Risk-Based Zero Trust Scale for Tactical Edge Network Environments

In dynamic and resource-constrained Tactical Edge Network (TEN) environments, where Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited Impact (DDIL) conditions prevail, a tailored se-curity approach is vital for real-time decision-making. In this paper, we propose adapting the Zero Trust (ZT) security paradigm to suit TEN settings, focusing on strict access con-trols, continuous entity verification, and unauthorized access mitigation. Our solution introduces a risk-based ZT scale approach, aligning security measures with scenario-associated risk levels while minimizing resource usage. We employ a Bayesian Network (BN) model to evaluate communication request risk, considering potential attacks. Our experiments confirm the effectiveness and adaptability of our approach in ensuring secure and efficient operations in these challenging environments.