Integrating COBIT 2019 with Zero Trust Architecture: A Strategic Approach to GRC in Cybersecurity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21015/vtse.v13i4.2245Abstract
This paper is the first to show a shared security governance model that combines COBIT 2019 for strategic oversight and ZTA for tactical, real-time enforcement. This model addresses the poor performance of traditional GRC and perimeter security that cannot handle distributed clouds and sophisticated insider attacks. We posit that the objective of COBIT strong governance could be operationalized with ZTA’s “never trust, always verify” principles. The present study illustrates the integration by linking COBIT’s process domains (EDM, APO, BAI, DSS, MEA) to the core ZTA pillars (Identities, Devices, Networks, Applications, Data). This mapping provides confirmation that ZTA is a practical mechanism for control assurance that enables organizations to take a strong, risk-sensitive, and compliant posture within a changing digital environment.
References
E. Ponick and G. Wieczorek, Artificial Intelligence in Governance, Risk and Compliance. Lippstadt, Germany: Hochschule Hamm-Lippstadt, 2021.
E. W. Tomlinson, W. D. Abrha, S. D. Kim, and S. A. Ortega, “Cybersecurity access control: Framework analysis in a healthcare institution,” J. Cybersecur. Priv., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 762–776, 2024.
L. Huang and Q. Zhu, “ZETAR: Modeling and computational design of strategic and adaptive compliance policies,” IEEE Trans. Comput. Social Syst., 2023.
S. Sarkar, G. Choudhary, S. K. Shandilya, A. Hussain, and H. Kim, “Security of zero trust networks in cloud computing: A comparative review,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 18, p. 11213, 2022.
ISACA, COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives. Schaumburg, IL, USA: ISACA, 2018.
T. Bashir, “Zero trust architecture: Enhancing cybersecurity in enterprise networks,” J. Comput. Sci. Technol. Stud., vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 54–59, 2024.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Zero Trust Maturity Model, Version 2.0. Washington, DC, USA: U.S. Dept. Homeland Security, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/zero_trust_maturity_model_v2_508.pdf
S. Rose, O. Borchert, S. Mitchell, and S. Connelly, Zero Trust Architecture, NIST SP 800-207. Gaithersburg, MD, USA: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2020.
M. Hasan, “Enhancing enterprise security with zero trust architecture: Mitigating vulnerabilities and insider threats through continuous verification and least privilege access,” unpublished manuscript, Dept. Cybersecurity, ECPI University, 2024.
D. Ajish, “The significance of artificial intelligence in zero trust technologies: A comprehensive review,” J. Electr. Syst. Inf. Technol., vol. 11, no. 30, 2024.
M. Sánchez-García, J. López, R. Fernández, and S. Kim, “A comprehensive study on zero trust architecture for enterprise cybersecurity,” Int. J. Inf. Secur., vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 101–120, 2024.
A. Busch and B. Zalewski, “Advancements in zero trust security: Integrating governance, risk, and compliance frameworks,” J. Cybersecurity Inf. Technol., vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 145–162, 2025.
ISACA, COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology. Schaumburg, IL, USA: ISACA, 2018.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY