Zero Trust: What It Actually Means for Network Engineers

Zero Trust has become one of the most talked-about topics in cybersecurity, but for many network engineers it can feel as though the conversation focuses on replacing the network rather than building on it. The reality is very different.

As applications move to the cloud, users work from anywhere, and AI accelerates both innovation and cyber threats, the role of the network is evolving. Rather than acting as the primary enforcement point for access, the network is becoming the secure, resilient transport that connects users, devices and applications, while identity and dynamic policy determine who gets access and under what conditions.

In this webinar, we'll separate the hype from reality and explain what Zero Trust actually means from a networking perspective. We'll explore how traditional networking concepts such as VLANs, ACLs, routing and segmentation continue to play an important role, while showing how identity-aware access, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and dynamic segmentation complement—not replace—them.

Whether you're designing campus, branch, datacentre or hybrid cloud networks, you'll gain a practical understanding of how networking and security are converging, what skills are becoming increasingly valuable, and how to build architectures that support modern business requirements without compromising performance or user experience.

By attending this session, you'll learn:

• Why the role of the network is changing in a cloud-first, AI-driven world.
• Why identity is becoming the new control plane for access decisions.
• The differences between traditional VPNs and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
• How dynamic segmentation improves security while reducing operational complexity.
• Where routers, switches and firewalls continue to provide essential value in a Zero Trust architecture.

Speakers:

• Jaye Tillson, CTO Security and Distinguished Technologist
• John Spiegel, Field CTO for SASE and Distinguished Technologist for Security