IIG - Unified Zero Trust at the Edge

Original broadcast 6/4/25

Presented by Versa & Carahsoft

Kelly Ahuja, CEO of Versa, brings a clear message to the TechNet Cyber stage: Zero Trust isn’t a product—it’s a framework that must be dynamically enforced across every point in the network. Ahuja explains that many agencies are struggling because they’ve tried to implement Zero Trust using disparate tools from multiple vendors, resulting in fragmented security postures and operational blind spots.

In many environments, Ahuja says, there are 20 to 30 different standalone products attempting to meet Zero Trust requirements. This patchwork approach creates gaps between systems—especially at the edge, where remote users, cloud services, and on-prem infrastructure all converge. These gaps are exactly where adversaries strike.

Versa’s solution to this challenge is a unified software platform that delivers networking, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), firewall, cloud access security broker (CASB), and data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities in a single stack. The platform can be deployed anywhere: in the cloud, on-prem, or even at the LAN or WAN edge. This flexibility ensures that policies are enforced consistently, regardless of location or device.

Ahuja emphasizes the importance of identity in Zero Trust. Users today move between environments constantly—working from home, in the office, or from secure field sites. With Versa’s platform, security policies follow the user, not the device or location. Identity brokers allow the platform to integrate with a wide range of identity management systems, ensuring that policy enforcement is consistent and context-aware.

Automation is another key element. Ahuja notes that real-time threat detection and remediation are essential for staying ahead of adversaries. Versa’s platform monitors posture and behavior continuously and can quarantine a device or restrict access instantly if suspicious activity is detected.

He also warns that many organizations overlook security at the perimeter. Zero Trust is often applied narrowly to remote access or specific applications, but true protection requires a consistent framework that spans every point of entry and access. Versa helps agencies achieve this by deploying the same security stack throughout the network, eliminating weak spots that arise from inconsistent enforcement.

Ahuja points to DISA’s Thunderdome initiative as a model of successful Zero Trust deployment, noting that Versa plays a role in that effort. Agencies, he argues, don’t need to reinvent the wheel—they can look to established implementations and scale those lessons across their environments.

Ultimately, Ahuja believes that success comes down to simplicity, consistency, and automation. A unified platform that adapts to user context and enforces policy wherever the user is—that’s what will enable agencies to meet the 2027 Zero Trust deadline and stay ahead of evolving threats.

Key Takeaways:

• Zero Trust must be enforced consistently across all access points and environments.

• Versa’s unified platform enables identity-driven, automated policy enforcement.

• Agencies should emulate proven Zero Trust implementations like DISA’s Thunderdome.

This interview was recorded on location at TechNet Cyber 2025 and included as part of the TV show Innovation in Government from TechNet Cyber.