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NSA Zero Trust Implementation Guideline - Discovery Phase
Release Date: 01/26/2026
Organization: NSA
Content Type: Guidance
Solution Provider Neutrality: Neutral
The NSA has released the initial products in a series of Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines (ZIGs) to provide practical, actionable recommendations to facilitate the implementation of Zero Trust (ZT). This series outlines the steps to implement the technologies and processes that support achieving the Target-level ZT Capabilities, Activities, and Expected Outcomes described in the US Department of War (DoW) CIO ZT Framework.
The initial ZIG documents are the gateway to ZT implementation, providing guidance and direction to ensure organizations are fully equipped to digest and implement the Phase 1 and Phase 2 ZIGs upon their release.
The Primer outlines the strategy and principles used to develop the ZIGs and provides a holistic approach to maximizing the usage of the series.
The Discovery Phase is intended to help organizations establish foundational visibility and understand the critical data, applications, assets, and services, as well as access and authorization activity existing within the architecture. The goal of this initial phase is to enable informed prioritization and planning by creating a reliable baseline that supports effective ZT implementation.