Zero Trust Architecture in Cloud Networks: Application, Challenges and Future Opportunities
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Abstract
Cloud computing has become essential in this digital world as it provides opportunities and challenges for organizations. This research explores the implementation and effectiveness of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) in addressing security challenges within cloud networks. Utilizing qualitative research methods, including a systematic literature review from 2020 to 2024, the study investigates insights from diverse sources such as journal articles, academic literature, and case studies. Thematic analysis organizes findings into critical themes, revealing ZTA's impact on mitigating lateral movement, reducing insider threat probability, enhancing network micro-segmentation, and improving identity and access management. The comparative analysis demonstrates significant improvements in security incidents post-ZTA implementation. Moreover, the study highlights best practices for ZTA adoption and outlines future advancements, including integration with emerging technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence. This research underscores ZTA's pivotal role in fortifying cloud network security and offers valuable insights for practitioners and researchers.
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Commercial segmentation and monitoring solutions require annual renewals of $15K-40K, commitments that small organizations struggle to sustain during economic downturns.
“Commercial segmentation and monitoring solutions require annual renewals of $15K-40K, commitments that small organizations struggle to sustain during economic downturns [7].”
From Manufacturing Cybersecurity for SMEs: Implementing Zero Trust in Legacy Industrial Environments (2026) · cites this paper as [7]
Sections 5.1 and 5.3 discuss network segmentation and monitoring as security measures, not their commercial pricing. Searches for annual renewals, the $15K–40K range, small-organization budgets, and economic downturns found no passage addressing those claims. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe pilot facility IT staff lacked formal security certifications, advanced training in industrial control system security, and hands-on experience implementing sophisticated security architectures.
“The pilot facility IT staff lacked formal security certifications, advanced training in industrial control system security, and hands-on experience implementing sophisticated security architectures [7].”
From Manufacturing Cybersecurity for SMEs: Implementing Zero Trust in Legacy Industrial Environments (2026) · cites this paper as [7]
Sections 2.3 and 5.6 discuss implementing zero-trust security in cloud networks, while section 2.5 mentions general employee security-awareness training. None addresses a pilot facility or its IT staff’s certifications, industrial control system training, or hands-on experience; searches for those terms found no supporting passage. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredLayer 3 employed event-based baseline models triggered by shift changes, product changeovers, and equipment state changes.
“Layer 3 employed event-based baseline models triggered by shift changes, product changeovers, and equipment state changes [7].”
From Manufacturing Cybersecurity for SMEs: Implementing Zero Trust in Legacy Industrial Environments (2026) · cites this paper as [7]
Section 2.4 discusses mathematical models for cloud-network security, and section 5.1 discusses monitoring and lateral movement; neither describes a Layer 3 event-based baseline model. Searches for shift changes, product changeovers, and equipment state changes found no passage addressing those triggers in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Cites
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Manufacturing Cybersecurity for SMEs: Implementing Zero Trust in Legacy Industrial Environments
Akinsanya, A. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8846670/v1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ahmadi, S.
- Affiliations
- National Coalition of Independent Scholars (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ahmadi, Sina
- ORCID
- Ahmadi, Sina
- Venue
- Journal of Engineering Research and Reports
- Publisher
- Sciencedomain International
- Published
- 2024-02-13
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 215-228
- ISSN
- 2582-2926 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4391785412
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 12.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Engineering Research and Reports (publishedVersion)
- Journal of Engineering Research and Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Figshare (cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Cybersecurity and Information Systems
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cloud Data Security Solutions
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information and Cyber Security
- Keywords
- zero-trust architecture, cloud network security, lateral movement, insider threats, identity and access management, machine learning for security, artificial intelligence for security
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