Flat network, coarse VLAN segmentation

Workload-aware segmentation via service mesh or NGFW policies

Fully dynamic, identity-based segmentation per workload/session

Manual code review, ad hoc testing

Automated SAST/DAST in CI/CD with gated deploys

Continuous security validation with runtime application self-protection (RASP)

Manual dual-control sign-off on high-value transactions

Automated dual-control with anomaly-based transaction holds

Real-time, ML-based transaction risk scoring integrated into the release/approval workflow

Annual vendor security questionnaires

Continuous vendor security ratings and SBOM review for critical vendors

Automated, continuous third-party risk scoring gating production integration

Manual change tickets; ad hoc approval

Automated CI/CD-gated change approval with policy checks

Fully automated, auditable change pipeline with real-time compliance validation

Manual incident response runbooks

Automated playbooks for common alert types

Policy-driven, self-healing response integrated across all pillars

Policy enforced locally per system, no central authority

Centralized PDP/PEP model for major application tiers

Unified PDP evaluating real-time risk signals across all pillars for every access request

Manual compilation of compliance evidence

Semi-automated evidence collection for audits

Continuous, automated compliance reporting and regulator-ready evidence packages

Manual, inconsistent classification

Automated classification via DLP/CASB tooling

Continuous, ML-assisted classification enforcing access policy in real time

Encryption applied inconsistently, mostly in transit only

Encryption enforced by policy across most data stores and channels

End-to-end encryption with centralized key management and rotation

Software-based key storage; manual rotation

Centralized KMS/HSM with policy-based rotation

Hardware-backed, automated key lifecycle management with real-time revocation

No enforcement of data location

Policy-based data residency enforcement for regulated data

Automated, continuously verified data residency compliance across all storage and processing locations

No firmware or hardware supply-chain attestation

Periodic firmware/BIOS integrity checks

Continuous hardware-rooted supply-chain attestation at every boot/session

No attestation; trust based on network location

Agent-based posture checks (patch level, disk encryption) gate access

Hardware-rooted attestation (TPM) continuously verified per session

Manual asset spreadsheets, periodic audits

Automated MDM/EDR-based inventory with compliance scoring

Real-time device trust scoring feeding dynamic access decisions

No visibility into vendor/contractor device posture

Vendor devices required to enroll in MDM or pass a posture check before access

Continuous vendor device risk scoring integrated into access decisions

Manual failover; infrequent DR testing

Automated failover with regular DR testing

Continuously validated, automated multi-region resilience with real-time failover

Limited visibility into encrypted traffic

TLS inspection at key chokepoints

Full encrypted-traffic analytics without decryption (metadata/ML-based)

Perimeter firewall, flat internal network

Macro-segmentation by zone/environment with internal firewalls

Software-defined micro-perimeters enforced per session, no implicit trust zones

Static VPN or leased-line trust for partners

Segmented, policy-scoped partner connectivity (ZTNA for B2B)

Dynamic, risk-based partner network access with continuous session verification

Local identity stores per application

Centralized IdP with federated SSO across most applications

Unified identity fabric with just-in-time, attribute-based access across all environments

Password-only or basic MFA (SMS/OTP) at network login

Phishing-resistant MFA (FIDO2/PKI) enforced at app and privileged-session level

Continuous, risk-adaptive authentication using behavioral and contextual signals

Shared admin accounts; standing privileged access

PAM vault with just-in-time checkout and session recording for privileged accounts

Zero standing privilege; automated privileged-session analytics with anomaly-based revocation

Manual SoD review during periodic audits

Automated SoD conflict detection in IAM/ERP systems

Continuous, real-time SoD enforcement blocking conflicting access at request time

Reactive investigation only, after the fact

UEBA-driven insider risk scoring with defined triggers

Continuous, cross-pillar insider risk analytics feeding automated response

Siloed logs, manual review

Centralized SIEM with correlation rules across most systems

Behavioral analytics (UEBA) with automated risk scoring feeding policy decisions

Point-in-time vendor assessments

Continuous vendor security posture monitoring (ratings services)

Real-time vendor and subcontractor (fourth-party) risk visibility integrated into access and data-sharing decisions

Ad hoc, manual threat feed consumption

Automated ingestion into SIEM/SOAR for detection

Predictive analytics correlating threat intel with real-time access decisions