implementing-device-posture-assessment-in-zero-trust

Implementing Device Posture Assessment in Zero Trust

When to Use

• When enforcing device health as a prerequisite for accessing corporate applications
• When integrating CrowdStrike ZTA scores, Intune compliance, or Jamf device status into access decisions
• When implementing CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model device pillar requirements
• When building conditional access policies that adapt based on real-time endpoint security posture
• When detecting and blocking access from compromised, unmanaged, or non-compliant devices

Do not use for IoT or headless devices that cannot run posture agents, as a standalone security control without identity verification, or when real-time posture data is unavailable and stale compliance data would create false trust.

Prerequisites

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): CrowdStrike Falcon with ZTA module, or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
• Mobile Device Management (MDM): Microsoft Intune, Jamf Pro, or VMware Workspace ONE
• Identity Provider: Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, or Ping Identity with conditional access capability
• ZTNA Platform: Zscaler ZPA, Cloudflare Access, Palo Alto Prisma Access, or cloud-native IAP
• API access to EDR/MDM platforms for posture signal ingestion

Workflow

Step 1: Define Device Compliance Baselines

Establish minimum security requirements for each device category.

# Microsoft Intune: Create device compliance policy via Graph API
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "DeviceManagementConfiguration.ReadWrite.All"

# Windows 10/11 Compliance Policy
$compliancePolicy = @{
    "@odata.type" = "#microsoft.graph.windows10CompliancePolicy"
    displayName = "Zero Trust - Windows Compliance"
    description = "Minimum device requirements for zero trust access"
    osMinimumVersion = "10.0.19045"
    bitLockerEnabled = $true
    secureBootEnabled = $true
    codeIntegrityEnabled = $true
    tpmRequired = $true
    antivirusRequired = $true
    antiSpywareRequired = $true
    defenderEnabled = $true
    firewallEnabled = $true
    passwordRequired = $true
    passwordMinimumLength = 12
    passwordRequiredType = "alphanumeric"
    storageRequireEncryption = $true
    scheduledActionsForRule = @(
        @{
            ruleName = "PasswordRequired"
            scheduledActionConfigurations = @(
                @{
                    actionType = "block"
                    gracePeriodHours = 24
                    notificationTemplateId = ""
                    notificationMessageCCList = @()
                }
            )
        }
    )
}

New-MgDeviceManagementDeviceCompliancePolicy -BodyParameter $compliancePolicy

# macOS Compliance Policy via Jamf Pro API
curl -X POST "https://jamf.company.com/api/v1/compliance-policies" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${JAMF_TOKEN}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
    "name": "Zero Trust - macOS Compliance",
    "rules": [
      {"type": "os_version", "operator": ">=", "value": "14.0"},
      {"type": "filevault_enabled", "value": true},
      {"type": "firewall_enabled", "value": true},
      {"type": "gatekeeper_enabled", "value": true},
      {"type": "sip_enabled", "value": true},
      {"type": "auto_update_enabled", "value": true},
      {"type": "screen_lock_timeout", "operator": "<=", "value": 300},
      {"type": "falcon_sensor_running", "value": true}
    ]
  }'

Step 2: Configure CrowdStrike Zero Trust Assessment

Enable ZTA scoring and configure score thresholds for access tiers.

# CrowdStrike Falcon API: Query ZTA scores for all endpoints
curl -X GET "https://api.crowdstrike.com/zero-trust-assessment/entities/assessments/v1?ids=${DEVICE_AID}" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${CS_TOKEN}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

# Response includes:
# {
#   "aid": "device-agent-id",
#   "assessment": {
#     "overall": 82,
#     "os": 90,
#     "sensor_config": 85,
#     "version": "7.14.16703"
#   },
#   "assessment_items": {
#     "os_signals": [
#       {"signal_id": "firmware_protection", "meets_criteria": "yes"},
#       {"signal_id": "disk_encryption", "meets_criteria": "yes"},
#       {"signal_id": "kernel_protection", "meets_criteria": "yes"}
#     ],
#     "sensor_signals": [
#       {"signal_id": "sensor_version", "meets_criteria": "yes"},
#       {"signal_id": "prevention_policies", "meets_criteria": "yes"}
#     ]
#   }
# }

# Define ZTA score thresholds for access tiers
# Tier 1 (Basic Access):      ZTA >= 50
# Tier 2 (Standard Access):   ZTA >= 65
# Tier 3 (Sensitive Access):  ZTA >= 80
# Tier 4 (Critical Access):   ZTA >= 90

# Query devices below minimum threshold
curl -X GET "https://api.crowdstrike.com/zero-trust-assessment/queries/assessments/v1?filter=assessment.overall:<50" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ${CS_TOKEN}"

# CrowdStrike ZTA signals evaluated:
# - OS patch level and version
# - Disk encryption (BitLocker/FileVault)
# - Sensor version and configuration
# - Prevention policy enforcement
# - Firmware protection (Secure Boot)
# - Kernel protection (SIP, Code Integrity)
# - Firewall status

Step 3: Integrate Device Posture with Entra ID Conditional Access

Create conditional access policies that require compliant devices.

# Create Conditional Access policy requiring compliant device
Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "Policy.ReadWrite.ConditionalAccess"

$caPolicy = @{
    displayName = "Zero Trust - Require Compliant Device"
    state = "enabled"
    conditions = @{
        applications = @{
            includeApplications = @("All")
        }
        users = @{
            includeUsers = @("All")
            excludeGroups = @("BreakGlass-Admins-Group-ID")
        }
        platforms = @{
            includePlatforms = @("all")
        }
        clientAppTypes = @("browser", "mobileAppsAndDesktopClients")
    }
    grantControls = @{
        operator = "AND"
        builtInControls = @("mfa", "compliantDevice")
    }
    sessionControls = @{
        signInFrequency = @{
            value = 4
            type = "hours"
            isEnabled = $true
            authenticationType = "primaryAndSecondaryAuthentication"
            frequencyInterval = "timeBased"
        }
        persistentBrowser = @{
            mode = "never"
            isEnabled = $true
        }
    }
}

New-MgIdentityConditionalAccessPolicy -BodyParameter $caPolicy

# Create risk-based policy using device compliance + sign-in risk
$riskPolicy = @{
    displayName = "Zero Trust - Block High Risk Sign-Ins on Non-Compliant Devices"
    state = "enabled"
    conditions = @{
        applications = @{ includeApplications = @("All") }
        users = @{ includeUsers = @("All") }
        signInRiskLevels = @("high", "medium")
        devices = @{
            deviceFilter = @{
                mode = "include"
                rule = "device.isCompliant -ne True"
            }
        }
    }
    grantControls = @{
        operator = "OR"
        builtInControls = @("block")
    }
}

New-MgIdentityConditionalAccessPolicy -BodyParameter $riskPolicy

Step 4: Configure Okta Device Trust with CrowdStrike Integration

Set up Okta device trust policies using CrowdStrike posture signals.

# Okta: Configure CrowdStrike device trust integration
# Admin Console > Security > Device Integrations > Add Integration

# Okta API: Create device assurance policy
curl -X POST "https://company.okta.com/api/v1/device-assurances" \
  -H "Authorization: SSWS ${OKTA_API_TOKEN}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
    "name": "Corporate Device Assurance",
    "platform": "WINDOWS",
    "osVersion": {
      "minimum": "10.0.19045"
    },
    "diskEncryptionType": {
      "include": ["ALL_INTERNAL_VOLUMES"]
    },
    "screenLockType": {
      "include": ["BIOMETRIC", "PASSCODE"]
    },
    "secureHardwarePresent": true,
    "thirdPartySignalProviders": {
      "dtc": {
        "browserVersion": {
          "minimum": "120.0"
        },
        "builtInDnsClientEnabled": true,
        "chromeRemoteDesktopAppBlocked": true,
        "crowdStrikeCustomerId": "CS_CUSTOMER_ID",
        "crowdStrikeAgentId": "REQUIRED",
        "crowdStrikeVerifiedState": {
          "include": ["RUNNING"]
        }
      }
    }
  }'

# Create Okta authentication policy with device assurance
curl -X POST "https://company.okta.com/api/v1/policies" \
  -H "Authorization: SSWS ${OKTA_API_TOKEN}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --data '{
    "name": "Zero Trust Application Policy",
    "type": "ACCESS_POLICY",
    "conditions": null,
    "rules": [
      {
        "name": "Managed Device Access",
        "conditions": {
          "device": {
            "assurance": {
              "include": ["DEVICE_ASSURANCE_POLICY_ID"]
            },
            "managed": true,
            "registered": true
          },
          "people": {
            "groups": {"include": ["EMPLOYEES_GROUP_ID"]}
          }
        },
        "actions": {
          "appSignOn": {
            "access": "ALLOW",
            "verificationMethod": {
              "factorMode": "1FA",
              "type": "ASSURANCE"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      {
        "name": "Unmanaged Device - Block",
        "conditions": {
          "device": { "managed": false }
        },
        "actions": {
          "appSignOn": { "access": "DENY" }
        }
      }
    ]
  }'

Step 5: Implement Continuous Posture Monitoring

Set up real-time monitoring of device compliance state changes.

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Monitor device posture compliance drift in real-time."""

import requests
import time
import json
from datetime import datetime, timezone

CROWDSTRIKE_BASE = "https://api.crowdstrike.com"
INTUNE_BASE = "https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0"

def get_cs_token(client_id: str, client_secret: str) -> str:
    resp = requests.post(f"{CROWDSTRIKE_BASE}/oauth2/token", data={
        "client_id": client_id,
        "client_secret": client_secret
    })
    return resp.json()["access_token"]

def get_low_zta_devices(token: str, threshold: int = 50) -> list:
    resp = requests.get(
        f"{CROWDSTRIKE_BASE}/zero-trust-assessment/queries/assessments/v1",
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
        params={"filter": f"assessment.overall:<{threshold}", "limit": 100}
    )
    return resp.json().get("resources", [])

def get_intune_noncompliant(token: str) -> list:
    resp = requests.get(
        f"{INTUNE_BASE}/deviceManagement/managedDevices",
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
        params={
            "$filter": "complianceState eq 'noncompliant'",
            "$select": "id,deviceName,userPrincipalName,complianceState,lastSyncDateTime,operatingSystem"
        }
    )
    return resp.json().get("value", [])

def check_posture_drift(cs_token: str, intune_token: str):
    print(f"\n[{datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()}] Device Posture Check")
    print("=" * 60)

    low_zta = get_low_zta_devices(cs_token, threshold=50)
    print(f"CrowdStrike ZTA < 50: {len(low_zta)} devices")

    noncompliant = get_intune_noncompliant(intune_token)
    print(f"Intune Non-Compliant: {len(noncompliant)} devices")

    for device in noncompliant[:10]:
        print(f"  - {device['deviceName']} ({device['userPrincipalName']}): "
              f"{device['complianceState']} | Last sync: {device['lastSyncDateTime']}")

    return {"low_zta_count": len(low_zta), "noncompliant_count": len(noncompliant)}

Key Concepts

Term	Definition
Device Posture	Collection of endpoint security attributes (OS version, encryption, EDR status, patch level) evaluated before granting access
CrowdStrike ZTA Score	Numerical score (1-100) calculated by CrowdStrike Falcon assessing endpoint security posture based on OS signals and sensor configuration
Device Compliance Policy	MDM-defined rules specifying minimum security requirements (encryption, PIN, OS version) that devices must meet
Conditional Access	Policy engine (Entra ID, Okta) that evaluates user identity, device compliance, location, and risk before allowing access
Device Trust	Verification that an endpoint is managed, enrolled, and meets security baselines before treating it as trusted
Posture Drift	Degradation of device security posture over time (expired patches, disabled encryption) that should trigger access revocation

Tools & Systems

• CrowdStrike Falcon ZTA: Real-time endpoint posture scoring based on OS and sensor security signals
• Microsoft Intune: MDM platform enforcing device compliance policies and reporting to Entra ID Conditional Access
• Jamf Pro: Apple device management with compliance rules for macOS and iOS endpoints
• Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access: Policy engine consuming Intune compliance and risk signals for access decisions
• Okta Device Trust: Device assurance policies integrating with CrowdStrike, Chrome Enterprise, and MDM platforms
• Cloudflare Device Posture: WARP client-based posture checks for disk encryption, OS version, and third-party EDR

Common Scenarios

Scenario: Enforcing Device Compliance for 2,000 Endpoints Across Windows and macOS

Context: A healthcare company with 2,000 endpoints (70% Windows, 30% macOS) must enforce HIPAA-compliant device posture before allowing access to patient data systems. Devices are managed by Intune (Windows) and Jamf (macOS) with CrowdStrike Falcon deployed on all endpoints.

Approach:

1. Define Windows compliance policy in Intune: BitLocker, Secure Boot, TPM, Defender enabled, OS >= 10.0.19045
2. Define macOS compliance policy in Jamf: FileVault, Gatekeeper, SIP, Firewall, OS >= 14.0
3. Configure CrowdStrike ZTA thresholds: >= 70 for general apps, >= 85 for patient data systems
4. Create Entra ID Conditional Access policies requiring compliant device + MFA for all cloud apps
5. Configure 24-hour grace period for newly non-compliant devices before blocking
6. Set up weekly compliance report for IT showing non-compliant devices and remediation actions
7. Implement automated remediation via Intune: push BitLocker enablement, deploy pending patches

Pitfalls: Grace periods must be long enough for IT to remediate but short enough to limit risk exposure. CrowdStrike ZTA scores can fluctuate with sensor updates; avoid setting thresholds too aggressively initially. BYOD devices may lack MDM enrollment; provide a separate Browser Access path with reduced functionality for unmanaged devices.

Output Format

Device Posture Assessment Report
==================================================
Organization: HealthCorp
Report Date: 2026-02-23
Total Managed Devices: 2,000

COMPLIANCE BY PLATFORM:
  Windows (1,400 devices):
    Compliant:              1,302 (93.0%)
    Non-compliant:            98 (7.0%)
    Top Issue: Missing patches (45), BitLocker disabled (23)

  macOS (600 devices):
    Compliant:                567 (94.5%)
    Non-compliant:             33 (5.5%)
    Top Issue: OS outdated (18), FileVault disabled (8)

CROWDSTRIKE ZTA SCORES:
  Average Score:              78.4
  Devices >= 85 (Critical):  1,456 (72.8%)
  Devices >= 70 (Standard):  1,812 (90.6%)
  Devices < 50 (Blocked):       34 (1.7%)

CONDITIONAL ACCESS IMPACT (last 7 days):
  Total sign-in attempts:    45,678
  Blocked by posture:           312 (0.7%)
  Remediated within 24h:        289 (92.6%)
  Still non-compliant:           23

POSTURE DRIFT ALERTS:
  Encryption disabled:            5
  EDR sensor stopped:             3
  OS downgraded:                  1