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Zero Trust Architecture Design Services
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Zero Trust Architecture Design Services

Stop Buying 'Zero Trust' Tools. Start Building a Zero Trust Strategy. A CISO's guide to identity-centric security.

ROI Timeframe
12-18 months
Starting At
$40K - $80K
Recommended Vendors
Analyzed
Category
Strategy & Planning

Signs You Need This Service

🐢

[VPNs](/migrations/vpn-to-zero-trust) are Choking Performance

Your remote workforce is backhauling all traffic through a legacy VPN concentrator. It's slow, expensive, and a single point of failure.

🔓

Lateral Movement Risk

Once an attacker gets in (phishing), they can move anywhere. You have a 'hard shell, soft center' network. You need micro-segmentation.

🙈

SaaS Blind Spots

Your firewall doesn't see traffic to Salesforce, Slack, or GitHub. You have no policy enforcement for data leaving your perimeter.

📋

Audit Failure

You failed your SOC2 or ISO audit because you couldn't prove 'least privilege' access control. You need dynamic, policy-based access.

Sound familiar? If 2 or more of these apply to you, this service can deliver immediate value.

Zero Trust Maturity Assessment

Assess your Zero Trust maturity across 5 pillars (Identity, Network, Device, Segmentation, Monitoring). Based on NIST 800-207.

1. What identity provider do you use?
2. How do remote users access internal apps?
3. Do you verify device health before granting access?
4. How is your network segmented?
5. What visibility do you have into access patterns?

Business Value & ROI

ROI Timeframe
12-18 months
Typical Savings
30-40% Network OpEx
Key Metrics
4+

Quick ROI Estimator

$5.0M
30%
Annual Wasted Spend:$1.5M
Net Savings (Year 1):$1.3M
ROI:650%

*Estimates based on industry benchmarks. Actual results vary by organization.

Key Metrics to Track:

Reduction in VPN licensing costs
Reduction in time-to-detect (TTD) breaches
Reduction in lateral movement (Blast Radius)
Improved user experience (Direct-to-cloud access)

Standard SOW Deliverables

Don't sign a contract without these. Ensure your vendor includes these specific outputs in the Statement of Work:

All deliverables are yours to keep. No vendor lock-in, no proprietary formats. Use these assets to execute internally or with any partner.

💡Insider Tip: Always demand the source files (Excel models, Visio diagrams), not just the PDF export. If they won't give you the Excel formulas, they are hiding their assumptions.

Typical Engagement Timeline

Standard delivery phases for this service type. Use this to validate vendor project plans.

Phase 1: Protect Surface Identification

Duration: 2-3 weeks

Activities

  • →Map critical data & assets (Data, Applications, Assets, Services)
  • →Identify traffic flows
  • →User persona mapping

Outcomes

  • ✓Critical Asset Inventory
  • ✓Traffic Flow Diagrams
Total Engagement Duration:8 weeks

Engagement Models: Choose Your Path

Based on data from 200+ recent SOWs. Use these ranges for your budget planning.

Investment Range
$100K - $200K
Typical Scope

Enterprise-wide Zero Trust Strategy. Includes Identity, Device, Network, and Data pillars. 8-10 weeks.

What Drives Cost:

  • Number of systems/applications in scope
  • Organizational complexity (business units, geo locations)
  • Timeline urgency (standard vs accelerated delivery)
  • Stakeholder involvement (executive workshops, training sessions)

Flexible Payment Terms

We offer milestone-based payments tied to deliverable acceptance. Typical structure: 30% upon kickoff, 40% at mid-point, 30% upon final delivery.

Hidden Costs Watch

  • • Travel: Often billed as "actuals" + 15% admin fee. Cap this at 10% of fees.
  • • Change Orders: "Extra meetings" can add 20% to the bill. Define interview counts rigidly.
  • • Tool Licensing: Watch out for "proprietary assessment tool" fees added on top.

When to Buy This Service

Good Fit For

  • ✓ Replacing legacy VPNs (VPN Refresh)
  • ✓ Post-Breach remediation (Board mandate)
  • ✓ Cloud-first organizations (No perimeter)
  • ✓ Mergers & Acquisitions (Securely connecting two networks)

Bad Fit For

  • ✗ Small startups (Just use a cloud-native IdP)
  • ✗ Looking for a firewall upgrade (That's not Zero Trust)
  • ✗ No Identity Provider (You must have an IdP like Okta/Entra ID first)

Top Zero Trust Architecture Design Services Companies

Why These Vendors?

Vetted Specialists
CompanySpecialtyBest For
Zscaler
Website ↗
Cloud-Native ZTNA Pioneer
Full Zero Trust transformation with ZTNA + CASB
Palo Alto Networks
Website ↗
Prisma Access & SASE
Enterprises with existing Palo Alto firewalls
Cloudflare
Website ↗
Cloudflare Zero Trust (formerly Cloudflare Access)
Fast-moving tech companies, developer-friendly
CrowdStrike
Website ↗
Zero Trust + Endpoint Security (Falcon)
Security-first orgs needing device posture checks
Okta
Website ↗
Identity-Centric Zero Trust (Workforce + Customer IAM)
Organizations needing strong identity foundation
Deloitte
Website ↗
Enterprise Zero Trust Strategy & Governance
Regulated industries (Finance, Healthcare, Gov)
Scroll right to see more details →

Reference Case Study

Industry
Financial Services
Challenge

Bank with 5,000 employees using legacy VPN. Performance was terrible. Audit found excessive access rights (tellers had admin access). Ransomware risk was high.

Solution

Designed a Zero Trust architecture using ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access). Removed VPN entirely. Implemented device posture checks (health) before access.

Results
  • → → Eliminated VPN concentrators (Saved $400k/year)
  • → → Reduced login time from 45s to 2s
  • → → Passed SOC2 audit with zero exceptions on access control

Typical Team Composition

Z

Zero Trust Architect

The 'Visionary'. Understands NIST 800-207 deep down. Connects Identity, Network, and Device security.

I

Identity Architect

The 'Gatekeeper'. Expert in IAM, OIDC, SAML, and directory services.

N

Network Security Engineer

The 'Plumber'. Knows how to route traffic without MPLS/VPN.

Buyer's Guide & Methodology

The “Dirty Secret” of Zero Trust

“Zero Trust” is not a product. You cannot buy it.

Vendors (Zscaler, Palo Alto, CrowdStrike) will tell you that if you buy their tool, you have “Zero Trust.” This is a lie.

Zero Trust is a strategy and an architecture. It requires changing how you grant access, not just what tool you use. If you buy a ZTNA tool but keep your “Allow All” firewall rules, you have achieved nothing but a more expensive VPN.

The “Rip and Replace” Trap

Vendors want you to rip out everything you have and buy their full stack. The Truth: A good Zero Trust strategy integrates with what you have. You can often layer Zero Trust policies on top of existing infrastructure while you migrate.

What You Are Buying: A Policy Framework

You are buying a set of rules:

  1. Verify Explicitly: Always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points.
  2. Use Least Privilege Access: Limit user access with Just-In-Time and Just-Enough-Access (JIT/JEA).
  3. Assume Breach: Minimize blast radius and segment access.

Insider Tips for SOWs

  • “Vendor Neutrality”: The strategy must be valid regardless of whether you choose Zscaler, Cloudflare, or Netskope. Don’t let a reseller write your strategy.
  • “Policy Definition”: The hard work is defining who talks to what. Ensure the SOW includes workshops to map these flows, not just “tool installation.”
  • “Legacy Handling”: Zero Trust is easy for web apps. It’s hard for mainframes and AS/400s. Ensure the SOW explicitly addresses your legacy protocols.

Common Pitfalls

1. The “User Experience” Disaster

The Trap: Security team locks everything down. Users revolt because they can’t do their jobs. The Reality: Zero Trust should improve UX (no more VPN logins). The Fix: Pilot with a friendly user group first. Measure “Time to Access” as a key metric.

2. Ignoring the Device

The Trap: You verify the user (MFA) but not the device. The Reality: If a hacker steals a valid session token on an infected laptop, they are in. The Fix: Your strategy must include “Device Posture Checks” (Is the OS patched? Is EDR running?) before granting access.

3. The “Identity” Gap

The Trap: Trying to do Zero Trust with on-prem Active Directory. The Reality: Modern Zero Trust relies on cloud-native signals (Conditional Access). The Fix: You likely need to modernize Identity (Entra ID / Okta) before or during this project.

Top Zero Trust Architecture Design Companies

We analyzed 50+ Zero Trust architecture firms and technology vendors. Here are 6 with proven expertise:

How to Choose a Zero Trust Architecture Partner

If you want pure cloud-native ZTNA: Zscaler or Cloudflare (no legacy baggage) If you have existing Palo Alto firewalls: Palo Alto Networks (easier integration path) If device security is critical: CrowdStrike (Zero Trust + EDR in one platform) If identity is your foundation: Okta (strongest IAM + ZTNA integration) If you need enterprise strategy + governance: Deloitte (regulated industries, compliance-heavy)

How We Select Implementation Partners

We analyzed 50+ Zero Trust firms based on:

  • Case studies with metrics: VPN cost reduction, breach prevention, user experience improvement
  • Technical specializations: Identity-aware proxy, micro-segmentation, device posture checks
  • Pricing transparency: Firms who publish ranges vs. “Contact Us” opacity

Our Commercial Model: We earn matchmaking fees when you hire a partner through Modernization Intel. But we list ALL qualified firms—not just those who pay us. Our incentive is getting you the RIGHT match (repeat business), not ANY match (one-time fee).

Vetting Process:

  1. Analyze partner case studies for technical depth
  2. Verify client references (when publicly available)
  3. Map specializations to buyer use cases
  4. Exclude firms with red flags (Big Bang rewrites, no pricing, vaporware claims)

What happens when you request a shortlist?

  1. We review your needs: A technical expert reviews your project details.
  2. We match you: We select 1-3 partners from our vetted network who fit your stack and budget.
  3. Introductions: We make warm introductions. You take it from there.

Red flags:

  • Vendors selling Zero Trust as a single product (it’s architecture, not a box)
  • Firms that don’t ask about your legacy protocols (SSH, RDP, SMB need special handling)
  • “Rip and replace” pitches without integration strategy

When to Hire Zero Trust Architecture Design Services

You need external help when:

  1. Replacing Legacy VPNs: VPN refresh cycle, move to modern remote access
  2. Post-Breach Remediation: Board mandate after security incident
  3. Cloud-First Transformation: No traditional perimeter, need identity-based security
  4. M&A Integration: Securely connecting two companies without network mergers
  5. Compliance Requirements: SOC2/ISO audits flagging excessive access privileges

Don’t hire external help if:

  • You’re a startup with <100 employees (just use Okta/Auth0 + Cloudflare out of box)
  • You have no Identity Provider yet (implement SSO/MFA first, then Zero Trust)
  • You’re looking for firewall upgrades (that’s not Zero Trust—that’s perimeter security v2)

Ready to secure your future? Use the form below to find a Zero Trust architecture partner who focuses on Strategy, not just product sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 What is Zero Trust and how is it different from VPNs?

Zero Trust assumes no user or device is trustworthy by default, even inside the network. Every request must be authenticated and authorized based on identity, device posture, and context. VPNs grant broad network access once you're 'in'—Zero Trust grants granular, application-level access and continuously verifies trust.

Q2 Do Zero Trust architecture services replace VPNs entirely?

Yes, largely. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) provides granular access to specific applications without exposing the entire network. You eliminate VPN concentrators (saving $200K-$500K/year), improve performance (no backhauling), and reduce attack surface. Some legacy apps may need interim VPN during transition.

Q3 How long does Zero Trust implementation take?

It's a journey, not a project. We can secure critical assets in 3-6 months (pilot phase). Full enterprise maturity takes 18-24 months. Typical sequence: Month 1-3 = Strategy + pilot (remote access), Month 4-9 = Roll out to 80% of users, Month 10-24 = Secure all apps + implement device trust + policy automation.

Q4 How much do Zero Trust architecture design services cost?

$40K-$500K depending on scope. Strategy for single use case (remote access replacement, 4-6 weeks) = $40K-$80K. Enterprise-wide strategy (8-10 weeks, all 5 pillars: Identity/Device/Network/Data/Apps) = $100K-$200K. Global implementation strategy (12-16 weeks, complex OT/IoT, regulatory mapping) = $250K-$500K.

Q5 Do I need to rip out my existing security tools to adopt Zero Trust?

No. Good Zero Trust architecture integrates with what you have (firewalls, EDR, SIEM). You layer Zero Trust policies on top during transition. Over time, you can retire legacy VPN concentrators and some on-prem firewalls, which funds the Zero Trust investment. Don't let vendors force 'rip and replace'—that's expensive and risky.

Q6 Can Zero Trust work without a cloud Identity Provider?

Technically yes, but practically no. Modern Zero Trust relies on cloud-native identity signals (Conditional Access policies, device trust, real-time risk scoring) that on-prem Active Directory can't provide. You likely need to modernize Identity to [Azure Entra ID](/migrations/active-directory-to-entra-id) (formerly Azure AD) or Okta before or during Zero Trust implementation.