How does Zero Trust differ from traditional security?

Traditional security models often treat network location as a trust signal. If a user or device is inside the network, access is often broader and less frequently re-evaluated. Zero Trust works differently by requiring every request to be assessed using identity, device state, context, and policy. In Microsoft environments, that usually means Multifactor Authentication, Conditional Access, device compliance, least-privilege access, and stronger monitoring are treated as core design elements rather than as add-ons to a trusted internal network.