Zero Trust appears in CloudNetX objectives because modern networks cannot rely on location-based trust, and scenario questions often test whether you can design access around identity, context, and verification rather than assumptions. This episode defines Zero Trust as a model that assumes no implicit trust, requiring explicit verification for each access request and enforcing least privilege by default. The first paragraph focuses on identity as the perimeter: users, devices, and workloads are granted access to specific resources only after authentication, authorization, and contextual checks such as device posture and risk signals. It explains that continuous verification is a practical requirement because context changes over time, and a session that was safe at login may become unsafe as conditions shift. The episode frames Zero Trust as a set of principles applied through multiple controls, not as a single product, and it emphasizes that consistent logging and monitoring are part of verification because access decisions must be observable and auditable.