Zero Trust Security Models: Implementation Challenges and Best Practices

Annotated Bibliography

Bobbert, Y., & Scheerder, J. (2020). Zero Trust validation: from practical approaches to theory. Sci. J. Res. Rev, 2(5), 830-848. https://irispublishers.com/sjrr/fulltext/zero-trust-validation-from-practical-approaches-to-theory.ID.000546.php

Bobbert and Scheerder (2020) focus on the empirically established Zero Trust initiatives to theoretical Zero Trust paradigms. This paper undertakes a review of the approaches that can be used to calibrate Zero Trust security architecture models, emphasizing the applicability of the methods outlined in practice across different organizations. The authors also present various validation methods, including trust evaluation and risk evaluation, pointing out that these methods, working in conjunction with Zero Trust principles, make the environment more secure. The paper also analyzes difficulties arising from applying Zero Trust in current security systems as well as offers a research agenda. The source is considered credible because the publication is a peer-reviewed journal, which means the information is critically discussed. Both Bobbert and Scheerder are well-known cybersecurity authors, which makes their conclusions reliable. It is also well-referenced to support the research, making it fit for academic purposes. However, there is one weak point – the major focus of the authors is on theoretical issues. At the same time, practical concerns and problems that modern organizations can encounter when adopting Zero Trust models are not disclosed to the fullest extent. The source is most useful for the theoretical background of Zero Trust validation. It proves useful in the further examination of how the existing theory can be utilized in practice, which is always essential when developing a clear understanding of the Zero Trust Security Model.

Gudala, L., & Shaik, M. (2023). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Verification: A Multi-Faceted Case Study Analysis of Best Practices and Challenges in Implementing AI-driven Zero Trust Security Models. Journal of AI-Assisted Scientific Discovery, 3(2), 62-84. https://scienceacadpress.com/index.php/jaasd/article/view/23

Gudala and Shaik (2023) have provided a comprehensive case study on how a concept of AI can support Zero Trust models. The work evaluates several organizations that adopted machine learning-based verification within the context of the Zero Trust strategy and the primary advantages and difficulties faced. The authors discuss trust evaluation, anomaly detection, and dynamic policy enforcement in light of AI technology's enhanced security posture. Another important aspect of the paper is the discussion of the ethical and technical concerns that other authors pointed to in relation to the use of AI in such applications, and the guidelines on how to overcome these issues are provided. The source is relatively recent and thus contains trending issues experienced in the cybersecurity industry. The article by Gudala and Shaik on the use of Artificial Intelligence in deploying Zero Trust is quite appropriate now that organizations are shifting their security strategies to use Artificial Intelligence. Specifically, the paper's findings are backed by specific data, which is quite valuable given the still rather experimental nature of Zero Trust and its AI-infused offshoots in many organizations interested in or looking to adopt such systems. However, the work may be inadequate regarding generalization since the authors built the paper based on specific case studies. The source is highly useful in research, especially that which relates to AI and zero-trust architectures. Due to its focus on the application of AI to real-world scenarios, it provides a means of finding new and creative ways of approaching Zero Trust architecture; thus, it can be beneficial for the study of the subject. The ethical considerations discussed also give a valuable critical angle that can be used in the formation of responsible AI-driven security practices.

Horne, D., & Nair, S. (2021). Introducing Zero Trust by design: Principles and practice beyond the Zero Trust hype. Advances in security, networks, and internet of things, 512-525. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dwight-Horne/publication/354054404_Introducing_Zero_Trust_by_Design_Principles_and_Practice_Beyond_the_Zero_Trust_Hype/links/627feade3a23744a727ffff6/Introducing-Zero-Trust-by-Design-Principles-and-Practice-Beyond-the-Zero-Trust-Hype.pdf

Horne and Nair (2021) elaborate on the scope of Zero Trust by Design (ZTBD) that has been proposed to extend traditional Zero Trust to the dimensions of software engineering and protocol design. The paper also takes issue with Zero Trust being defined solely in terms of network architecture and raises arguments that should be taken seriously regarding a Zero Trust approach being necessarily softened and widened to take into account software and protocol requirements. The authors outline a series of design principles for ZTBD and also define the ways to use these principles in different security scenarios. They also describe the use of Zero Trust patterns and pre-solved templates applied to typical security issues, provide a list of references for the interested reader, and request community contributions to improve the described Zero Trust patterns. The source is a valuable addition to the current debate about the various models of Zero Trust. Horne and Nair are highly regarded in the industry, and their work offers a more innovative view of Zero Trust and stresses the network architecture concept. The paper is organized coherently and is backed by numerous references that make it credible and academically sound. It is designed and written primarily for practitioners and researchers, specifically for its focus on patterns and solutions. However, the general approach to the ZTBD topic adopted in the paper may be too vast or too generic to certain readers. The source is relevant for any work that aims to reveal trends of further development of Zero Trust Security Models. It not only defines what Zero Trust means but also introduces the concept of Zero Trust patterns and offers practical experiences.