--- title: "Device Identity and NCSC Zero Trust Guidance | Smallstep" url: https://daily.dev/posts/device-identity-and-ncsc-zero-trust-guidance-smallstep-6qv5zbkwt source_url: https://smallstep.com/blog/ncsc-zero-trust-device-identity type: article source: "Smallstep" published: 2026-02-26T18:41:51.484Z updated: 2026-02-26T18:42:17.864Z reading_time: 8 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Device Identity and NCSC Zero Trust Guidance | Smallstep **[Smallstep](https://daily.dev/sources/smallstep)** · 8 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary Most organizations assume having certificates means having strong device identity, but this is a dangerous misconception. The UK NCSC Zero Trust guidance requires unique, verifiable identity for every user, service, and device. Common beliefs—that MDM, ZTNA, or existing certificates cover device identity—are often false. Portable credentials (long-lived, software-stored, manually managed) allow attackers to replay stolen certs undetected, making lateral movement invisible in logs. Strong device identity requires credentials that are unique per device, cryptographically verifiable via X.509, hardware-bound (TPM/secure enclave), short-lived, automatically managed, and fully auditable. Five diagnostic questions help assess posture gaps around certificate lifetime, key binding, automation, coverage, and visibility. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Your organization cannot meet the new NSA Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines. Here's how to do it.](https://daily.dev/posts/your-organization-cannot-meet-the-new-nsa-zero-trust-implementation-guidelines-here-s-how-to-do-it--n7swcrljn) · Smallstep · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Identity Alone Isn't Enough: Why Device Security Has to Share the Load](https://daily.dev/posts/identity-alone-isn-t-enough-why-device-security-has-to-share-the-load-sicglir0u) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Closing the Identity Gaps in Critical Infrastructure Security](https://daily.dev/posts/closing-the-identity-gaps-in-critical-infrastructure-security-irguezhxd) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [When Credentials Are No Longer Enough: Device Trust in the AI Era](https://daily.dev/posts/when-credentials-are-no-longer-enough-device-trust-in-the-ai-era-rqwev3ira) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [5 Ways Zero Trust Maximizes Identity Security](https://daily.dev/posts/5-ways-zero-trust-maximizes-identity-security-1cyzjocqk) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/device-identity-and-ncsc-zero-trust-guidance-smallstep-6qv5zbkwt)