Zero Trust Security and Multifactor Authentication in Fog Computing Environment

This quantitative correlational research study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the implementation of zero-trust security and multifactor authentication (MFA) in a fog computing environment. Fog computing is an emerging decentralized technology that extends cloud computing capabilities near the user. A fog computing environment helps in faster communication with the internet of things (IoT) devices and reduces data transmission overheads. However, the use of fog computing technology in information technology (IT) organizations is minimal in the United States. Many IT organizations lack trust in fog computing security, and these security issues can compromise high-priority systems within the network. Robust security mechanisms such as zero trust security and MFA are effective in non-perimeter-based systems such as the fog computing environment. This research study used the extended technology acceptance model (TAM) as the theoretical framework to evaluate the relationship between independent variables perceived usability, perceived ease of use, perceived security, perceived reliability, and dependent variable fog computing security adoption in IT. The study conducted a survey and collected samples from 125 IT professionals with experience in cloud/fog computing and zero-trust security. The study’s results suggested that robust security mechanisms are necessary to use fog computing in the IT industry successfully.本项定量相关研究旨在探究雾计算（fog computing）环境下零信任安全（zero-trust security）与多因素认证（MFA）落地的影响因素。雾计算是一项新兴的去中心化技术，可将云计算能力延伸至用户端附近。雾计算环境能够实现与物联网（IoT）设备的高速通信，并降低数据传输开销。然而，在美国的信息技术（IT）机构中，雾计算技术的应用普及率仍相对较低。诸多IT机构对雾计算的安全性缺乏信任，此类安全问题可能会危及网络内的高优先级系统。诸如零信任安全与多因素认证这类稳健的安全机制，在雾计算环境这类非边界化系统中可发挥显著效用。本研究采用扩展技术接受模型（TAM）作为理论框架，以评估自变量感知有用性、感知易用性、感知安全性、感知可靠性与因变量IT领域雾计算安全采纳行为之间的关联关系。本研究通过问卷调查的方式，收集了125名具备云计算/雾计算与零信任安全相关从业经验的IT专业人士的样本数据。研究结果表明，若要在IT行业中成功落地雾计算应用，稳健的安全机制是必不可少的。