This is an exclusive article series conducted by the Editor Team of The Mainstream with Mr. Bhavik Dedhia, Chief Information Security Officer, ECL Finance Limited.
- Relevance of Zero Trust
From a CISO’s perspective, Zero Trust continues to be the backbone of cybersecurity, but it must evolve in the AI era. The principle of “never trust, always verify” still holds true but verification now needs to be continuous, intelligent, and risk-based. AI-driven threats are faster and more deceptive, which means our defenses must also adapt dynamically.
- Integrating AI Safely
In my view, AI can actually enhance Zero Trust if integrated responsibly. Every AI system should be treated as an identity — governed, monitored, and accountable. Embedding AI within existing security frameworks, enforcing access boundaries, and maintaining transparency in how AI models operate are key to avoiding new risks.
- Implementation Challenges
The main challenge is balancing innovation with control. AI brings new complexities in visibility and integration. Zero Trust implementation in such environments demands close collaboration between cybersecurity, IT, and data science teams. It’s not just about deploying tools, it’s about aligning people, processes, and technology around a common security vision.
- Security-First Culture
Zero Trust is as much about mindset as it is about technology. Building a security-first culture means embedding security thinking into every initiative including AI projects. When teams see security as an enabler of innovation, not a hurdle, adoption becomes natural. Awareness, ownership, and consistent communication make that difference.
- Actionable Steps
To move from awareness to action, organizations should:
Identify where AI is used and what data it touches.
Extend Zero Trust principles to AI systems and APIs.
Continuously monitor for anomalies and data misuse.
Test resilience through red-teaming and AI risk exercises.
Small, consistent actions make Zero Trust stronger and more relevant against AI-driven risks.
- Future Outlook
Looking ahead, I see Zero Trust becoming more intelligent and predictive — powered by AI itself. The future model will be adaptive, data-driven, and capable of making trust decisions in real time. In essence, Zero Trust will not just verify, it will anticipate. That’s the mindset we need as we build secure, resilient organizations for the future.
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