The Blueprint of Trust: Laying the Policy Foundation for Zero Trust Automation (Zero Trust Activity 6.1.1)

So far, we have built robust capabilities across Identity, Device, Data, and Network pillars. We’ve established strong authentication, managed device trust, protected data in transit, and begun implementing programmable networks. In order for these advanced technical controls to scale, integrate, and respond dynamically, they need a clear, consistent set of instructions… which brings us to the first step in the Automation & Orchestration pillar: Zero Trust Activity 6.1.1: Policy Inventory & Development.

This activity focuses on the foundational work of defining the rules of Zero Trust. It mandates that the DoD Enterprise, working collaboratively with Components, catalogs and inventories existing cybersecurity policies and standards. This is an audit to understand your current state. The real work begins as policies are updated and created in cross-pillar activities as needed to meet critical Zero Trust Target Level functionality. This means actively reviewing existing policies against the requirements of a comprehensive Zero Trust Reference Architecture (ZTRA) and filling the gaps.

The outcomes for Activity 6.1.1 highlight this policy refinement and standardization:

1. Component policies have been collected in reference to applicable compliance and risk (e.g., RMF, NIST).
2. Policies have been reviewed for missing Pillars and Capabilities by Enterprise per the ZTRA.
3. Enterprise and Components make updates to missing areas of policies to meet the capabilities per the ZTRA.

The ultimate end state underscores the impact: Policies are aligned to support interoperability and enable ZT functionality. This signifies a unified policy framework that allows different security tools and network components to work together seamlessly.

The Power of Policy: Laying the Foundation for Scalability, Automation, and Resiliency

This policy development phase underpins the operational effectiveness of your Zero Trust architecture:

• Laying the Foundation for Scalability: Trying to manage security through ad-hoc or component-specific rules is unsustainable in a large enterprise. Standardized, enterprise-wide policies provide a consistent blueprint. As you onboard new users, devices, applications, or expand into new cloud environments, these predefined policies can be consistently applied at scale, reducing complexity and operational overhead. They ensure that every new piece of your digital footprint adheres to the same Zero Trust principles without requiring bespoke rule sets.
• Enabling Robust Automation: Automation is the engine of Zero Trust. Policies define the “if-then” logic that automation engines (like SOAR platforms) execute. If a policy is unclear, contradictory, or hidden in a document somewhere, it cannot be reliably translated into machine-readable code or automated workflows. By defining clear, unambiguous, and ideally machine-readable policies, you provide the precise instructions that your security orchestration tools need to automatically grant access, deny access, quarantine a device, or trigger a response to a threat. 
• Building Resiliency: Well-defined and consistently enforced policies lead to predictable security outcomes. This predictability is vital for resilience. In the event of a security incident, automated responses, built upon clear policies, can quickly and consistently contain threats, limit lateral movement, and isolate compromised entities. Policies ensure that consistent security controls are maintained even during rapid changes, system migrations, or unforeseen outages, allowing your organization to maintain a strong security posture under duress and recover faster.

Solutions for Achieving Policy Inventory & Development

Implementing Activity 6.1.1 is primarily a governance and process-driven activity, supported by tools that help manage and analyze policies:

1. Policy Inventory and Gap Analysis:
   1. Process: Conduct a thorough audit of all existing cybersecurity policies, standards, and requirements across the enterprise and its components. Catalog them in a centralized repository.
   2. Tools: Utilize Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms, policy management software, or specialized documentation tools to help organize, track, and analyze policies.
2. Policy Development and Update:
   1. Process: Based on the gap analysis, update existing policies and develop new ones to address missing areas and align with ZTRA requirements. This requires strong collaboration between Enterprise leadership, security architects, legal/compliance, and Component teams.
   2. Focus on Machine-Readability: As policies are updated and created, consider how they can be expressed in machine-readable formats (e.g., using policy languages, rule sets) to facilitate future automation.
3. Cross-Pillar Alignment and Standardization:
   1. Process: Ensure new and updated policies are holistic and span across Zero Trust pillars. For example, a device trust policy (Device Pillar) must align with network access rules (Network Pillar) and data access policies (Data Pillar).
   2. Enterprise Guidance: The Enterprise provides standardized guidance, templates, and best practices for policy deployment to ensure consistency across Components.

Key Items to Consider:

• Governance and Collaboration: This activity is intensely collaborative. Establishing clear governance, roles, and responsibilities between Enterprise and Component teams is paramount for policy alignment and consensus.
• Compliance Framework Integration: Ensure policies are clearly mapped to applicable compliance and risk frameworks (e.g., RMF, NIST 800-53, ISO 27001) to streamline auditing and reporting.
• From Theory to Practice: Policy development must consider the technical feasibility of implementation and enforcement in your specific environment and chosen tools.
• Making Policies Actionable: Think about how policies, once defined, will translate into rules for your IdP, UEM, EDR, NAC, ZTNA, PAM, and other security tools.
• Version Control and Lifecycle: Implement robust version control for policies and establish a clear lifecycle for their review, update, and approval.

For the Technical Buyer

Activity 6.1.1 is the foundational governance work that enables the entire Zero Trust transformation. It’s about cataloging existing policies and then strategically developing and updating them to align with a comprehensive Zero Trust Reference Architecture. For technical buyers, understanding that this policy clarity is the essential blueprint for scalability, automation, and resilience is paramount. Investing in robust GRC and policy management tools, fostering strong collaboration between Enterprise and Components, and ensuring policies are designed for future machine-readability will directly translate into the efficiency, agility, and effectiveness of your Zero Trust implementation. 

Pillar: Automation and Orchestration
Capability: 6.1 Policy Decision & Enforcement Framework
Activity: 6.1.1 Policy Inventory & Development
Phase: Target Level
Predecessor(s): None
Successor(s): 3.5.1 Continuous Authorization to Operate (cATO) Part 1