Navigating the Zero Trust Landscape in 2026 with Chase Cunningham
Tue Feb 03 2026
In this episode of the No Trust podcast, Chase Cunningham discusses the evolution of Zero Trust, reflecting on the growth and challenges faced in 2025 and looking ahead to 2026.
The conversation covers the hype cycle of Zero Trust, the importance of leadership in strategy implementation, the need for cultural shifts, and the metrics that matter in measuring success.
The discussion also touches on the role of AI in cybersecurity and the future of Zero Trust as a standard practice in organizations.
Key Takeaways:
• 2025 was a year of significant international growth for Zero Trust.
• The Zero Trust hype cycle has transitioned to a phase of practicality.
• Leadership is crucial for the continuous execution of Zero Trust strategies.
• Organizations often misinterpret Zero Trust as a completed project rather than an ongoing strategy.
• Incentives in cybersecurity need to shift from punitive measures to positive reinforcement.
• Cultural challenges in adopting Zero Trust can hinder its effectiveness.
• Metrics should focus on real-world outcomes rather than superficial statistics.
• Zero Trust is becoming a necessary standard for modern businesses.
• Technical debt poses a significant challenge for legacy organizations in adopting Zero Trust.
• The future of Zero Trust will likely see it integrated as a default practice in new organizations.
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What is the Zero Trust Forum about? It’s about empowering zero trust security professionals with strategies, architecture, and real world journeys to secure the digital future, the right way!
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Follow Jaye Tillson on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jaye-tillson/
Follow John Spiegel on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/john-spiegel-2011543/
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In this episode of the No Trust podcast, Chase Cunningham discusses the evolution of Zero Trust, reflecting on the growth and challenges faced in 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. The conversation covers the hype cycle of Zero Trust, the importance of leadership in strategy implementation, the need for cultural shifts, and the metrics that matter in measuring success. The discussion also touches on the role of AI in cybersecurity and the future of Zero Trust as a standard practice in organizations. Key Takeaways: • 2025 was a year of significant international growth for Zero Trust. • The Zero Trust hype cycle has transitioned to a phase of practicality. • Leadership is crucial for the continuous execution of Zero Trust strategies. • Organizations often misinterpret Zero Trust as a completed project rather than an ongoing strategy. • Incentives in cybersecurity need to shift from punitive measures to positive reinforcement. • Cultural challenges in adopting Zero Trust can hinder its effectiveness. • Metrics should focus on real-world outcomes rather than superficial statistics. • Zero Trust is becoming a necessary standard for modern businesses. • Technical debt poses a significant challenge for legacy organizations in adopting Zero Trust. • The future of Zero Trust will likely see it integrated as a default practice in new organizations. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms. What is the Zero Trust Forum about? It’s about empowering zero trust security professionals with strategies, architecture, and real world journeys to secure the digital future, the right way! Follow the Zero Trust Forum on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/zero-trust-forum/. Follow Jaye Tillson on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jaye-tillson/ Follow John Spiegel on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/john-spiegel-2011543/