Resource Guide

Top Ten Zero Trust Architectures

A comprehensive guide to the most impactful zero trust frameworks shaping modern enterprise security — from SDP to CARTA.

The Architectures

Each architecture offers a distinct approach to eliminating implicit trust and securing the modern enterprise.

#01

Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP)

Replaces the traditional network perimeter with a dynamic, identity-centric boundary. All resources are invisible until authenticated and authorized.

#02

Microsegmentation

Divides the data center into granular, isolated security segments down to individual orkloads, preventing lateral movement of threats.

#03

Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)

Routes all application access through an identity-aware reverse proxy that enforces per-request authentication and authorization.

#04

NIST SP 800-207 Architecture

The foundational government standard defining zero trust tenets: continuous verification, least privilege, and assume-breach mentality.

#05

SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)

Converges SD-WAN with cloud-delivered security (CASB, FWaaS, SWG, ZTNA) into a single cloud-native service.

#06

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Provides adaptive, identity- and context-based access to private applications without exposing them to the internet.

#07

BeyondCorp Model

Google’s pioneering approach that shifts access controls from the network perimeter to individual devices and users regardless of location.

#08

Zero Trust Data-Centric Security

Focuses protection on the data itself through classification, encryption, tokenization, and rights management rather than network location.

#09

Service Mesh Zero Trust

Implements zero trust at the microservices layer using sidecar proxies for mutual TLS, RBAC, and observability between services.

#10

Continuous Adaptive Risk & Trust (CARTA)

Gartner’s framework for continuously assessing risk and trust throughout every digital interaction, adapting access in real-time.

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