As cyber threats have evolved to sophisticated, AI-powered attacks, government agencies must shift their security strategies from outdated perimeter-based defenses to a more robust, identity-centric approach. Kevin E. Greene, Chief Security Strategist for BeyondTrust, is at the forefront of this transformation, advocating for the adoption of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) within the public sector. With nearly three decades of experience in cybersecurity, spanning roles at the Department of Homeland Security, MITRE Corporation, and now in the vendor space, Greene offers a unique perspective on the implementation of Zero Trust principles to protect government networks and data.
Understanding Zero Trust in the Government Context
Zero Trust is not a new concept, but its relevance has surged in response to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Traditional security models operate on implicit trust within an organization’s perimeter, but as Greene points out, modern adversaries exploit this assumption, leveraging compromised credentials and privilege escalation to breach networks.
In contrast, Zero Trust operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” It’s a security framework that mandates stringent identity verification for every user and for every device attempting to access resources, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the organization’s network. “A well-implemented Zero Trust framework in government agencies focuses on securing identities, endpoints, applications, networks, and data while incorporating governance, analytics, and automation to enhance resilience,” explains Greene.
Reducing the Identity Attack Surface
Identity is the new perimeter in cybersecurity. Minimizing the identity attack surface is a critical for formalizing and maturing Zero Trust architectures. Government agencies must address the challenges posed by excessive privileges, misconfigurations in identity infrastructure, and outdated access controls. Threat actors frequently exploit these risk exposures known as paths to privilege to gain unauthorized access and elevated privileges, making visibility and control over identities paramount.
BeyondTrust’s approach involves enforcing least privilege principles, implementing just-in-time (JIT) with just enough access, and automating workflows to manage and eliminate standing privileges. “Threat actors need privileges to maintain persistence and move laterally to achieve their objectives,” says Greene. “By removing unnecessary privileges and enforcing stricter controls, we can disrupt their ability to advance through the attack lifecycle.”
Balancing Security with Operational Efficiency
One common concern in implementing Zero Trust is its potential impact on operational efficiency. While any reduction in access may initially be perceived as disruptive, the long-term benefits outweigh the challenges. “Zero Trust isn’t about making it harder for employees to do their jobs—it’s about making unauthorized access impossible,” he says.
To ensure a smooth transition, government agencies should adopt an incremental approach, engaging all stakeholders through Zero Trust working groups and Centers of Excellence. Integration across existing security tools and technologies is essential to avoid unnecessary complexity. “Achieving Zero Trust requires tight interoperability between security solutions, leveraging AI and automation to enhance detection, response, and the effectiveness of access controls,” says Greene.
The Role of AI in Strengthening Zero Trust
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are playing an increasingly significant role in advancing Zero Trust capabilities. Traditional security alerts, such as three failed login attempts, are no longer sufficient indicators of potential threats. Instead, agencies must leverage AI-driven behavioral analytics to contextualize user actions, identify anomalies, and respond dynamically to evolving threats.
“The ability to correlate and contextualize multiple data points—such as login behavior, access requests, and network activity—allows us to shift from reactive security to responsive cyber defense to combat novel cyberattacks,” Greene explains. By integrating AI into security operations, government agencies can proactively identify potential threats and automate remediation efforts.
The Future of Zero Trust in Government Cybersecurity
Looking ahead, Greene envisions Zero Trust playing a larger role in boosting resiliency against cyberattacks. As agencies continue their digital transformation and migrate to cloud-based environments, ensuring seamless, holistic identity-driven security will be extremely critical. “Government agencies are being asked to do more with less, it’s important that they make the right investments in Zero Trust. This will require agencies to take a threat informed defense approach to ensure the right zero trust protection mechanisms are in place to enhance resilience, reduce risk, and ultimately protect critical assets from adversarial threats and attacks,” he says.
To stay updated on Kevin E. Greene’s insights and expertise in cybersecurity, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit BeyondTrust’s website.
