Why Zero Trust Matters

Zero Trust has evolved from an emerging concept to the preferred security strategy for enterprise networks, systems, applications, devices, data, and cloud services. Following high-profile breaches like SolarWinds and the U.S. federal government's mandate requiring Zero Trust adoption, organizations worldwide are rapidly implementing Zero Trust architectures.

Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, IT practitioner, security architect, or business leader, understanding Zero Trust fundamentals is now essential for modern security strategy and implementation.



Comprehensive Zero Trust Education

This course teaches Zero Trust as a security strategy and framework, not just a collection of technologies. You'll learn the NIST-aligned architectural model and gain the shared vocabulary needed to collaborate with technical teams and business leaders.

  • 4 Hours of Expert Instruction: Comprehensive coverage mapped to NIST SP 800-207, from fundamentals through implementation strategies.
  • 8 Section Quizzes: Reinforce your understanding of key concepts throughout the course.



  • Real-World Case Studies: Analyze the SolarWinds attack and Colonial Pipeline breach to understand why Zero Trust matters and how it addresses modern threats.
  • Vendor-Neutral Approach: Learn conceptual frameworks and principles applicable across any technology stack or vendor solution.
  • Complete Course Materials: Downloadable PDF versions of all lecture slides for reference and team sharing.
  • Lifetime Access: Learn at your own pace with permanent access to all materials and future updates.


What You'll Learn

This course provides vendor-neutral coverage of Zero Trust fundamentals, architecture, and implementation strategy. Perfect for beginners and experienced practitioners alike who need to understand Zero Trust beyond vendor marketing.

Foundations & Strategic Context

  • Zero Trust Fundamentals: Understand what Zero Trust really is, the core principle of "never trust, always verify," essential definitions, tenets of Zero Trust, and historical context showing its evolution.
  • Why We Need Zero Trust: Explore the pitfalls of perimeter-based security, understand digital transformation drivers, analyze Microsoft's Zero Trust journey, examine the current state of Zero Trust adoption, and deep-dive the SolarWinds attack case study.
  • Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) Fundamentals: Master the NIST Zero Trust Architectural Model (SP 800-207), explore real-life ZTA solutions, understand NIST architecture approaches and deployment models, and learn about trust algorithms and policies.



Architecture, Design & Implementation

  • Zero Trust Architectural Pillars: Deep-dive into the five pillars (Users & Identity, Devices, Network & Environment, Applications & Workloads, Data) plus two foundational components. Learn how to secure each pillar within a ZTA framework.
  • Designing a Zero Trust Architecture: Understand that there's no single "right way" to Zero Trust, learn proven design principles, master the five-step Zero Trust design methodology, and explore Forrester's approach to Zero Trust implementation.
  • Migrating to Zero Trust: Build a compelling business case for Zero Trust adoption, address the challenge of organizational change, create effective Zero Trust teams, leverage the Zero Trust implementation curve, and discover tips for a successful Zero Trust journey.



Practical Application & Maturity

  • Exploring ZTA Use Cases: Examine VPN-less implementation, East-West segmentation, secure access from anywhere, conditional authentication and authorization, Microsoft ZTA step-by-step use case, and Cloudflare's Zero Trust roadmap.
  • Zero Trust Maturity Models: Compare and understand multiple maturity frameworks, including the NSA Zero Trust Maturity Model, the Microsoft Zero Trust Maturity Model, the CISA Maturity Model, and the DoD Target & Advanced Zero Trust Activities.
  • Colonial Pipeline Case Study: Analyze how Zero Trust principles could have prevented or mitigated this major ransomware attack on critical infrastructure.


What Students Are Saying

"This is a phenomenal class. I'm a professional trainer and consultant, and this instructor is top notch. He's got a great, calming voice which makes it easy to listen to. The material is technical, but he always makes sure it is understandable. I highly recommend this Zero Trust class for beginners to advanced students"

— Todd Lammle ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



"I am a long-time Cybersecurity veteran, but have not deployed a comprehensive ZTA. This course is very informative and easy to follow."

— Larry Mulloy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



"I really enjoyed this class. Alton provided me with exactly what I was looking for, a solid overview of Zero Trust that went well beyond just a surface-level-understanding, without committing me to several days worth of training. Alton has a very comfortable and relatable teaching style, and his overall content organization, flow, use of impactful graphics, inclusion of additional Resources, and the key-concepts excerpts were all extremely helpful. Definitely one of the best online classes I've ever taken!"

— Brian Hillmar ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



"This course was excellent. It helped me move from zero to a place where I can confidently look for specific tools and vendors to help my organization become more secure."

— Michael Dewar ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to the Course!

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Quick Course Overview

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Why Learn Cyber Security from Me?

      FREE PREVIEW

    4. Download Course Lecture PDFs

    5. Student Exercise: Introduce Yourself

    1. Section Introduction

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. What is Zero Trust?

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Some Zero Trust Definitions

      FREE PREVIEW

    4. Never Trust, Always Verify

      FREE PREVIEW

    5. Zero Trust Enterprise

      FREE PREVIEW

    6. Tenets of Zero Trust

    7. Zero Trust Pillars

    8. Zero Trust Historical Context

    9. A Glimpse into ZTA

    10. Section Quiz

    1. Section Introduction

    2. Why Do We Need Zero Trust?

    3. Perimeter Security Pitfalls

    4. Digital Transformation

    5. Microsoft Case Study

    6. The State of Zero Trust

    7. Case Study: From SolarWinds to Zero Trust

    8. Section Quiz

    1. Section Introduction

    2. The NIST Zero Trust Architectural (ZTA) Model

    3. Example Real-Life ZTA Solutions

    4. NIST ZTA Architecture Approaches

    5. NIST ZTA Deployment Models

    6. Introduction to Trust Algorithms & Policies

    7. Section Quiz

    1. Section Introduction

    2. Reviewing the Pillars of Zero Trust

    3. Securing the Users & Identity Pillar

    4. Securing the Devices Pillar

    5. Securing the Network & Environment PIllar

    6. Securing the Applications & Workloads Pillar

    7. Securing the Data Pillar

    8. Foundational Components

    9. Bringing It All Together

    10. Case Study: Colonial Pipeline Cyber Attack

    11. Section Quiz

    1. Section Introduction

    2. There is No Right Way to Zero Trust

    3. Zero Trust Design Principles

    4. The Five-Step Zero Trust Design Methodology

    5. Forrester’s Five Steps to Zero Trust

    6. Section Quiz

About this course

  • $49.95
  • 70 lessons
  • 3.5 hours of video content

Your Instructor & Learning Philosophy

About Alton Hardin

Alton is the founder of Alton Teaches LLC and a former college professor. He spent 12 years as a cybersecurity specialist at the U.S. Department of Treasury working in governance, risk, and compliance. He holds an MBA in Information Assurance and Security Management and multiple certifications including CISSP, Security+, Network+, and Forrester Certified: Adopting Zero Trust.

250,000+ students taught across cybersecurity and IT courses. 90,000+ copies sold of his bestselling books.



Strategy Over Technology

This course focuses on Zero Trust as a security strategy and framework, not just a collection of vendor products. You'll understand the conceptual architecture that can be implemented across any technology stack.

  • Framework-Focused, Not Vendor-Specific: Learn the NIST-aligned conceptual model applicable to any organization, regardless of your technology choices or existing infrastructure.
  • Strategic Understanding: This isn't a hands-on device configuration course. You won't configure firewalls or SIEM systems. Instead, you'll gain the strategic knowledge needed to guide Zero Trust initiatives.



  • For All Skill Levels: Whether you're a beginner learning Zero Trust for the first time or an experienced practitioner seeking structured knowledge, this course provides the foundation you need.
  • Practical Application: Real-world case studies, maturity models from multiple frameworks (NSA, Microsoft, CISA, DoD), and concrete use cases show how Zero Trust works in actual organizations.


Ready to Master Zero Trust Fundamentals?

Join 250,000+ students learning modern cybersecurity strategies. NIST-aligned training, lifetime access, 14-day money-back guarantee.

Enroll today

Common Questions

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for IT professionals, cybersecurity practitioners, security architects, network engineers, cloud professionals, and business/technology leaders involved in Zero Trust strategy, architecture, or implementation. It's valuable for both beginners new to Zero Trust and experienced practitioners seeking structured, vendor-neutral knowledge.


Is this a hands-on technical course?

No. This course teaches Zero Trust as a security strategy and conceptual architectural framework. You won't configure firewalls, SIEM systems, or other security devices. Instead, you'll gain the strategic understanding needed to guide Zero Trust initiatives, make informed decisions, and collaborate effectively with technical teams.


Do I need prior Zero Trust experience?

No. This course starts with fundamentals and builds systematically. You should have basic IT and cybersecurity knowledge, but no prior Zero Trust experience is required. Familiarity with basic network concepts is helpful but not mandatory.


How long will it take to complete?

The course contains 4 hours of video content across 10 sections. Most students complete it within one to two weeks, but you have lifetime access so you can learn at your own pace.


What's included with enrollment?

You get 4 hours of video lectures mapped to NIST SP 800-207, 8 section quizzes, analysis of real-world case studies (SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline), coverage of multiple maturity models (NSA, Microsoft, CISA, DoD), downloadable PDF versions of all slides, and lifetime access to all materials.


Is this course vendor-neutral?

Yes. This course teaches the NIST Zero Trust architectural model and conceptual frameworks applicable to any technology stack. While we examine real-world examples from Microsoft, Cloudflare, and others, the focus is on universal principles and strategies, not vendor-specific products.


Will this help me implement Zero Trust at my organization?

Yes. You'll learn design methodologies, migration strategies, how to build a business case, create Zero Trust teams, leverage maturity models, and apply practical use cases. This course provides the strategic foundation needed to guide Zero Trust initiatives effectively.


What if I'm not satisfied?

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you may request a refund within 14 days of the original purchase date.