State Agency Implements Zero Trust Architecture
The Challenge
The California Department of Technology Services faced a state executive order mandating Zero Trust implementation aligned with federal CISA guidance. The agency had 2,500 employees, 50% working remotely, using a mix of legacy and modern systems.
Existing security was perimeter-based: once inside the VPN, users had broad network access. A single compromised credential could access hundreds of systems. The order required 'never trust, always verify' architecture within 18 months.
The challenge: transform security for a complex environment with limited budget, legacy systems that couldn't support modern authentication, and employees accustomed to VPN-based access.
Our Approach
Zero Trust Maturity Assessment
Month 1-2Evaluated current state against CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model. Identified priority areas: identity, device, and network pillars.
Identity Foundation
Month 3-6Implemented identity governance, MFA for all users, conditional access policies, and privileged access management.
Device Trust & Network Segmentation
Month 6-10Deployed endpoint detection and response, device health attestation, and micro-segmentation for critical systems.
Continuous Verification & Monitoring
Month 10-12Implemented continuous authorization, security analytics, and compliance reporting dashboard for executive visibility.
Solution Overview
Zero Trust architecture including identity-centric access, micro-segmentation, continuous verification, endpoint security, and compliance reporting aligned with NIST guidelines.
The Results
Business Impact
"Zero Trust felt overwhelming until PlatOps showed us a practical path. We're now a model for other agencies."
RRobert Jenkins, Agency CISOState Government Agency
"Other agencies now call us for guidance. We went from lagging to leading in state government security."
SSarah Martinez, Deputy CIOState Government Agency
Key Takeaways
- Zero Trust is a journey, not a destination-start with identity
- Legacy systems can be wrapped with Zero Trust controls
- Executive visibility dashboards maintain stakeholder support
- Phased implementation reduces risk and builds organizational capability
Key Outcome
Technologies Used
Compliance Frameworks
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