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@article{183040,
        author = {Akhilesh Kumar},
        title = {Beyond Passwords: Evaluating Post-Quantum Cryptography in Zero Trust Architectures},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {7},
        number = {4},
        pages = {387-389},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=183040},
        abstract = {As digital infrastructures grow increasingly complex and cyber threats become more sophisticated, the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) model has emerged as a foundational paradigm in cybersecurity. Meanwhile, the advent of quantum computing poses existential threats to traditional cryptographic systems, necessitating a paradigm shift towards Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). This paper investigates the convergence of ZTA and PQC, assessing their compatibility, challenges, and future prospects. It presents an in-depth evaluation of existing classical cryptographic mechanisms, identifies quantum vulnerabilities, and explores the integration of NIST-recommended PQC algorithms within ZTA frameworks. Through a hybrid methodology combining simulation-based validation and architectural modelling, this research illustrates that implementing PQC within ZTA not only reinforces identity-centric security but also enables cryptographic agility to future-proof digital systems. The study concludes that the synergy between PQC and ZTA represents a critical evolution in cybersecurity, calling for immediate policy-level and technical integration across sectors.},
        keywords = {Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Quantum Computing, Cryptographic Agility, Cybersecurity, Identity Management, NIST, Authentication, Encryption, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)},
        month = {August},
        }