CISO FORUM

As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations must move beyond traditional security models and adopt more robust frameworks to safeguard sensitive data and critical infrastructure. The Zero Trust model, which follows the principle of “Never Trust, Always Verify,” is becoming the gold standard for cybersecurity.

As we continue through 2025, the implementation of Zero Trust is not just a recommendation but a necessity for organizations aiming to fortify their digital ecosystems.

Core Principles of Zero Trust: A New Approach to Cybersecurity

Traditional security models relied on the assumption that everything inside a network was safe. However, with cyber threats evolving rapidly, this outdated approach no longer suffice. Zero Trust challenges this assumption, enforcing strict access controls and continuous verification. The 3 fundamental principles of Zero Trust.

To ensure that the organization stays resilient against modern cyber threats, consider highlighting the following three core principles of Zero Trust in the document.

Verify Explicitly: Always authenticate and authorize users, devices, and applications based on multiple factors, including identity, location, and device security posture. Utilize strong Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies, such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), and biometrics.
Least Privilege Access: Provide users with only the necessary access to perform their tasks, minimizing the risk of unauthorized activities. Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Just-In-Time (JIT) access provisioning to ensure security without compromising productivity.
Assume Breach: Continuously monitor all activities, detect anomalies, and respond proactively to potential threats. Enforce micro-segmentation and restrict lateral movement to contain breaches and limit damage.

Implementing Zero Trust: A Step-by-Step Guide

Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no entity—whether inside or outside the corporate network—should be trusted by default. It mandates strict identity verification, continuous monitoring, and least-privilege access controls to minimize potential security breaches.

Assess Your Security Posture: Start with a thorough audit of your existing security infrastructure. Identify vulnerabilities, analyse user behaviours, and access permissions across the organization.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all users. Deploy Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions to streamline access. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to assign permissions.
Secure Endpoints and Networks: Enforce device authentication before granting access. Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools. Utilize micro-segmentation to limit access between systems.
Continuous Monitoring & Threat Intelligence: Deploy AI-powered threat detection systems. Implement behaviour-based analytics to detect anomalies. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing.
Enforce Strong Data Protection Policies: Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) measures. Ensure compliance with industry standards such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and ISO 27001.
Automate and Orchestrate Security Operations: Use Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) tools. Automate policy enforcement and access revocation for inactive users. Employ AI-driven automation to streamline security responses

Cybersecurity Trends in 2025 Driving Zero Trust Adoption: Why Zero Trust is Essential

According to the Statista report in 2024, over 30 percent of respondents from a global survey reported having already implemented a zero-trust strategy, while 27 percent were planning to implement it within the next six months.

AI and Machine Learning in Cyber Threats: Attackers leverage AI to create sophisticated phishing attacks and automated hacking tools.
Hybrid Workforce & BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Employees working remotely increase the risk of unauthorized access.
Cloud Security Challenges: More businesses are shifting to cloud environments, requiring enhanced security controls.
Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Governments worldwide are enforcing stricter cybersecurity laws, making Zero Trust compliance essential.
Ransomware Evolution: Attackers are using advanced encryption techniques, making data protection paramount.

The Future of Zero Trust Beyond 2025

As technology advances, Zero Trust will evolve with:

AI-Driven Security Measures: Automated threat detection and response using AI.
Quantum Cryptography: Secure encryption methods against future quantum computing threats.
Zero Trust Edge (ZTE): Expanding Zero Trust beyond corporate networks to remote endpoints and edge devices.
Universal Adoption: Governments and enterprises making Zero Trust a global security standard.

Zero Trust and AI: A Powerful Synergy

Zero Trust and AI work together in a powerful, symbiotic relationship. AI thrives in the secure environment created by Zero Trust, while Zero Trust evolves to address the challenges introduced by AI. Each enhances the other, helping to ensure that security frameworks remain adaptive and resilient.

This Zero Trust transformation from a classic network-centric approach to an asset- and data-centric approach is crucial in today’s age of cloud services, mobile devices, and AI. Traditional security measures like network configurations, firewalls, and access controls form the foundation, but they are not sufficient on their own.

Classic network-perimeter security approaches cannot effectively protect data or AI applications. Firewalls, Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP), Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)and network DLP controls rely on detecting and mitigating risks using static, predictable patterns of network traffic. However, these approaches fail to address the complexities of AI applications for several reasons:

AI Network Traffic is Encrypted: AI applications often encrypt their traffic for privacy and security, limiting the visibility of network-based controls.
AI Operates at Data and Application Layers: Differentiating between malicious and legitimate AI activities requires controls that understand applications, data, and user behaviour.
AI Activities are Dynamic: AI-generated behaviours do not match static security patterns. AI can rapidly generate new tools that mimic existing functionality (e.g., a custom Network Mapper (NMAP) clone, evading static signature-based defences.

One of the most effective ways to protect AI-driven data is through a data-centric security approach that follows data wherever it goes. Network controls are restricted to an organization’s security perimeter, limiting their ability to protect data stored on mobile devices, cloud services, USB drives, and other locations. Therefore, a Zero Trust, asset-centric, and data-centric approach is essential for securing AI-related assets and ensuring a robust cybersecurity framework.

Case Studies: Zero Trust in Action:

As of 2023, the global Zero-Trust Security market was valued at USD 31.63 billion and is expected to reach USD 133 billion by 2032.

Financial Sector: A multinational bank adopted Zero Trust, reducing insider threats and preventing unauthorized access to customer data. According to CSA, the 71% of financial institutions have implemented or are planning to implement Zero Trust.
Healthcare Industry: Hospitals implementing Zero Trust minimized ransomware attacks and secured patient records. 67% of healthcare organizations have adopted Zero Trust to combat rising ransomware attacks.
Tech Companies: Leading tech firms using Zero Trust saw improved cloud security and better protection against intellectual property theft. According to the State of Zero Trust Security in the Cloud Report by StrongDM, the88% of tech companies use Zero Trust for cloud security. Data breaches in cloud environments have reduced by 60% due to Zero Trust adoption.

Securing Tomorrow with Zero Trust Today:

As cyber risks continue to evolve, adopting a Zero Trust approach is the key to ensuring a secure digital ecosystem. Organizations that implement Zero Trust today will be better equipped to face the cybersecurity challenges of tomorrow.

Authored by Anis Pankhania, Chief Information Security Officer, CIS India & APAC