What it does. Assess, gap-analyze, and progressively implement the CISA Zero Trust Part of mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills (817 security skills) (mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills).

Upstream	mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills
Skill file	skills/implementing-cisa-zero-trust-maturity-model/SKILL.md
License	Apache-2.0 (skill folder LICENSE)
Author	mukul975
Fetched	2026-09-10

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• npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill implementing-cisa-zero-trust-maturity-model, or copy the skill folder into ~/.claude/skills/implementing-cisa-zero-trust-maturity-model/.
• Raw file: curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills/HEAD/skills/implementing-cisa-zero-trust-maturity-model/SKILL.md

SKILL.md (verbatim)

name: implementing-cisa-zero-trust-maturity-model
description: Assess, gap-analyze, and progressively implement the CISA Zero Trust
  Maturity Model v2.0 across five pillars (Identity, Devices, Networks, Applications
  & Workloads, Data) and three cross-cutting capabilities (Visibility/Analytics, Automation/Orchestration,
  Governance), from Traditional through Optimal maturity. Use for a federal/enterprise
  ZTMM assessment, phased roadmap, or mapping controls to NIST SP 800-207 and EO 14028.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: zero-trust-architecture
tags:
- zero-trust
- cisa
- maturity-model
- federal-compliance
- governance
- nist-800-207
- identity
- devices
- networks
- applications
- data-security
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_ai_rmf:
- GOVERN-1.1
- GOVERN-1.7
- MAP-1.1
- GOVERN-4.2
- MAP-2.3
nist_csf:
- PR.AA-01
- PR.AA-05
- PR.IR-01
- GV.PO-01
mitre_attack:
- T1078
- T1190
- T1059

Implementing CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model

Overview

The CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model (ZTMM) Version 2.0, released in April 2023, provides federal agencies and organizations with a structured roadmap for adopting zero trust architecture. The model defines five core pillars -- Identity, Devices, Networks, Applications & Workloads, and Data -- each progressing through four maturity stages: Traditional, Initial, Advanced, and Optimal. Three cross-cutting capabilities (Visibility and Analytics, Automation and Orchestration, and Governance) span all pillars. This skill covers assessment, gap analysis, and progressive implementation across all pillars and maturity levels.

When to Use

• When deploying or configuring implementing cisa zero trust maturity model capabilities in your environment
• When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
• When building or improving security architecture for this domain
• When conducting security assessments that require this implementation

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture
• Understanding of federal cybersecurity mandates (EO 14028, OMB M-22-09)
• Access to organizational IT asset inventory and network architecture documentation
• Knowledge of identity and access management (IAM) fundamentals
• Understanding of network segmentation and microsegmentation concepts

CISA ZTMM Five Pillars

Pillar 1: Identity

Identity refers to attributes that uniquely describe an agency user or entity, including non-person entities (NPEs) such as service accounts and machine identities.

Traditional Stage:

• Password-based authentication
• Limited identity validation
• Manual provisioning and deprovisioning

Initial Stage:

• MFA deployed for privileged users
• Identity governance initiated
• Basic identity lifecycle management

Advanced Stage:

• Phishing-resistant MFA for all users (FIDO2/WebAuthn)
• Continuous identity validation
• Automated provisioning tied to HR systems
• Identity threat detection and response (ITDR)

Optimal Stage:

• Continuous, real-time identity verification
• Passwordless authentication across all systems
• AI-driven anomaly detection for identity behaviors
• Full integration of identity signals into access decisions

Pillar 2: Devices

Devices include any hardware, software, or firmware asset that connects to a network -- servers, laptops, mobile phones, IoT devices, and network equipment.

Traditional Stage:

• Limited device inventory
• Basic endpoint protection (antivirus)
• No device compliance checks

Initial Stage:

• Comprehensive device inventory
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) deployment
• Basic device health checks before network access

Advanced Stage:

• Real-time device posture assessment
• Automated compliance enforcement
• Device certificates for machine identity
• Vulnerability scanning integrated into access decisions

Optimal Stage:

• Continuous device trust scoring
• Automated remediation of non-compliant devices
• Full device lifecycle management integrated with zero trust policies
• Firmware integrity verification

Pillar 3: Networks

Networks encompass all communications media including internal networks, wireless, and the internet.

Traditional Stage:

• Perimeter-based security (firewalls, VPNs)
• Flat internal networks
• Minimal east-west traffic inspection

Initial Stage:

• Initial network segmentation
• Encrypted DNS and internal traffic
• Basic network monitoring and logging

Advanced Stage:

• Microsegmentation of critical assets
• Software-defined networking (SDN) for dynamic policy enforcement
• Full TLS encryption for all internal communications
• Network Detection and Response (NDR)

Optimal Stage:

• Fully software-defined, policy-driven network
• Zero implicit trust zones
• AI-driven network anomaly detection
• Automated threat response integrated with network controls

Pillar 4: Applications and Workloads

Applications and workloads include agency systems, programs, and services running on-premises, on mobile devices, and in cloud environments.

Traditional Stage:

• Perimeter-protected applications
• Manual vulnerability patching
• Limited application-level logging

Initial Stage:

• Application-level access controls
• Web Application Firewalls (WAF)
• Regular vulnerability scanning
• Application inventory established

Advanced Stage:

• Continuous integration of security testing (SAST/DAST)
• Application-aware microsegmentation
• API security gateways
• Immutable infrastructure patterns

Optimal Stage:

• Runtime application self-protection (RASP)
• Automated application security orchestration
• Full DevSecOps pipeline integration
• Zero-standing privileges for application access

Pillar 5: Data

Data encompasses all structured and unstructured information, at rest, in transit, and in use.

Traditional Stage:

• Basic encryption for data at rest
• Limited data classification
• No data loss prevention

Initial Stage:

• Data classification scheme implemented
• DLP policies for sensitive data
• Encryption for data in transit (TLS 1.2+)
• Basic data inventory

Advanced Stage:

• Automated data classification
• Fine-grained data access controls
• Data activity monitoring
• Rights management for sensitive documents

Optimal Stage:

• Real-time data flow analytics
• AI-driven data classification and protection
• Automated response to data exfiltration attempts
• Full data lifecycle governance with zero trust principles

Cross-Cutting Capabilities

Visibility and Analytics

Maturity Progression:
Traditional -> Manual log review, limited SIEM
Initial     -> Centralized logging, basic SIEM correlation
Advanced    -> UEBA, automated threat detection, data lake analytics
Optimal     -> AI/ML-driven continuous monitoring, predictive analytics

Automation and Orchestration

Maturity Progression:
Traditional -> Manual incident response, ad-hoc scripts
Initial     -> Basic SOAR playbooks, automated alerting
Advanced    -> Integrated SOAR with multi-pillar orchestration
Optimal     -> Fully autonomous response, self-healing infrastructure

Governance

Maturity Progression:
Traditional -> Ad-hoc policies, manual compliance checks
Initial     -> Documented zero trust strategy, basic policy framework
Advanced    -> Policy-as-code, continuous compliance monitoring
Optimal     -> Dynamic policy engine, real-time governance decisions

Implementation Process

Phase 1: Assessment and Baseline

1. Inventory all assets across the five pillars
2. Map current capabilities to ZTMM maturity stages
3. Conduct gap analysis between current and target states
4. Identify quick wins that move from Traditional to Initial stage
5. Document dependencies between pillars

# Example: CISA ZTMM Maturity Assessment Scoring
class ZTMMAssessment:
    PILLARS = ['Identity', 'Devices', 'Networks', 'Applications', 'Data']
    STAGES = ['Traditional', 'Initial', 'Advanced', 'Optimal']
    CROSS_CUTTING = ['Visibility_Analytics', 'Automation_Orchestration', 'Governance']

    def __init__(self):
        self.scores = {}

    def assess_pillar(self, pillar, capabilities):
        """
        Assess a pillar against ZTMM criteria.
        capabilities: dict of capability_name -> maturity_stage
        """
        stage_values = {stage: i for i, stage in enumerate(self.STAGES)}
        scores = [stage_values.get(stage, 0) for stage in capabilities.values()]
        avg_score = sum(scores) / len(scores) if scores else 0

        overall_stage = self.STAGES[int(avg_score)]
        self.scores[pillar] = {
            'capabilities': capabilities,
            'average_score': avg_score,
            'overall_stage': overall_stage
        }
        return self.scores[pillar]

    def generate_roadmap(self):
        """Generate prioritized improvement roadmap."""
        roadmap = []
        for pillar, data in self.scores.items():
            for capability, stage in data['capabilities'].items():
                stage_idx = self.STAGES.index(stage)
                if stage_idx < 3:  # Not yet Optimal
                    next_stage = self.STAGES[stage_idx + 1]
                    roadmap.append({
                        'pillar': pillar,
                        'capability': capability,
                        'current': stage,
                        'target': next_stage,
                        'priority': 3 - stage_idx  # Higher priority for lower maturity
                    })
        return sorted(roadmap, key=lambda x: x['priority'], reverse=True)

Phase 2: Identity Foundation

1. Deploy phishing-resistant MFA (FIDO2/WebAuthn)
2. Implement identity governance and administration (IGA)
3. Establish continuous identity verification
4. Integrate identity providers with all applications
5. Deploy identity threat detection and response

Phase 3: Device Trust

1. Complete asset inventory with automated discovery
2. Deploy EDR across all endpoints
3. Implement device compliance checking
4. Establish device certificate infrastructure
5. Create device trust scoring mechanism

Phase 4: Network Transformation

1. Implement network segmentation strategy
2. Deploy microsegmentation for critical assets
3. Enable encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT)
4. Enforce TLS 1.3 for all internal communications
5. Deploy NDR capabilities

Phase 5: Application Security

1. Implement application-level access controls
2. Deploy WAF and API security gateways
3. Integrate security testing into CI/CD pipelines
4. Establish application inventory and classification
5. Implement runtime protection

Phase 6: Data Protection

1. Implement data classification framework
2. Deploy DLP across endpoints and network
3. Enable data activity monitoring
4. Implement rights management
5. Establish data lifecycle governance

Compliance Mapping

CISA ZTMM Pillar	OMB M-22-09 Requirement	NIST 800-207 Section
Identity	MFA for agency staff	3.1.1
Devices	EDR for federal endpoints	3.1.2
Networks	Encrypt DNS traffic	3.1.3
Applications	Application security testing	3.1.4
Data	Data categorization	3.1.5

Metrics and KPIs

• Identity Pillar: Percentage of users with phishing-resistant MFA
• Device Pillar: Percentage of devices with real-time posture assessment
• Network Pillar: Percentage of network segments microsegmented
• Application Pillar: Percentage of applications with zero trust access controls
• Data Pillar: Percentage of sensitive data classified and protected
• Overall: ZTMM stage achieved per pillar (target: Advanced minimum)

References

• CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model v2.0
• CISA ZTMM v2.0 PDF
• NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture
• OMB Memorandum M-22-09
• NSA Zero Trust Pillars Guidance
• Microsoft Guidance for CISA ZTMM

Other files in this skill

• LICENSE
• assets/template.md
• references/api-reference.md
• references/standards.md
• references/workflows.md
• scripts/agent.py
• scripts/process.py

assets/template.md (verbatim)

CISA ZTMM Assessment Template

Organization Information

• Organization Name: _______________
• Assessment Date: _______________
• Assessment Lead: _______________
• Pillar Owners:
  • Identity: _______________
  • Devices: _______________
  • Networks: _______________
  • Applications: _______________
  • Data: _______________

Pillar Assessment Worksheet

Identity Pillar

Function	Traditional	Initial	Advanced	Optimal	Current	Evidence
Authentication	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Identity Stores	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Risk Assessment	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Access Management	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Identity Lifecycle	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Visibility & Analytics	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Automation & Orchestration	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Governance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___

Devices Pillar

Function	Traditional	Initial	Advanced	Optimal	Current	Evidence
Policy Enforcement	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Asset Management	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Device Compliance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Device Threat Protection	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Visibility & Analytics	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Automation & Orchestration	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Governance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___

Networks Pillar

Function	Traditional	Initial	Advanced	Optimal	Current	Evidence
Network Segmentation	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Threat Protection	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Encryption	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Network Resilience	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Visibility & Analytics	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Automation & Orchestration	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Governance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___

Applications & Workloads Pillar

Function	Traditional	Initial	Advanced	Optimal	Current	Evidence
Access Authorization	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Threat Protection	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Accessibility	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Application Security	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Visibility & Analytics	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Automation & Orchestration	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Governance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___

Data Pillar

Function	Traditional	Initial	Advanced	Optimal	Current	Evidence
Data Inventory	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Data Categorization	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Data Availability	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Data Access	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Data Encryption	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Visibility & Analytics	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Automation & Orchestration	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___
Governance	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	___

Gap Analysis Summary

Pillar	Current Stage	Target Stage	Gap	Priority
Identity	___	Advanced	___	___
Devices	___	Advanced	___	___
Networks	___	Advanced	___	___
Applications	___	Advanced	___	___
Data	___	Advanced	___	___

OMB M-22-09 Compliance Checklist

• Phishing-resistant MFA deployed for all agency staff
• Complete device inventory with EDR coverage
• DNS and HTTP traffic encrypted
• Applications treated as internet-connected with regular testing
• Data categorization and automated discovery implemented

Roadmap Priorities

Quick Wins (0-3 months)

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

Short-term (3-6 months)

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

Medium-term (6-12 months)

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

Long-term (12-24 months)

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

references/api-reference.md (verbatim)

API Reference: CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model Assessment Agent

Dependencies

Library	Version	Purpose
(stdlib only)	Python 3.8+	JSON processing, assessment logic

CLI Usage

python scripts/agent.py \
  --data /assessments/zt_responses.json \
  --output-dir /reports/ \
  --output ztmm_report.json

Functions

assess_control(control, implemented, maturity) -> dict

Scores a single control: 0 (Traditional) to 3 (Optimal).

assess_pillar(pillar, responses) -> dict

Evaluates all controls within a CISA ZT pillar. Returns score, percentage, and maturity level.

compute_overall_maturity(pillar_results) -> dict

Aggregates pillar scores into overall maturity: Traditional/Initial/Advanced/Optimal.

generate_recommendations(pillar_results) -> list

Identifies unimplemented controls, prioritizes by pillar weakness.

generate_report(data_path) -> dict

Full assessment pipeline: load data, assess 5 pillars, compute maturity, generate recommendations.

CISA ZT Pillars

Pillar	Controls Assessed
Identity	MFA, phishing-resistant MFA, JIT access, PAM
Devices	Inventory, EDR, health attestation, posture
Networks	Microsegmentation, encrypted DNS, SDP
Applications	Inventory, access controls, API security
Data	Classification, DLP, encryption at rest

Input Data Format

{
  "Identity": {
    "MFA enforced for all users": {"implemented": true, "maturity": "Advanced"},
    "Phishing-resistant MFA (FIDO2/PIV)": {"implemented": false, "maturity": "Traditional"}
  }
}

Output Schema

{
  "overall_maturity": {"percentage": 52.3, "maturity_level": "Advanced"},
  "pillars": [{"pillar": "Identity", "percentage": 66.7, "maturity_level": "Advanced"}],
  "recommendations": [{"pillar": "Devices", "control": "EDR deployed", "priority": "HIGH"}]
}

references/standards.md (verbatim)

Standards Reference: CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model

Primary Standards

CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model v2.0 (April 2023)

• Source: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• Scope: Federal agencies and organizations implementing zero trust
• Five Pillars: Identity, Devices, Networks, Applications & Workloads, Data
• Four Maturity Stages: Traditional, Initial, Advanced, Optimal
• Cross-Cutting: Visibility & Analytics, Automation & Orchestration, Governance

NIST SP 800-207: Zero Trust Architecture

• Published: August 2020
• Tenets: Never trust, always verify; assume breach; least privilege access
• Deployment Models: Device agent/gateway, enclave, resource portal
• Key Requirement: Policy decision point (PDP) and policy enforcement point (PEP)

Executive Order 14028: Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity

• Signed: May 12, 2021
• Mandate: Federal agencies must adopt zero trust architecture
• Timeline: Agencies required to develop zero trust implementation plans

OMB Memorandum M-22-09: Federal Zero Trust Strategy

• Published: January 2022
• Requirements per pillar:
  • Identity: Phishing-resistant MFA for all staff
  • Devices: EDR deployed across federal endpoints
  • Networks: DNS traffic encrypted, HTTP traffic encrypted
  • Applications: Application security testing in CI/CD
  • Data: Data categorization and automated classification

Supporting Standards

NSA Zero Trust Pillar Guidance Series (2024)

• User Pillar (February 2024)
• Device Pillar (March 2024)
• Data Pillar (April 2024)
• Application & Workload Pillar (April 2024)
• Network & Environment Pillar (May 2024)
• Visibility & Analytics Pillar (May 2024)
• Automation & Orchestration Pillar (June 2024)

DISA Zero Trust Reference Architecture

• Department of Defense specific implementation
• Aligns with NIST 800-207 and CISA ZTMM
• Covers DoD-specific compliance requirements

FedRAMP Zero Trust Requirements

• Cloud service providers must support zero trust
• Continuous monitoring requirements
• Identity federation standards

references/workflows.md (verbatim)

Workflows: CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model Implementation

Workflow 1: Initial Maturity Assessment

Step 1: Establish Assessment Team
  - Identify stakeholders from IT, security, compliance, and business units
  - Assign pillar owners for each of the five ZTMM pillars
  - Define assessment timeline and reporting cadence

Step 2: Inventory Current Capabilities
  - Identity: Catalog authentication methods, identity providers, MFA coverage
  - Devices: Enumerate all endpoints, document endpoint security tools
  - Networks: Map network architecture, segmentation, encryption status
  - Applications: List all applications, classify access controls
  - Data: Identify data repositories, classification, DLP status

Step 3: Map to ZTMM Stages
  - For each pillar, evaluate each function against the four maturity stages
  - Document evidence for current stage determination
  - Identify gaps between current and target maturity
  - Rate cross-cutting capabilities (visibility, automation, governance)

Step 4: Produce Assessment Report
  - Pillar-by-pillar maturity scores
  - Gap analysis with prioritized recommendations
  - Quick wins vs. long-term transformation items
  - Resource requirements and estimated timelines

Workflow 2: Identity Pillar Advancement (Traditional to Advanced)

Phase A: MFA Deployment
  1. Inventory all user accounts (privileged, standard, service)
  2. Select phishing-resistant MFA solution (FIDO2/WebAuthn)
  3. Deploy MFA for privileged accounts first
  4. Extend MFA to all user accounts
  5. Implement MFA for service accounts and APIs
  6. Configure conditional access policies

Phase B: Identity Governance
  1. Implement identity lifecycle management
  2. Connect IAM to HR system for automated provisioning
  3. Establish access certification reviews
  4. Deploy identity threat detection
  5. Implement just-in-time access for elevated privileges

Phase C: Continuous Verification
  1. Integrate identity signals into access decisions
  2. Deploy risk-based authentication
  3. Implement session-level re-authentication for sensitive actions
  4. Enable behavioral analytics for identity anomalies

Workflow 3: Cross-Pillar Integration

Step 1: Establish Unified Policy Engine
  - Define access policies that incorporate all five pillars
  - Implement Policy Decision Point (PDP) per NIST 800-207
  - Deploy Policy Enforcement Points (PEP) at all access boundaries

Step 2: Integrate Signal Sources
  - Identity signals -> trust score component
  - Device posture -> trust score component
  - Network context -> trust score component
  - Application risk -> trust score component
  - Data sensitivity -> access control component

Step 3: Implement Continuous Evaluation
  - Real-time trust scoring engine
  - Dynamic policy adjustment based on risk
  - Automated access revocation on policy violation
  - Audit logging for all access decisions

Step 4: Measure and Report
  - Track maturity progression per pillar quarterly
  - Report to leadership with ZTMM scorecard
  - Adjust roadmap based on threat landscape changes
  - Document lessons learned for continuous improvement

Workflow 4: Governance and Compliance Reporting

Step 1: Establish Zero Trust Governance Board
  - Executive sponsor, CISO, pillar owners, compliance
  - Monthly review of zero trust maturity progress
  - Annual strategic review and roadmap adjustment

Step 2: Continuous Compliance Monitoring
  - Map ZTMM controls to OMB M-22-09 requirements
  - Automate evidence collection for each pillar
  - Generate compliance dashboards
  - Prepare for FISMA and other audit requirements

Step 3: Reporting to CISA
  - Submit agency zero trust implementation plan
  - Provide quarterly progress updates
  - Document deviations and remediation plans

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