The rise of Zero Trust architecture has fundamentally reshaped how organizations approach cybersecurity, placing identity at the core of its framework. This paper explores the critical role of the Identity pillar within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Zero Trust model, emphasizing its goals and practical implementation strategies. By leveraging robust Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems, the Identity pillar enforces secure authentication, dynamic access control, and continuous monitoring to mitigate identity-based threats. Key concepts include identity assurance, adaptive policies, least privilege enforcement, and the integration of identity analytics for real-time anomaly detection. Additionally, this paper examines the challenges and solutions for aligning identity management with Zero Trust principles, offering actionable insights for organizations aiming to implement a resilient security architecture. The findings underscore that effective identity management is a technical necessity and a strategic imperative in achieving Zero Trust objectives.
