Introduction to Zero Trust

This course is designed for developers, operators, security professionals, and architects working on medium to large microservice-based systems, as well as IT leaders and policy decision-makers looking to enhance security within their organization.

This course discusses the features and characteristics of a Zero Trust Architecture, the different models of trust and use cases, and provides opportunities for hands-on practice with open source tools such as SPIFFE/SPIRE, Open Policy Agent, and Istio service mesh.

You will be equipped with the tools and insights to navigate the increasingly significant landscape of Zero Trust Networks, which are the practical implementations of a Zero Trust Architecture, aimed at securing a network by adhering to Zero Trust practices. This knowledge will help prepare you to apply them in real-world scenarios, facilitating robust network security by adopting a 'Never Trust, Always Verify' approach.

What you'll learn

The flaws of perimeter-based network security and how it gave rise to Zero Trust
The importance of Zero Trust in securing modern, microservice-based environments which face complexity creep and an evolving threat landscape
Fundamental assertions of Zero Trust Networks and basics of Zero Trust Architectures
The technology fundamentals key to building Zero Trust Networks, such as cryptography and trust
The different models of trust used to achieve Zero Trust.
The importance of workload identities and how they are achieved in the context of Zero Trust Networks
The different use cases in which you can apply Zero Trust
How to achieve Zero Trust using open source tooling such as SPIFFE/SPIRE, OPA, and Istio service mesh

What's inside

Learning objectives

The flaws of perimeter-based network security and how it gave rise to zero trust
The importance of zero trust in securing modern, microservice-based environments which face complexity creep and an evolving threat landscape
Fundamental assertions of zero trust networks and basics of zero trust architectures
The technology fundamentals key to building zero trust networks, such as cryptography and trust

The different models of trust used to achieve zero trust.
The importance of workload identities and how they are achieved in the context of zero trust networks
The different use cases in which you can apply zero trust
How to achieve zero trust using open source tooling such as spiffe/spire, opa, and istio service mesh

The flaws of perimeter-based network security and how it gave rise to zero trust
The importance of zero trust in securing modern, microservice-based environments which face complexity creep and an evolving threat landscape
Fundamental assertions of zero trust networks and basics of zero trust architectures
The technology fundamentals key to building zero trust networks, such as cryptography and trust
The different models of trust used to achieve zero trust.
The importance of workload identities and how they are achieved in the context of zero trust networks
The different use cases in which you can apply zero trust
How to achieve zero trust using open source tooling such as spiffe/spire, opa, and istio service mesh

Syllabus

Welcome to LFS183x

Zero Trust Fundamentals

Why Do We Care about Zero Trust

Technology Fundamentals: Cryptography and Trust

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what should give you pause

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Develops foundational knowledge of Zero Trust, which is essential for securing modern IT infrastructure

Provides insights and hands-on practice with industry-standard open source tools such as SPIFFE/SPIRE, OPA, and Istio

Taught by experienced instructors Torin van den Bulk and James Callaghan, who are recognized experts in Zero Trust architecture

Covers a comprehensive range of topics, including the fundamentals of Zero Trust, workload identities, and use cases

Reviews summary

Zero trust: fundamentals, architecture, and tools

According to students, this course offers a largely positive and excellent introduction to Zero Trust, effectively making complex security concepts clear and concise. Learners particularly value the hands-on labs that provide practical experience with open-source tools like SPIFFE/SPIRE and Open Policy Agent (OPA). The content is widely considered highly relevant for modern security paradigms and microservice-based environments. While praised for its solid foundational understanding, some experienced professionals note a lack of in-depth coverage for advanced real-world scenarios, desiring more detailed architectural patterns or comprehensive Istio integration. It is best suited for those seeking a comprehensive initial overview.

Instructors are effective in explaining complex concepts clearly.

"The instructor clearly explained complex concepts."

"Instructor was great."

"The explanations of core principles were top-notch."

Highly pertinent for securing contemporary microservice-based environments.

"I found the content highly relevant to my work as a security architect."

"A must-take for anyone in DevOps or security."

"This course is a revelation for anyone dealing with microservices security."

"It successfully clarifies why ZT is critical in microservices."

Offers valuable hands-on experience with key open-source Zero Trust tools.

"The hands-on labs with SPIFFE/SPIRE and OPA were incredibly valuable."

"Good general introduction. The hands-on exercises were helpful for understanding SPIFFE/SPIRE."

"The open-source tools discussed are highly relevant."

"I learned a lot about OPA."

Provides a comprehensive and easily understandable introduction to Zero Trust.

"This course provided an excellent, practical introduction to Zero Trust."

"A very solid foundation. The theoretical parts were well-covered, especially the historical context of perimeter security flaws."

"Fantastic overview of Zero Trust! The concepts were explained in a clear and concise manner."

"This course successfully clarifies why ZT is critical in microservices."

May not provide sufficient advanced or real-world application depth for experienced professionals.

"I felt some of the tool demos, while useful, could have gone a bit deeper for someone with prior experience."

"Disappointed with the depth. It felt like an extended marketing brochure at times. Too much theory and not enough practical, advanced application..."

"It felt a bit too high-level at times, especially in the 'Managing Trust in the Cloud' section. Still, a decent starting point for absolute beginners."

"Decent introduction but lacks the practical depth needed for real-world scenarios."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Zero Trust with these activities:

Review Cryptography concepts

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Review the basics of cryptography to ensure a solid understanding of the underlying principles.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Review symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms
Study cryptographic hashing functions
Practice using cryptographic libraries or tools

Hands-on Practice with SPIFFE/SPIRE

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Gain practical experience with SPIFFE/SPIRE to enhance your understanding of workload identity in Zero Trust.

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Set up a SPIFFE/SPIRE environment
Create and manage workload identities
Implement SPIFFE/SPIRE in a sample application

Explore Open Policy Agent (OPA) for Policy Enforcement

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Expand your knowledge of policy enforcement in Zero Trust by following tutorials on Open Policy Agent.

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Review the basics of OPA and Rego language
Follow tutorials on implementing policies with OPA
Experiment with OPA in a sample application

Four other activities

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Attend a Zero Trust Security Workshop

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Immerse yourself in a hands-on workshop to gain deeper insights into the practical aspects of Zero Trust security.

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Attend the workshop and actively participate
Apply learnings and best practices to your own projects

Mentor Junior Engineers on Zero Trust Principles

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Reinforce your understanding and contribute to the community by mentoring others on the fundamental principles of Zero Trust.

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Identify opportunities for mentoring
Prepare and develop a mentoring plan
Guide and support mentees in understanding Zero Trust concepts

Volunteer at a Security Conference Focusing on Zero Trust

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Contribute to the industry and network with experts by volunteering at a conference related to Zero Trust security.

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Identify and research relevant conferences
Apply for volunteer roles
Actively participate and engage with attendees

Create a Presentation on Zero Trust Best Practices

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Synthesize your knowledge by creating a presentation that outlines the best practices for implementing Zero Trust.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity

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Gather and organize information on best practices
Design and develop the presentation content
Practice delivering the presentation

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Zero Trust will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cybersecurity Architect

A Cybersecurity Architect will help secure the future of technology. This role involves the planning and implementation of enterprise-wide cybersecurity solutions from the ground up, in all of their complexity. By understanding Zero Trust Architectures, you will be able to create architecture that provides high levels of network security. This is because a zero trust architecture focuses on the idea that you can never be too sure of a user's identity. A good Cybersecurity Architect will make sure that the data and systems within an organization are protected. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust provides a helpful foundation in these important architectural concepts, and will help you achieve professional mastery as a Cybersecurity Architect.

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Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers are in high demand to protect cloud-based data and applications from cyberattacks. They need a strong understanding of cloud computing security and zero trust architectures in order to design and implement security measures that meet the unique challenges of the cloud. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust provides the concepts and tools needed to achieve success in this career, and includes the important practical knowledge expected of a Cloud Security Engineer.

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Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. They use their knowledge of networking protocols and security to ensure that data is transmitted securely and efficiently. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you understand the fundamentals of Zero Trust Networks, which are becoming increasingly important in today's threat landscape. This course will help you build a strong foundation for a successful career as a Network Engineer.

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Security Analyst

Security Analysts monitor and analyze security systems to identify and respond to threats. They need a strong understanding of security principles and technologies, including zero trust architectures. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. This course will introduce you to Zero Trust Networks and their benefits, and will help you understand how to implement and manage them.

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IT Security Manager

IT Security Managers are responsible for the overall security of an organization's IT systems and data. They need a deep understanding of security principles and technologies, including zero trust architectures. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. This course will help you understand the fundamentals of Zero Trust Networks and how to implement them in your organization.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers are responsible for the development and operation of software systems. They need a strong understanding of software development and operations, as well as security principles. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. This course will introduce you to Zero Trust Networks and their benefits, and will help you understand how to implement them in your software development and operations processes.

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Security Consultant

Security Consultants help organizations improve their security posture. They need a strong understanding of security principles and technologies, including zero trust architectures. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. This course will introduce you to Zero Trust Networks and their benefits, and will help you understand how to implement and manage them.

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Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers assess the security of computer systems by simulating cyberattacks. They need a strong understanding of security principles and technologies, including zero trust architectures. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. This course will introduce you to Zero Trust Networks and their benefits, and will help you understand how to test their effectiveness.

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Incident Responder

Incident Responders are responsible for responding to security incidents. They need a strong understanding of security principles and technologies, including zero trust architectures. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. This course will introduce you to Zero Trust Networks and their benefits, and will help you understand how to use them to respond to security incidents.

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Blockchain Developer

Blockchain Developers develop and maintain blockchain-based applications. While Blockchain Developers do not always need an explicit understanding of zero trust architectures, developers who understand Zero Trust can help to improve the security of blockchain applications. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust may be helpful for Blockchain Developers who want to learn more about this important security concept.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. While Data Scientists do not always need an explicit understanding of zero trust architectures, data scientists who understand Zero Trust can help to improve the security of data-driven applications. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust may be helpful for Data Scientists who want to learn more about this important security concept.

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Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software applications. While Software Developers do not always need an explicit understanding of zero trust architectures, those that understand Zero Trust can help to improve the security of software applications. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust may be helpful for Software Developers who want to learn more about this important security concept.

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System Administrator

System Administrators manage and maintain computer systems. While System Administrators do not always need an explicit understanding of zero trust architectures, understanding Zero Trust can help to improve the security of the systems they manage. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust may be helpful for System Administrators who want to learn more about this important security concept.

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IT Auditor

IT Auditors assess the security of computer systems and networks. While IT Auditors do not always need an explicit understanding of zero trust architectures, understanding Zero Trust can help to improve the quality of their audits. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust may be helpful for IT Auditors who want to learn more about this important security concept.

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IT Manager

IT Managers oversee the IT department of an organization. While IT Managers do not always need an explicit understanding of zero trust architectures, understanding Zero Trust can help to improve the security of their organization's IT systems. The Linux Foundation's course on Zero Trust may be helpful for IT Managers who want to learn more about this important security concept.

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