Zero Trust Principle

From Passive Observer to Active Defender

Imagine a pilot navigating through a storm at night. His instruments provide precise data on altitude, speed, and system status - that is visibility.

Now imagine the aircraft could automatically make critical adjustments based on that data to remain stable, while the pilot focuses on the strategic route - that is automation.

In modern cybersecurity, this combination is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for survival.

In our introductory post on the InCyber Zero Trust Framework, we introduced the seven strategic pillars. Today, we take a deep dive into the two pillars that together form the technical foundation of any mature security strategy: Visibility & Analytics and Automation & Orchestration.

We will show you why one cannot be fully effective without the other, and how their interplay transforms security from a reactive, manual process into a proactive, scalable defense.

Part 1: Visibility & Analytics - Making the Truth Visible

Without Data, you’re flying blind

The core philosophy of Zero Trust - “Never trust, always verify” - is impossible to implement without a complete data foundation. To make well-informed security decisions, you must be able to answer critical questions in real time:

• Identity & Behavior: Why is an accounting employee suddenly accessing developer tools at 3 a.m.? Is their account compromised?

• Device Status: Is the laptop accessing sensitive financial data fully patched and free from malware?

• Data Flows: Where are my sensitive customer records going? Are there attempts to secretly send data to an external address?

Visibility - achieved by collecting and analyzing data from every corner of your IT landscape - is the prerequisite for every further step.

The Building Blocks of Visibility: Your Policy Information Points (PIPs)

In a Zero Trust architecture, different systems provide the contextual information needed. These data sources are called Policy Information Points (PIPs). They are the sensors of your security system:

• Endpoints (EDR/XDR): Provide device status (compliance, malware state).

• Network (NDR): Analyze communication patterns and threats in network traffic.

• Identity Systems (IAM): Provide information about users, groups, and authentication details.

• SIEM & UEBA: Aggregate and analyze data from all sources to create a comprehensive picture and a dynamic risk score for users and devices.

These PIPs deliver the “facts” for every access decision.

Part 2: Automation & Orchestration - Dynamic Decisions in Real Time

From Visibility to Dynamic Access Control

A core promise of Zero Trust is the continuous verification and adjustment of access (Continuous Authorization). An access decision is not a one-time event during morning login, but a dynamic process.

Think of the Zero Trust architecture like a modern airport:

• Security Checkpoint (Policy Enforcement Point - PEP): Here, it is decided whether someone is allowed through. Every person, every bag is individually checked. If something suspicious appears - liquids or unusual devices - intervention follows.

• Control Tower (Policy Decision Point - PDP): On-site security staff contact the control center if in doubt: “Is Person X really authorized to enter this area?”

• Sensors, Badges, Cameras, Behavior Patterns (Policy Information Points - PIPs): The control center relies on information from many sources - cameras, movement patterns, boarding information, luggage scans.

• Boarding Gate (Dynamic Access Control): Even shortly before boarding, checks are repeated: Is the time correct? Is the gate correct? Has anything changed? If yes, access is denied or rerouted.

• Ongoing Monitoring (Continuous Authorization): While the person moves through the secure area, their behavior continues to be monitored. If they enter a restricted zone or show suspicious behavior, the system intervenes automatically.

A Practical Example: Dynamic Access in a Zero Trust Environment

Initial Situation: Anna is working from home. She logs in successfully via MFA in the morning and her trust level is set to “Standard.”

1. Access Attempt: In the afternoon, Anna tries to access highly sensitive financial planning software. Her request is intercepted by the relevant Policy Enforcement Point (PEP), e.g., an identity proxy.

2. Policy Review: The PEP forwards the request to the central Policy Decision Point (PDP), which begins checking the access policy for the finance application by querying its Policy Information Points (PIPs):

   • PIP 1 (IAM): “Is Anna part of the ‘Finance-Users’ group?” → Answer: Yes.

   • PIP 2 (SIEM/UEBA): “What is Anna’s current behavioral risk score?” → Answer: Low.

   • PIP 3 (EDR): “What is the compliance status of Anna’s laptop?” → Answer (Visibility): Non-compliant. Reason: A critical security vulnerability has been unpatched for 48 hours.

3. Dynamic Access Decision: The PDP evaluates the answers against the predefined policy:

   • User must be in ‘Finance-Users’ group → Met.

   • Behavioral risk must be Low → Met.

   • Device status must be Compliant → Not met.

   • The PDP’s decision is clear: Access denied. It sends this instruction back to the PEP.

4. Enforcement and Automated Response:

   • The PEP blocks the connection to the finance application and directs Anna to a page stating: “Access denied. Your device does not meet security requirements.”

   • At the same time, the PDP sends an event (“Access denied due to non-compliance”) to the SOAR platform. The following automation kicks in:

     • A high-priority ticket is created for the IT team to track the patch issue.

     • An automated email is sent to Anna with an explanation and a self-service guide on how to manually trigger the required update.

This example shows the perfect symbiosis: The automated evaluation of PIP events (Visibility) by the PDP enables automated access decisions. The downstream orchestration via SOAR helps resolve the issue.

The Real-World Challenge - How to master Complexity

The implementation and operation of such an integrated architecture is a major challenge, divided into two main areas: strategic design and day-to-day operations.

The strategic Challenge: The right Blueprint

Before implementing even a single technical component, fundamental questions arise: Where do we start? How do we translate Zero Trust theory into a concrete architecture tailored to our company? Which technologies are right for us, and how will they work together? Who has the overarching expertise to design the policies and processes that form the foundation?

This is exactly where our Consulteer InCyber Consulting comes in. Our experts act as architects and coordinators, supporting you with their deep expertise to build and integrate your Zero Trust architecture - or parts of it. This includes:

• A comprehensive Maturity Assessment.

• Development of a Zero Trust strategy and roadmap tailored to your business.

• Design of the target technical architecture that takes your existing landscape into account.

• Definition of the central access policies as the basis for automation.

The Operational Challenge: Keeping the Engine Running

Once the architecture is in place, the demanding day-to-day operations begin. Companies face very concrete challenges:

• Data Overload and Alert Fatigue: The sheer volume of data and alerts can overwhelm even experienced IT teams.

• Lack of Expertise: Highly specialized security analysts are needed to operate the systems, interpret alerts, and maintain automation.

• 24/7 Operations: Attackers don’t work 9-to-5. Effective monitoring and response must be ensured around the clock - which is hardly feasible internally.

This is where our InCyber Managed Security Services (MSS) come into play. They are the technological and personnel implementation of your defined requirements. Instead of building an expensive and complex Security Operations Center (SOC) yourself, you can outsource operational responsibility to us.

Our MSS help you:

• Provide and operate the technology to enforce your policies.

• Have skilled personnel available 24/7 to handle data volumes and respond in emergencies.

• Ensure continuous operations so you can focus on your core business.

Consulting builds the plan and architecture - MSS runs it. Together, we make sure your Zero Trust strategy is not just a concept, but a living, effective defense.

Conclusion & Next Step

Visibility and automation are two sides of the same coin. Visibility through PIPs delivers the facts. Automation in the PDP/PEP interaction implements dynamic access decisions. The downstream orchestration via SOAR helps resolve issues and close the loop. Together, they form the beating heart of a modern Zero Trust architecture.

Your first step does not have to be complicated. If you want to find out how to create a solid foundation for visibility and automation - or improve your existing capabilities - a conversation with our consulting team is the ideal starting point. Our experts will support you at every stage - from the first maturity assessment to architecture development and strategic planning of your Zero Trust journey.

Schedule a non-binding conversation with our Zero Trust experts and let’s build the foundation for your security together.

Outlook

In our next article in this series, we will focus on the Identities pillar. We will explain why the identity of users and devices is the new security perimeter and how to protect it effectively.