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Article . 2026
License: CC BY
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ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Zero Trust Segmentation for Cloud-Native and AI Service Architectures: An Intelligent Policy Enforcement Framework to Minimize Lateral Movement

Authors: Navaneeth Komirisetty;

Zero Trust Segmentation for Cloud-Native and AI Service Architectures: An Intelligent Policy Enforcement Framework to Minimize Lateral Movement

Abstract

Cloud-native architectures break the concept of a perimeter, making lateral movement a focus of concern for distributed enterprise systems. AI services add to the attack surface via east-west traffic. As every workload, every pipeline, and every model-serving endpoint is a potential attack pivot point, layering zero-trust segmentation controls across identity, network, workload, and data planes provides a complementary strategy that restricts lateral movement in modern cloud-native and AI environments. The paper proposes a micro-segmentation model, disassociating policy decision and policy enforcement components in the context of securing data flow networks. The proposed model leverages workload identity, explicit allow-listing of communication patterns, anda service mesh to achieve micro-segmentation. Another AI-specific segmentation model addresses the introduction of the LLM tool chain‚ vector databases‚ and agentic services into a system's trust boundaries. This model adopts operational governance‚ evidence generation‚ and alignment with the NIST SP 800-207 and AI Risk Management Framework as early design requirements for the implementation and operation of zero trust segmentation in regulated and critical services contexts. It allows security architects and platform leaders to implement solutions through structured evidence generation.

Keywords

Micro-Segmentation, Zero Trust Architecture, Cloud-Native Security, Kubernetes Workload Identity, Service Segmentation With AI, Blocking Lateral Movement, Policy Enforcement, Service Mesh

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average