Improving zero trust microsegmentation design through formal verification

The Zero Trust security model represents a paradigm shift in cybersecurity, emphasizing the elimination of implicit trust within networks to mitigate modern threats. Despite its promise, the adoption of Zero Trust Architectures has been limited due to significant configuration, management, and operational complexity and challenges in integrating with existing security infrastructure. This research explores the potential of microsegmentation as a practical and effective strategy for implementing Zero Trust principles. We propose an innovative design that leverages software-defined networking (SDN) to address the complexity traditionally associated with microsegmentation. By utilizing SDN for granular policy enforcement and automated provisioning of security controls through a high-level configuration system, our approach simplifies management while implementing a distributed policy enforcement system. To ensure the soundness and robustness of our proposed design, we extensively utilized formal methods to model and validate its security properties under adversarial conditions. This rigorous process provided a strong foundation for designing and implementing the critical subsystems of the final architecture, ensuring that the system could withstand real-world threats while maintaining operational efficiency. The solution is specifically designed to facilitate the transition from traditional perimeter-based security models. By establishing clear interfaces between components, the security infrastructure is highly decoupled from the rest of the architecture. This approach enables incremental integration of different systems without disrupting normal operations and providing a clear roadmap for adopting Zero Trust principles. This work provides a comprehensive reference design based on microsegmentation adaptable to various use cases. By addressing key challenges such as complexity, scalability, and integration with existing infrastructure, the proposed design provides a concrete foundation for developing robust and scalable implementations of Zero Trust Architectures, paving the way for wider adoption across diverse environments.