Case Study: Zero Trust Consulting for an Online Learning Provider
Transitioning from Legacy Environments to a Modern Zero Trust Security Model
A leading online learning provider engaged us to modernise its security architecture by transitioning from a legacy perimeter-based environment to a full Zero Trust framework. With a rapidly growing digital platform, increasing volumes of sensitive student and faculty data, and a fully remote workforce, the organisation needed a security model that could protect users, applications, and data no matter where they were accessed from.
The organisation faced several key challenges. Traditional network-centric security models were no longer fit for purpose, with users connecting from unmanaged devices and untrusted locations. Legacy VPN-based access controls created security blind spots, increasing the risk of credential theft and lateral movement by attackers. Additionally, the organisation needed to meet strict compliance standards while ensuring that security improvements did not compromise the user experience for students, educators, and staff.
We provided strategic Zero Trust consulting, helping the organisation design and implement a risk-driven, identity-first security model. Our approach focused on five core Zero Trust principles: verifying every user, securing every device, segmenting access, enforcing the least privilege, and continuously monitoring for threats.
First, we conducted a comprehensive security assessment of the organisation's current infrastructure, access controls, and authentication mechanisms, identifying critical weaknesses in identity and device trust. From there, we developed a Zero Trust roadmap, prioritising key initiatives that would provide the most significant risk reduction with minimal disruption to business operations.
We implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) and adaptive access controls, ensuring that users were verified before accessing any application, regardless of location. We replaced legacy VPN dependencies with modern identity-based access controls, using zero-trust network access (ZTNA) solutions to provide secure, context-aware connectivity to cloud and on-premises resources. Additionally, we deployed micro-segmentation and least privilege access policies, preventing attackers from moving laterally within the environment in the event of a compromise.
A critical part of the transition was ensuring that security was both practical and seamless for end users. We worked closely with IT and security teams to integrate Zero Trust principles without disrupting the user experience. By leveraging continuous authentication and intelligent security analytics, the organisation was able to improve its security posture without introducing unnecessary friction for students and faculty.
The impact was transformative. The organisation eliminated reliance on outdated perimeter-based security models, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorised access, credential theft, and insider threats. The new Zero Trust architecture provided enhanced visibility and control over all access requests, ensuring that only verified users and trusted devices could interact with sensitive learning resources. Compliance posture was also strengthened, with the organisation now meeting modern security standards and regulatory expectations.
By leading the organisation's Zero Trust transformation, we helped create a future-proof security model that supports remote learning, cloud-based operations, and scalable growth. The transition has not only enhanced security but also improved operational efficiency, ensuring that students, faculty, and administrators can access critical learning tools securely and seamlessly anytime, anywhere.
Zero Trust is the new standard for modern security. Is your organisation ready to make the transition? Let's talk.
