A RESOURCE‑CENTRIC FRAMEWORK FOR ROBUST ENTERPRISE SECURITY: EVOLVING ZERO TRUST ARCHITECTURES AND THEIR MATURATION

Abstract

The increasing complexity of enterprise IT environments — driven by cloud adoption, remote work, and distributed assets — has exposed the limitations of traditional perimeter‑based security models. The paradigm of Zero Trust (ZT) security emerges as a compelling alternative, advocating for a resource‑centric architecture where no user, device, or network location is implicitly trusted. This article presents an in-depth theoretical examination of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), synthesizing foundational models, maturity frameworks, and implementation challenges. Building on the conceptual groundwork laid by early advocates and standardized by technical bodies, the paper articulates a detailed resource‑centric framework for implementing ZTA in large-scale, heterogeneous enterprise environments. The methodology adopted here is purely conceptual and analytical, drawing on a broad set of public frameworks, white‑papers, and industry models to develop a holistic and practical blueprint. Findings suggest that a phased, pillar‑based approach — aligned with maturity models such as the one by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — is critical for manageable ZTA adoption. The paper discusses benefits, trade‑offs, performance overhead, cultural implications, and identifies research gaps that must be addressed before widespread, mature Zero Trust deployments can become the norm.