Trust Nothing.
Verify Everything.
Transform your organization's security posture with an optimized Zero Trust strategy and design. Protect what matters most in an era where perimeter security is obsolete.
U.S. Navy (Ret.) · NSA · FBI Cyber · Former VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Research · Ph.D. Computer Science
The Zero Trust Mindset
In today's threat landscape, the traditional security perimeter no longer exists. Organizations need a new approach—one that assumes breach and verifies explicitly at every access request.
With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity architecture, I help organizations implement comprehensive Zero Trust strategies and frameworks that protect critical assets, enable secure remote work, and meet regulatory compliance requirements.
Retired U.S. Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician. Former VP & Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, where he created the ZTX framework and built the Zero Trust certification program.
- Creator of the Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) Ecosystem Framework adopted industry-wide
- Built Forrester's Zero Trust certification program
- Advisor to senior defense and intelligence leaders on Zero Trust strategy
- Author of Cyber Warfare: Truth, Tactics, and Strategies and 10 other titles
- Host of the weekly DrZeroTrust podcast since 2021
Optimized Infrastructure
ZT-enabled security architecture
UZTNA
Universal Zero Trust Network Access
ZTX Creator
Creator of the Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) Ecosystem Framework
Optimized Technology Selection
End-to-end Zero Trust guidance and strategic implementation consulting to protect your organization from modern cyber threats.
Zero Trust Architecture
Design and implement comprehensive Zero Trust frameworks tailored to your organization's unique requirements and risk profile.
Identity & Access Management
Establish robust IAM strategies with MFA, SSO, and adaptive authentication to verify every user and device.
Security Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of your current security posture with an actionable roadmap for Zero Trust transformation.
Micro-Segmentation
Implement granular network segmentation to contain breaches and limit lateral movement of threats.
Data Protection
Encrypt data at rest and in transit with classification and DLP strategies aligned to Zero Trust principles.
Incident Response
Develop and test incident response plans that leverage Zero Trust architecture for rapid threat containment.
Zero Trust Architecture Library
Every reference architecture that actually matters — with a straight-talk take on each one, a framework comparison, a downloadable one-pager, and a self-assessment.
ZTX: Zero Trust eXtended Ecosystem
The framework that extended Zero Trust beyond the network into data, people, workloads, and devices.
"I built ZTX to kill the idea that Zero Trust was a networking problem. It's an ecosystem problem. Start here to understand the whole board."
NIST SP 800-207: Zero Trust Architecture
The foundational federal definition of Zero Trust architecture.
"The scripture. If you haven't read 800-207, you don't get to argue about what Zero Trust means."
CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model v2.0
Five pillars, four maturity stages; the benchmark for federal and commercial ZT programs.
"The best tool going for figuring out where you actually are versus where your vendor deck says you are."
DoD Zero Trust Strategy & Capability Roadmap
7 pillars, 91 target-level activities, and a real deadline (FY2027).
"The most operationally serious ZT plan on the planet. If it can work at DoD scale, your enterprise excuses are gone."
DoD Zero Trust Reference Architecture v2.0
The technical reference architecture behind the DoD strategy.
"Dense, but this is what right looks like when the mission actually depends on it."
NIST SP 1800-35: Implementing a Zero Trust Architecture
19 example builds with commercial technology, from the NCCoE lab.
"800-207 tells you what. This one shows you how, with real gear. Steal shamelessly."
NSA: Embracing a Zero Trust Security Model
Pillar-by-pillar guidance on advancing ZT maturity.
"Short, blunt, and written by people who break networks for a living. Read it in one sitting."
Microsoft Zero Trust Architecture
The dominant commercial reference model, mapped to the Microsoft stack.
"Useful if you live in the Microsoft ecosystem — just remember the strategy is yours, not Redmond's."
Google BeyondCorp
The first large-scale enterprise Zero Trust implementation; proof this works in production.
"The existence proof. When someone says ZT is theoretical, hand them this and walk away."
Which Framework, When?
Quick side-by-side on the four frameworks you'll actually get asked about in a board meeting.
| Dimension | ZTX (Forrester) | NIST 800-207 | CISA ZTMM | DoD ZT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Strategy & board-level framing | Baseline definition & compliance | Program maturity benchmarking | Large, mission-critical enterprises |
| Scope | Data, people, workloads, devices, networks | Logical components & tenets | 5 pillars + 3 cross-cutting capabilities | 7 pillars with 152 activities |
| Maturity Model Included | No (framework only) | No (architecture only) | Yes (Traditional → Optimal) | Yes (Target & Advanced) |
| Federal Alignment | Commercial origin, widely cited | Foundational US federal spec | US federal mandate baseline | DoD-mandated by FY2027 |
| Practicality for Implementation | Conceptual — start here | Reference, not a roadmap | Highly practical, tool-agnostic | Most prescriptive; heaviest lift |
Get the Dr Zero Trust Reference Architecture
A one-page, no-vendor-BS reference architecture distilled from hundreds of ZT engagements. Free — tell me where to send it.
Where Do You Stand?
Ten questions across the five CISA pillars. All scoring is local to your browser. Takes about three minutes.
Zero Trust Solutions Showcase
Interactive, on-demand demos from vendors delivering real Zero Trust capabilities. Explore each platform on your own time — no sales call required.
Menlo Security 2026
Browser-based isolation and secure enterprise browsing built for a Zero Trust world.
FORESCOUT VISTARO
Continuous device visibility, risk, and control across IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT.
Forescout Universal ZTNA
Identity- and posture-aware access to any application, for any user, from anywhere.
Athena Platform
AI-driven security operations tuned for Zero Trust decisioning and response.
Demos hosted on demo-force.com. Featured vendors are showcased for educational purposes and do not constitute an endorsement or exclusive partnership.
Dr Zero Trust Partners
Trusted collaborators advancing Zero Trust through independent research, analysis, and strategic guidance.
Zero Trust Research
- Agentic Zero Trust Research Paper (Cequence)
- Dark Reading Articles
- The Journey to Zero Trust (Identity)
- Zero Trust, Hype, AI and Reality
- Zero Trust eXtended Ecosystem (ZTX, Forrester)
"Security is not a product, but a combination of strategy, process, and execution. Zero Trust is not just an architecture—it's a mindset. There is no Zero Trust product, period."
Keynotes, Podcasts & Commentary
Dr. Cunningham keynotes conferences worldwide and hosts the DrZeroTrust podcast, delivering no-nonsense analysis on cybersecurity strategy, Zero Trust, and the business of security.
The DrZeroTrust Podcast
No-nonsense analysis on cybersecurity strategy, Zero Trust, and the business of security.
Listen on SpotifyTalks, interviews & breakdowns
Keynotes, panels, and expert commentary on the latest in Zero Trust and cyber strategy.
Watch on YouTubeKeynotes & Media
Keynotes, panels, media commentary, and podcast guest appearances.
Check AvailabilityDr. Cunningham on Film
The DrZeroTrust Podcast
Fiction & Non-Fiction
From cybersecurity strategies to leadership lessons and fiction, explore my published works.
Cyber Warfare
Strategies for your organization in the battlefield of cybersecurity
Cynja Vol 1
A cybersecurity graphic novel adventure
Cynja Vol 2: Code
The Cynja saga continues
#buythebreach
Understanding the breach economy and profiting from failure
How Not To Lead
Lessons from dumpster-fire leadership
The No Bullsh*t Market Guide
Straight-talk marketing strategies for no-BS leaders
Rip Tide
A thriller for cyber operations and warfare geeks
gAbrIel
Cyber thriller with rogue AI, Navy SEALs, and much more
vArIable
The gAbrIel saga continues with more action and a worldwide threat
Think Like an Attacker
Why security graphs are the next frontier of threat detection and response
EDR Evasion and Fix Security Gaps
A defender's guide to endpoint detection and response
Let's Talk Zero Trust
Let's discuss how a Zero Trust strategy focused on your needs can transform your organization's security posture and protect your critical assets.