Build Zero-Trust Architecture Without Ripping Out Your Existing Infrastructure
Microsoft-native zero-trust implementation leveraging your existing Entra ID, Microsoft 365, and Azure investments. Former Fortune 500 CISOs deliver identity-centric security in 6-12 months at 40-60% lower cost than Big 4 consulting.
Zero-trust isn't about replacing your entire security stack. It's about architecting identity-centric security that assumes breach, verifies explicitly, and enforces least privilege—using the tools you already own. Newf Advisory specializes in Microsoft-native zero-trust implementations that integrate with existing enterprise environments. No vendor lock-in. No rip-and-replace. Just pragmatic architecture delivering measurable risk reduction in 6-12 months.
Former Fortune 500 CISOs who've implemented zero-trust at scale
Microsoft Advanced Specialization in Identity and Access Management
NIST SP 800-207 (Zero Trust Architecture) expertise
Average 22 years enterprise security architecture experience
Three Forces Driving Zero-Trust Adoption in 2025
Zero-trust architecture has evolved from "nice to have" to regulatory and insurance requirement. Three converging forces make 2025 the inflection point for zero-trust implementation.
Regulatory Mandates
Executive Order 14028 required federal agencies to adopt zero-trust architecture—triggering cascading requirements for contractors, cloud providers, and regulated industries.
- FedRAMP now requires zero-trust principles for Moderate and High baselines
- CMMC Level 2/3 for defense contractors emphasize zero-trust controls
- Financial services regulators expect zero-trust in cyber risk assessments
Cyber Insurance Requirements
Cyber insurance underwriters now scrutinize identity and access management as top risk factors. 2024 breach data shows 80%+ of incidents involve compromised credentials.
- Enterprise MFA required across all critical systems
- Conditional Access policies expected for risk-based authentication
- 15-25% premium reductions within 12 months post-implementation
Threat Landscape Evolution
Traditional perimeter-based security assumes trust inside the network. Modern threats—ransomware, supply chain attacks, insider threats—exploit this assumption.
- Average ransomware payment: $1.54M (2024)
- Zero-trust reduces ransomware impact by 70-85%
- Breach detection time reduced from 287 days to 110 days
Five-Phase Zero-Trust Implementation
Our methodology follows NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture framework with Microsoft-native implementation. Each phase delivers incremental risk reduction—no "big bang" required.
Identity & Access Foundation
Establish identity-centric security foundation using Microsoft Entra ID as policy decision point.
Deliverables:
- Identity architecture design document
- Entra ID Conditional Access policy library (15-30 policies)
- PIM implementation guide
- MFA deployment plan and user training materials
Success Metrics:
- 100% of users enrolled in MFA within 60 days
- 95%+ authentication requests evaluated by Conditional Access
- 100% of privileged access via PIM (no standing admin)
- 70% reduction in identity-related security incidents
Device Security & Compliance
Establish device trust as second factor in access decisions—trusted devices receive enhanced access, untrusted devices limited.
Deliverables:
- Intune configuration baseline documentation
- Device compliance policy library (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)
- Conditional Access + Intune integration guide
- Defender for Endpoint deployment runbook
Success Metrics:
- 95%+ corporate devices enrolled in Intune
- 90%+ devices meet compliance baselines
- 80% reduction in malware incidents
- Zero access from non-compliant devices to sensitive resources
Network Segmentation & Micro-Segmentation
Eliminate lateral movement through network segmentation and application-level access controls—contain breaches to isolated segments.
Deliverables:
- Network segmentation architecture design
- Azure Network Security Group policy templates
- Azure Firewall Premium configuration guide
- Micro-segmentation implementation plan
Success Metrics:
- Zero east-west traffic between segments without explicit allow rules
- 90% reduction in attack surface (eliminated public endpoints)
- 60% faster incident containment (limited lateral movement)
- 100% of PaaS services accessed via Private Link
Data Protection & Classification
Apply zero-trust principles to data—encrypt, classify, and control access at data level regardless of network location.
Deliverables:
- Data classification schema and policy framework
- Microsoft Purview deployment guide
- Sensitivity label library with protection templates
- DLP policy library (30-50 policies covering common exfiltration vectors)
Success Metrics:
- 80%+ of enterprise data auto-classified within 90 days
- 95%+ of confidential documents protected with sensitivity labels
- 70% reduction in data exfiltration incidents
- 100% of sensitive data encrypted at-rest and in-transit
Continuous Monitoring & Threat Detection
Implement continuous verification through security monitoring, threat detection, and automated response—"never trust, always verify."
Deliverables:
- Microsoft Sentinel architecture design
- Analytics rule library (custom + Microsoft-provided)
- Automated response playbook library
- SOC runbook and escalation procedures
Success Metrics:
- 100% of critical systems generating security telemetry
- 80% of security alerts auto-triaged (reduce analyst burden)
- 50% of common threats auto-remediated (no human intervention)
- 70% faster incident detection and response (MTTD + MTTR)
Zero-Trust Implementation ROI Analysis
6-12 Month Implementation, 3-Year Payback
Traditional Big 4 Consulting
Newf AI-Native Approach
3-Year ROI Scenarios
Zero-trust reduces breach likelihood from 25% to 5% annually (80% reduction based on industry data)
20% premium reduction (conservative estimate based on underwriter feedback)
300-500 security operations hours saved annually through automation
Net benefit: $2.28M-$3.2M after $600K-$900K implementation cost
Engagement Models & Pricing
Flexible options to match your organization's timeline and budget
Phased Implementation
Most Common
6-12 months
Complete Phases 1-5 with flexibility to pause between phases. Pay as you go based on actual phase completion.
- Pause between phases to digest change
- Complete Phases 1-2 for immediate security
- Defer Phases 3-5 if budget constrained
- Scale investment over time
Rapid Deployment
Accelerated
4-6 months
Compressed timeline for urgent drivers: regulatory deadline, cyber insurance requirement, or M&A transaction.
- Overlapping phase execution
- Dedicated resource allocation
- Expedited vendor coordination
- Ideal for urgent compliance needs
Assessment + Roadmap
Start Small
2-4 weeks
Zero-trust maturity assessment, gap analysis, and implementation roadmap with cost estimates.
- Current state across 5 pillars
- Gap analysis vs. NIST SP 800-207
- Prioritized roadmap with costs
- Microsoft licensing optimization
Fractional CISO + Implementation
Strategic Leadership
12-24 months
Fractional CISO provides ongoing leadership while leading zero-trust implementation.
- Strategic executive oversight
- Board-level reporting
- Vendor management
- Team mentorship
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about zero-trust architecture implementation
Start Your Zero-Trust Journey in 2 Weeks
Most organizations spend 6-12 months evaluating zero-trust vendors and architectures before starting implementation. Our AI-powered assessment delivers actionable roadmap in 2-4 weeks—compressing evaluation from months to weeks.
Zero-Trust Assessment Includes:
- Current state evaluation across 5 pillars (Identity, Device, Network, Data, Applications)
- Maturity scoring vs. NIST SP 800-207 framework (Traditional → Advanced → Optimal)
- Gap analysis with prioritized remediation roadmap
- 3-year implementation timeline with phase-based approach
- Cost estimates and ROI analysis
- Microsoft licensing optimization recommendations
Option 1: Assessment
2-4 week engagement delivering maturity assessment, gap analysis, and implementation roadmap.
Book Zero-Trust AssessmentOption 2: ROI Calculator
Calculate your organization's 3-year ROI from zero-trust implementation with our interactive tool.
Calculate Your ROIOption 3: Download Roadmap
Self-guided roadmap template based on NIST SP 800-207 framework with phase-based timeline.
Download Zero-Trust RoadmapAssessment fee credited toward Phase 1 implementation if contracted within 90 days