Enforce Zero Trust with Remote/Hybrid Workers

The shift to hybrid and remote work is no longer a temporary adjustment; it is a permanent operational reality. For IT leaders, this shift has effectively dissolved the traditional office perimeter, making the “Zero Trust” framework more critical than ever. According to the NIST Special Publication 800-207, the global gold standard for Zero Trust, the guiding principle is simple: Never trust, always verify.

As we navigate 2026, maintaining this architecture requires more than just a VPN. It requires a continuous, identity-centric approach to security.

Identity as the New Perimeter

In a hybrid world, the user’s identity is the only consistent factor. IT leaders must move beyond simple multi-factor authentication (MFA) and implement Conditional Access Policies. These policies evaluate the context of every login—considering the user’s location, device health, and the sensitivity of the data being accessed—before granting entry.

The Leadership Mandate: According to the Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025, basic MFA can block over 99.9% of account compromise attacks. If you haven’t already, transition to phishing-resistant MFA, such as FIDO2 security keys or biometric verification, to prevent AI-powered credential harvesting.

Micro-Segmentation and Least Privilege

Remote access shouldn’t mean total access. One of the biggest risks in hybrid work is lateral movement; if one device is compromised, the entire network is at risk. By implementing Micro-segmentation, IT leaders can compartmentalize data sources, ensuring that a breach in one area is contained.

The Leadership Mandate: Enforce strict Least Privilege access. Users should only have the permissions necessary for their specific role, and those permissions should be audited quarterly as roles and projects evolve.

Continuous Device Health Monitoring

A “Zero Trust” posture assumes that every device—whether corporate-owned or personal (BYOD)—is a potential threat. Gartner highlights that by 2026, automated trust evaluations will be a primary metric for business success. IT leaders must implement automated endpoint management that checks for the latest security patches and disk encryption before allowing a device to connect to the Microsoft 365 tenant.

Shadow IT and Cloud Governance

With employees working from home, the use of unvetted “Shadow IT” apps—especially free AI tools—has skyrocketed. Organizations must use tools like Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps and others, to gain visibility into what services are being used and to block those that don’t meet corporate compliance standards.

The Bottom Line

Zero Trust is a journey, not a destination. It requires a cultural shift where security is woven into the workflow of every remote and hybrid employee. By focusing on identity, least privilege, and continuous monitoring, you can empower your team to work from anywhere without compromising your data integrity.

Is your entire workforce and company secure? Beringer Technology Group can help you design and implement a Zero Trust roadmap tailored to your company policies and business needs.

Contact the Beringer team today. Our team of cloud application and cybersecurity experts can help you combine the best tools and strategies to maintain your perimeter while including remote workers.

At Beringer Technology Group, we’re not like most other MSPs! We offer both IT Managed Services and Microsoft Cloud Applications Consulting to customers in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Now offering Microsoft Co-Pilot and Azure AI Consulting services along with Azure Data Integrations with DataSyncCloud. Visit our website www.beringer.net to see all the services we offer and the industries we serve.