated identity across domains (e.g., SAML, OIDC, SCIM) to consistently enforce policies regardless of where services run.

4. IAM and Zero Trust in Practice: Real-World Examples

Scenario 1: A remote employee logging in from a new device

Zero Trust IAM enables:

• MFA challenge
• Device posture check (e.g., antivirus installed?)
• Conditional access policy (block access or limit app permissions)

Scenario 2: A partner accessing shared resources

Zero Trust IAM enables:

• Federated authentication from a trusted IdP
• Role-based access with expiration
• Audit logs and automated offboarding

Scenario 3: A compromised user account exhibits unusual activity

Zero Trust IAM enables:

• Anomaly detection via UEBA (User & Entity Behavior Analytics)
• Immediate session termination
• Incident alert to SOC

These examples show how IAM supports the real-time access choices needed by Zero Trust.

5. Implementing Zero Trust with IAM: How to Get Started

Transitioning to Zero Trust is a gradual process, not a one-time event. IAM is a logical starting point.

Recommended first steps:

• Enforce MFA across all user groups and critical applications
• Implement Single Sign-On (SSO) for visibility and control
• Adopt identity governance for role management and access reviews
• Apply conditional access policies based on user risk and context
• Integrate IAM telemetry with security analytics and incident response tools

Over time, expand into machine identity management, privileged access controls, and session monitoring to achieve greater Zero Trust maturity.

6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Treating Zero Trust as a product purchase rather than a strategy
• Overlooking non-human identities, like service accounts and APIs
• Failing to align IAM policies across cloud and on-prem systems
• Neglecting user experience, Zero Trust must be secure and usable
• Lack of governance around access requests and approval workflows

IAM should be carried out with discipline, user participation, and ongoing improvement.

Conclusion: Identity serves as the Control Plane of Zero Trust

Zero Trust isn’t a revolution; it’s a refinement of how we control access in a constantly changing, distributed environment. IAM serves as the foundation for implementing Zero Trust principles at scale.

Without IAM, Zero Trust is incomplete. Proper IAM implementation enables Zero Trust.

Investing in modern IAM capabilities, adaptive access, identity governance, and strong authentication establishes the foundation for a Zero Trust architecture that safeguards your organization today and grows with you in the future.

Coming Up: The IAM Technology Landscape

In Part 6, we’ll change focus to explore the technological building blocks of IAM. We’ll identify the main components of a modern IAM system, examine architectural options (cloud vs. on-premises, centralized vs. federated), and provide an overview of how organizations can make informed technology decisions that support Zero Trust and digital business needs.