Is Zero Trust Actually Failing Us?

According to Computerworld, BeyondTrust Chief Security Advisor Morey Haber recently broke down why zero trust implementations are struggling despite the concept’s popularity. In a Today in Tech episode with host Keith Shaw, Haber explained that vendor overhyping and fundamental misunderstandings about identity management are creating implementation failures. The discussion covered critical topics including lateral movement prevention, AI agent security implications, and compliance frameworks like HIPAA and PCI. Haber emphasized that zero trust remains critically relevant in the age of artificial intelligence, arguing that the problem isn’t the framework itself but how organizations approach implementation.

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The Vendor Problem

Here’s the thing about zero trust – everyone’s selling it, but nobody’s explaining what it actually requires. Vendors have turned it into this magical buzzword that supposedly solves every security problem. But when companies buy these “zero trust solutions,” they’re often just getting repackaged legacy products with a fancy new label. I’ve seen this happen repeatedly – organizations spend millions expecting silver bullets, only to discover they’ve bought tools that don’t actually enforce zero trust principles.

Identity Is Everything

Look, the core issue most companies miss? Zero trust isn’t about network perimeters anymore. It’s about identity. Haber gets this right – if you’re not starting with rock-solid identity verification and access controls, you’re basically building a castle with no walls. And in the AI era, this becomes even more critical. When AI agents are making access decisions, you need absolute confidence in your identity framework. Otherwise, you’re just automating your own security failures.

Compliance Isn’t Security

So many organizations treat zero trust as a compliance checkbox for HIPAA or PCI. But that’s completely backwards. Compliance frameworks give you the bare minimum, while real zero trust requires going way beyond what any regulation demands. I’ve worked with companies that passed their PCI audits with flying colors but had gaping security holes everywhere. The mentality of “we’re compliant, so we’re secure” is probably the most dangerous assumption in cybersecurity today.

Where We Go From Here

Basically, zero trust isn’t failing – we’re failing zero trust. The framework itself is sound, maybe even more necessary than ever with AI changing the threat landscape daily. But implementation requires actually understanding the principles rather than just buying vendor promises. It means starting with identity, embracing continuous verification, and accepting that this is a journey, not a product you can purchase. The companies that get this right? They’re the ones that will actually survive the next wave of cyber threats.