Implementing Zero Trust Architecture in Tactical Networks

The concept of a trusted network perimeter is a relic of a bygone era, especially in a tactical environment where the 'perimeter' is constantly changing. A Zero Trust Architecture, which assumes the network is already compromised and verifies every connection, is absolutely essential for modern military operations. This is an analysis of the unique challenges of implementing Zero Trust, including identity and access management for devices in disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DIL) environments.

The concept of a network perimeter is a fossil. It's a relic of a time when we could draw a neat line around our network and say, 'Everything inside this line is trusted, and everything outside is not.' In the tactical environment, where the 'perimeter' is a constantly shifting, amorphous blob, this model is not just obsolete; it's dangerously naive. We must assume that the network is already compromised. We must assume that the enemy is already inside the wire. This is the foundational principle of a Zero Trust Architecture, and it is the only way to build a truly secure tactical network.

In a Zero Trust network, there is no such thing as a trusted user or a trusted device. Every single request for access must be authenticated and authorized, every single time. It doesn't matter if you are sitting in the TOC or on a hilltop in Afghanistan. It doesn't matter if you are using a government-issued laptop or a personal cell phone. Every connection is treated as hostile until it is proven otherwise.

This is a radical departure from the traditional model of network security, and it comes with its own set of unique challenges, especially in a tactical environment. How do you manage identity and access for a device that is frequently disconnected from the network? How do you enforce security policies in a low-bandwidth environment? How do you do all of this without creating a massive burden for the end-user?

These are the hard problems that we are solving at ROE Defense. We are developing a new generation of Zero Trust solutions that are specifically designed for the disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DIL) environments that our soldiers operate in. We are using lightweight, resilient protocols that can operate over a tactical radio. We are using advanced caching and synchronization techniques to ensure that a device can still be authenticated even when it is disconnected from the network. And we are using a risk-based approach to access control, so we can apply the most stringent security measures to our most sensitive data.

Zero Trust is not a product; it's a philosophy. It's a new way of thinking about network security. And it's a philosophy that we have embraced wholeheartedly at ROE Defense. Because in the contested cyber domain of the 21st century, the only way to be secure is to trust nothing.