South Korea Zero Trust Architecture Market Overview, 2030

South Korea, known for its advanced technology landscape and digital transformation, is increasingly adopting Zero Trust Architecture to address the growing sophistication of cyberattacks. The nation is a prime target for cyber threats due to its high-tech industries, global connections, and geopolitical situation. Zero Trust is seen as a comprehensive solution to address these challenges by ensuring strict access control and continuous monitoring of user activities, minimizing the attack surface and reducing the impact of potential breaches. With businesses in South Korea increasingly relying on cloud computing, it has become necessary to secure access to cloud applications, especially as organizations shift towards a hybrid work model where employees access company resources from various locations and devices. Zero Trust solutions, which verify users and devices before granting access, are essential to securing cloud environments, particularly for sensitive data and critical applications. South Korea’s strict regulatory environment surrounding data protection and privacy has been a significant driver for ZTA adoption. The country has robust data protection laws such as the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which demands strong security measures for personal and sensitive data. This legal framework encourages organizations to adopt Zero Trust principles to ensure compliance and protect against data breaches. With regulatory bodies requiring organizations to maintain stringent security postures, ZTA is seen as a means to achieve compliance while safeguarding data. As industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation embrace IoT technologies, the need to secure connected devices has intensified. Zero Trust helps secure IoT ecosystems by verifying devices before granting them access to the network, reducing the risk of attacks targeting vulnerable connected devices. South Korea's cybersecurity initiatives and government-led efforts to enhance national security also contribute to the growing adoption of Zero Trust. The South Korean government has been proactive in promoting cybersecurity as a strategic priority. In 2020, the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) emphasized the importance of cybersecurity frameworks and encouraged businesses to adopt modern security measures, including Zero Trust, to mitigate risks in an increasingly digital economy. The government’s push for digital innovation and the security of critical infrastructures, such as the Defense, Energy, and Finance sectors, makes Zero Trust a priority for enterprises and public organizations alike.

According to the research report "South Korea Zero Trust Architecture Market Overview, 2030," published by Bonafide Research, the South Korea Zero Trust Architecture market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 800 Million by 2030. The Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) market in South Korea is growing rapidly as organizations increasingly face complex cyber threats and the digital landscape becomes more interconnected. Several factors are driving this growth, including the widespread adoption of cloud computing, the rise in remote work, and the increasing frequency of cyberattacks. South Korea, with its advanced technology infrastructure and high dependence on digital services, is particularly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats like ransomware, phishing, and data breaches. This vulnerability has accelerated the adoption of Zero Trust as a comprehensive approach to securing sensitive data, especially in cloud and hybrid environments. The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) plays a pivotal role in promoting cybersecurity practices and encouraging businesses to adopt ZTA as part of their cybersecurity strategy. South Korea's shift toward cloud-first strategies has spurred the need for comprehensive security models that can manage access control across distributed, multi-cloud environments. Local cybersecurity companies like AhnLab and SK Infosec are also significant players, offering region-specific solutions and services. These providers cater to South Korean industries such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, which require highly secure networks and systems due to the sensitivity of the data they handle. In terms of partnerships, South Korean companies are forming strategic collaborations with U.S.-based cybersecurity giants to bolster their ZTA capabilities. Palo Alto Networks has partnered with several large South Korean firms, including KT Corporation and SK Telecom, to provide advanced Zero Trust solutions. Zscaler has collaborated with local technology firms to help secure cloud applications, particularly in the public sector. These partnerships allow South Korean organizations to access cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies and best practices, enhancing their security posture and ensuring resilience against emerging threats. The implementation of Zero Trust involves a comprehensive overhaul of security policies, user authentication protocols, and access management systems, which can be resource-intensive.

Network security is a top priority, with South Korean organizations focusing on preventing unauthorized access and reducing vulnerabilities in their networks. ZTA’s principle of “never trust, always verify” is particularly effective here, as it ensures strict access controls and constant monitoring, which are crucial for securing both internal and external network traffic. For data security, South Korean enterprises are implementing Zero Trust to protect sensitive data from breaches, especially in light of strict regulatory frameworks like the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). ZTA enforces encryption, access policies, and authentication mechanisms that limit exposure and mitigate risks from insider threats and external attackers. This has become especially critical as South Korea continues to lead in technological advancements and handles vast amounts of personal and corporate data. Application security is also a key focus of ZTA adoption in South Korea. With the growing use of cloud-based applications, Zero Trust ensures that applications are constantly monitored for unusual activity and only accessible by authorized users or devices. This approach helps businesses safeguard their digital applications, which are often targeted by attackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities in unpatched software. In the realm of endpoint security, South Korea is leveraging ZTA to secure a wide range of devices, from mobile phones to IoT devices. As more organizations embrace remote work and IoT technologies, Zero Trust solutions ensure that only verified devices can access the network, minimizing the risk of endpoint-related breaches. Finally, cloud security is a critical area where ZTA is rapidly being adopted. As South Korean organizations migrate to hybrid and multi-cloud environments, Zero Trust offers robust controls that prevent unauthorized access to cloud applications and data, ensuring that even users within the corporate network must continually verify their identity and authorization.

South Korea being a leading hub for digital banking and fintech, the demand for secure, trusted transactions has skyrocketed. ZTA ensures strict access controls and continuous authentication for customers and employees, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and financial fraud. In healthcare, ZTA helps safeguard patient data and medical records, addressing growing concerns about healthcare data privacy and the protection of critical infrastructure. South Korea’s rapidly advancing health IT systems and telemedicine applications require strong security frameworks like Zero Trust to mitigate cyber risks, especially as healthcare organizations shift to cloud-based platforms. The IT and telecom sectors are adopting ZTA to protect infrastructure from sophisticated cyberattacks targeting telecom networks and critical IT systems. As 5G technology becomes more widespread in South Korea, telecom companies are utilizing ZTA to secure communications, reduce vulnerabilities, and maintain network integrity. For government and defense, South Korea is applying Zero Trust to protect sensitive national security data, government communication channels, and defense systems. With its proximity to regional tensions, particularly concerning North Korea, the government emphasizes a stringent cybersecurity posture, integrating ZTA as a core component of their national cybersecurity strategy. In retail & e-commerce, ZTA helps secure online platforms against growing threats such as payment fraud and data breaches, ensuring a safe shopping experience for consumers. As e-commerce continues to expand, the need for real-time identity verification and access control is paramount. Other sectors, including manufacturing, education, media & entertainment, transportation, energy & utilities, and hospitality, are also adopting ZTA to address unique security concerns. In manufacturing, Zero Trust is applied to protect connected devices and industrial control systems, while in education, it helps secure sensitive student and academic data. transportation & logistics companies are using ZTA to protect IoT-enabled devices and connected systems that manage critical infrastructure and logistics operations.

In South Korea, the deployment of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is becoming increasingly prevalent, both in on-premises and cloud-based environments, with each offering unique advantages tailored to the country’s cybersecurity needs. For on-premises deployments, South Korean organizations with large legacy systems and critical infrastructure are adopting ZTA to enhance internal security. Traditional enterprises, particularly in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and government, prefer on-premises solutions due to the need to maintain full control over sensitive data and systems. By implementing Zero Trust within their on-premises networks, organizations can enforce strict access controls, continuously authenticate users and devices, and minimize potential attack surfaces. These organizations often leverage ZTA in tandem with other legacy security systems to safeguard against both internal and external threats, providing a more comprehensive defense strategy. Cloud-based deployments of ZTA are becoming increasingly dominant in South Korea due to the rapid shift toward cloud computing and digital transformation. As South Korean companies move more operations to cloud environments, the demand for scalable, flexible, and secure solutions grows. Cloud-based Zero Trust allows businesses to continuously monitor user activities, manage access controls across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and secure applications regardless of where they are hosted. South Korea’s strong emphasis on cloud-first strategies in both the private and public sectors has accelerated this shift. This is especially beneficial for tech-forward industries like IT and telecom, e-commerce, and education, where data needs to be readily accessible, yet secure from breaches and unauthorized access. Cloud-based ZTA enables organizations to easily adapt to the increasing complexity of securing cloud platforms while ensuring a seamless, scalable security framework.



In South Korea, For SMEs, the adoption of ZTA can be more challenging due to limited resources, both in terms of financial investment and IT personnel. As cyber threats evolve, even smaller companies are recognizing the need for robust security models like Zero Trust to protect their digital assets. South Korean SMEs, especially those in e-commerce, healthcare, and technology, are increasingly turning to cloud-based Zero Trust solutions. These solutions offer flexibility and scalability without the need for heavy upfront investments in infrastructure, making them more accessible to SMEs. By leveraging cloud solutions, SMEs can integrate identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring to ensure secure access to critical applications and data. Government incentives and cybersecurity initiatives aimed at bolstering the country’s overall digital infrastructure are helping SMEs overcome some of the financial barriers associated with ZTA implementation. Large enterprises in South Korea, particularly in finance, IT, and manufacturing, have the resources and infrastructure to implement more comprehensive, on-premises ZTA solutions. These enterprises are dealing with larger volumes of sensitive data, more complex internal networks, and heightened regulatory requirements. Large organizations tend to focus on securing not just cloud assets but also on-premises infrastructure, which may include legacy systems. For these enterprises, Zero Trust plays a crucial role in enabling strict access controls, reducing vulnerabilities across multiple entry points, and ensuring that both internal and external users are continuously verified. These enterprises are also leveraging a combination of cloud and on-premises Zero Trust models to secure their hybrid environments.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Zero Trust Architecture Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Application
• Network Security
• Data Security
• Application Security
• Endpoint Security
• Cloud Security

By End Use
• BFSI
• Healthcare
• IT and telecom
• Government and defense
• Retail & E-commerce
• Others(Manufacturing & Industrial,Education (Schools, Colleges, and Universities), Media & Entertainment, Transportation & Logistics, Energy & Utilities,Hospitality & Travel)

By Deployment
• On-Premises
• Cloud-based

By Enterprise Size
• SME
• Large enterprises

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.