Toward Decentralized Operationalization of Zero Trust Architecture for Next Generation Networks

Next-generation networks demand security that evolves as fast as threats do. Our pioneering decentralized Zero Trust Architecture (dZTA), proposed in this paper, redefines protection for IoT and remote collaboration, merging Zero Trust’s ironclad access controls with blockchain’s transparency and federated learning’s privacy-first analytics. Unlike traditional models, dZTA enforces security at every layer: a distributed policy engine eliminates single points of failure, cross-network analytics optimize WiFi-8, satellite, and 6G performance under real-world stressors, and anti-leakage protocols safeguard IoT ecosystems. Rigorous real-world simulations confirm dZTA’s dual triumph—uncompromising security and seamless efficiency—proving its readiness to secure tomorrow’s hyperconnected world.