Zero Trust Starts with Visibility - And Scales with Identity

Most Zero Trust conversations begin with network segmentation. But if segmentation defines where traffic can flow, identity defines who and what can access it — and together, they shape a complete Zero Trust strategy.

Yet, many organizations still struggle to connect these two layers. The global Zero Trust security market reached $36.96 billion in 2024, growing at 16.6% annually, but only 29% of enterprises use identity-based access as their primary enforcement model. Meanwhile, 68% of breaches exploit non-human credentials, showing that segmentation alone leaves important gaps.

Before you roll out enforcement controls, it’s essential to understand your identity ecosystem — not as a prerequisite, but as a complementary pillar that amplifies segmentation effectiveness.

1. Start with Discovery

Map every identity source — from Active Directory to cloud SSO and endpoint certificates. You can’t protect what you can’t see, and most enterprises uncover shadow identity stores during this process.

The scale is massive: non-human identities (NHIs) now outnumber human accounts 144:1, a 56% year-over-year increase.

Organizations manage an average of 15,000+ service accounts, 25,000+ API keys, and 50,000+ certificates, many of which remain unmanaged or orphaned.

Tip: Include both user and non-human identities (service accounts, IoT devices, workloads). These often represent the weakest links and are directly tied to lateral movement risk within segmented networks. Recent research shows that 68% of breaches exploit non-human credentials.

At the same time, shadow IT now accounts for more than 50% of enterprise technology spend — a signal that hidden or unsanctioned systems often hold unmanaged credentials and identity stores. Together, these factors make visibility and identity correlation more urgent than ever.

2. Evaluate Integration Points

The key to Zero Trust maturity is how well your identity layer integrates with your network control plane — switches, wireless controllers, firewalls, and NAC systems.

A good assessment answers:

• Can my network dynamically enforce policies based on identity attributes? According to the Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA), only 27% of organizations are highly confident their access controls follow the principle of least privilege — ensuring users have only the permissions necessary for their roles. This reveals a major enforcement gap in identity-driven segmentation.
• Are context signals (device posture, location, risk score) shared in real time? Just 15% of organizations feel highly confident in preventing non-human identity attacks.
• Is policy enforcement consistent across on-prem and cloud? The hybrid reality remains a major challenge. Only 28% of organizations report using the same security tools across both environments, according to a StrongDM survey. This fragmentation leads to inconsistent policy enforcement, operational silos, and visibility gaps that undermine Zero Trust initiatives.

These gaps show why identity integration, not just segmentation, determines Zero Trust maturity.

3. Measure Readiness Across Three Dimensions

The business case for stronger integration remains clear. Modern microsegmentation helps organizations limit lateral movement, reduce the scope of potential breaches, and simplify policy management across hybrid environments. When identity data feeds directly into enforcement, visibility increases and operational costs decline through coordinated control between identity and network layers. According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average breach now costs $4.88 million, highlighting how integrated, identity-driven enforcement directly protects both security posture and financial performance.

4. Operationalize with Confidence

Once your gaps are visible, a structured approach ensures you progress from assessment to enforcement without disrupting operations.

The S.I.M.P.L.E. Framework for Zero Trust Deployment

BTA's S.I.M.P.L.E. methodology provides a battle-tested approach that has delivered over 500 projects with a zero-failure rate, helping 100+ customers enforce Zero Trust policies across 450+ applications. The framework ensures you don't progress until readiness criteria at each phase are met:

S - Start: Engage stakeholders (CISO, SecOps, App, and Network teams) to establish a shared vocabulary, scope, and objectives.

I - Immerse: Run design workshops to define use cases and success criteria. Identity considerations are built in here — ensuring account, device, and policy alignment early in design.

M - Map: Develop detailed configuration and policy designs. Every element maps to approved use cases, linking segmentation controls with identity data for dynamic enforcement.

P - Prove: Validate the solution against business goals. Leverage tools like Policy Automation Engine™ to simulate policies and minimize production risk.

L - Launch: Transition to production with automation, documentation, and operational readiness to sustain identity-driven segmentation.

E - Evolve: Continuously review and improve based on new identity sources, threat intelligence, and emerging technologies.

This structured approach bridges strategy and execution: identity-driven, automated, and auditable at every phase.

The urgency is real. A recent survey found that only 1% of organizations report satisfaction with their current access and connectivity setup, and 42% believe their current systems won't meet their needs within two years. Meanwhile, Gartner predicts that by 2027, 75% of employees will use technology outside of IT oversight, further complicating identity management.

The good news: the Identity and Access Management (IAM) market is expected to grow from $12.3 billion in 2020 to $24.1 billion by 2025, with 90% of organizations increasing their IAM budgets. This investment reflects growing recognition that identity is the cornerstone of Zero Trust security.

Final Thought

Zero Trust requires alignment between segmentation and identity - both working in sync to reduce risk, strengthen control, and simplify management. While only 30% of organizations consider their Zero Trust initiatives mature, progress accelerates when identity discovery and automated enforcement evolve together.

Gartner projects that by 2027, 75% of employees will use technology outside IT oversight, making integrated identity and segmentation essential to safeguard modern enterprises.

The practical path forward involves embedding Zero Trust principles into daily operations through visibility, consistency, and automation. This approach turns strategy into measurable progress and builds a sustainable, identity-aware security posture.