Zero-trust network architecture

Every connection is authenticated, authorized, and encrypted — no implicit trust based on network location.

1. Identity-first perimeter

Replace VPNs with mTLS and short-lived certificates. Every service, user, and device carries a verifiable identity before any packet is accepted.

2. Micro-segmentation

East-west traffic between workloads is denied by default. Allow only explicitly defined policy paths — service A to service B on port 443, nothing else.

3. Continuous verification

Trust is never permanent. Re-validate device posture, session context, and behavioral signals on every request. Revoke access the moment a signal degrades.

4. Encrypted transit everywhere

All inter-service communication uses TLS 1.3 with pinned certificates. No plaintext on the wire, even inside the cluster.

Meridian tip: Combine this recipe with the secure boot chain recipe for defense-in-depth from silicon to application.