The Zero Trust Roadmap Managed Service Providers Should Follow

Table of Contents

Section


01. Crash Course: What is Zero Trust?

What is and isn’t Zero Trust?

Benefits of Implementing Zero Trust (For Clients)

Increased Security

Better User Experience

Cloud Compatibility
Benefits of Implementing Zero Trust (For You)
Lead By Example

Trust Building
Easier for You to Manage as an MSP
Opportunities to Monetize

02. How to Get Zero Trust Buy-In from Your Clients
Demonstrate Benefits Beyond Cost Savings
Take your Client’s Security Pulse
Address any Objections
Share the Benefits
Develop a Marketing Plan
A Few Top-Ranking Industry Podcasts

03. How to Implement Zero Trust with Your Clients
Initial Strategy and Development
Implementation Stages
Become a Stronger MSP with Zero Trust

INTRODUCTION

As a managed service provider (MSP), you are your clients’ go-to for all things IT. Whether your clients are small, medium, or large enterprises, they rely on you to provide the resources and security necessary to run their business. If you want to offer them the best security framework possible, you need to implement Zero Trust.

Zero Trust is a security concept that enables you to offer your clients the pinnacle of protection while increasing your market share and perceived value. In this whitepaper, you’ll get a crash course on what Zero Trust is (and what it is not), along with a roadmap for simplifying security management and implementing Zero Trust for your clients so you can unlock the freedom to focus on growth.

CRASH COURSE: What Is Zero Trust?

What Is Zero Trust?
You’ve probably heard the term “Zero Trust” thrown around lately. It’s gained popularity as a buzzword, even though it’s often misunderstood.

As an MSP, the most important thing to understand is that Zero Trust isn’t a product; it’s a method of approaching security – a framework. The concept centers around the idea that employees should have the lowest level of security and identity clearances necessary to do their jobs – and no more.

In this section, we’ll explore the details of the Zero Trust model, and why it’s not only beneficial but vital for you and your clients to implement.

What Is and Isn’t Zero Trust?

Due to its buzzword status, the term Zero Trust gets thrown around a lot, but it’s not always used correctly. Here’s a quick guide based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Zero Trust Architecture publication that clarifies the main principles.

Zero Trust is

Sometimes also called Zero Trust architecture, ZT, or ZTA

Based on the principle of “trust nothing; verify everything”: devices are trusted only after they meet all credentialing and security requirements, but never trusted by default, and all users must be regularly authenticated and validated