Investment Opportunities in Closing the Zero Trust Implementation Gap

The global cybersecurity landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift, driven by the accelerating adoption of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). According to a Softonic summary of Gartner data, 63% of organizations have implemented Zero Trust either fully or partially by 2025, with 81% adopting it to mitigate risk. The market itself has ballooned to a valuation of USD 41.4 trillion in 2025, growing at a compound annual rate of 16.9%. Yet, beneath this progress lies a critical gap: 45% of organizations still lack comprehensive implementation, hindered by technical complexity and legacy systems. This divergence between adoption and maturity presents a compelling investment thesis for capitalizing on underpenetrated sectors and emerging technologies.

The Current State of Zero Trust Adoption

Zero Trust's rise is fueled by the erosion of traditional perimeter-based security models in an era of remote work, cloud migration, and hyperconnected ecosystems. Data from Coherent Market Insights indicates that the Zero Trust Security market, valued at USD 36.42 billion in 2025, is projected to reach USD 104.18 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 16.2%. North America dominates with a 38.2% market share, while the Asia Pacific region emerges as the fastest-growing area. However, the solutions segment-encompassing identity verification, microsegmentation, and continuous monitoring-holds the largest share at 65.6%, underscoring the demand for adaptive security frameworks.

Despite this momentum, critical gaps persist. The financial and software sectors lead adoption at 71% and 69%, respectively, while healthcare and manufacturing lag behind. For instance, healthcare faces unique challenges: securing telehealth infrastructure, integrating with legacy systems, and protecting high-value patient data. Similarly, manufacturing grapples with outdated equipment and supply chain vulnerabilities. These sectors collectively represent a USD 20 billion opportunity within the Zero Trust market by 2032, according to an Expert Insights analysis.

Investment Opportunities in Underpenetrated Sectors

The most promising investment avenues lie in addressing the implementation gaps within SMEs, healthcare, and manufacturing.

1. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs):
   SMEs are adopting Zero Trust at a slower pace than large enterprises but are projected to exhibit the highest growth rate by 2030. This is driven by the need for scalable, cost-effective solutions. The Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) market, valued at $52.18 billion in 2025, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.1% through 2029, according to a GlobeNewswire report. Innovations such as cloud-based ZTNA platforms and Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) technologies are particularly attractive, as they enable SMEs to secure remote work environments and legacy systems without overhauling their infrastructure.

2. Healthcare:
   The healthcare sector is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% in the Zero Trust market, driven by regulatory demands and the proliferation of telehealth. However, 45% of healthcare organizations struggle with legacy systems and the complexity of authenticating remote workers, per ElectroIQ data. Investments in AI-driven threat detection, identity-driven security (e.g., multi-factor authentication), and microsegmentation can address these pain points. For example, AI-powered anomaly detection can automate policy enforcement in real time, reducing the burden on understaffed IT teams, as noted in a Cybersecurity News article.

3. Manufacturing:
   Manufacturing's reliance on interconnected systems and IoT devices makes it a prime target for cyberattacks. Yet, only 30% of manufacturers have fully implemented Zero Trust. The integration of Zero Trust with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platforms and supply chain security solutions offers a lucrative opportunity. Technologies like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and continuous authentication can secure remote industrial operations while ensuring compliance with evolving standards.

Emerging Technologies Bridging the Gap

The implementation gap is being narrowed by innovations that address Zero Trust's inherent complexity. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are central to this evolution, enabling dynamic threat detection and automated access control. For instance, behavior-based authentication models-combining biometrics and contextual analysis-are replacing static verification methods, enhancing both security and user experience.

Microsegmentation is another game-changer, particularly for sectors with sprawling networks. By limiting lateral movement within systems, it reduces the attack surface by up to 70%. Similarly, the integration of Zero Trust with endpoint detection and response (EDR) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems is creating holistic security ecosystems.

Conclusion

The Zero Trust Security market is not merely a trend but a structural shift in how organizations approach cybersecurity. While early adopters in finance and software have laid the groundwork, the real value lies in addressing the gaps within SMEs, healthcare, and manufacturing. Investors who target these underpenetrated sectors-particularly through AI-driven solutions, cloud-native platforms, and identity-centric frameworks-stand to benefit from both market growth and the imperative for regulatory compliance. As the CAGR of 16.2–26.1% underscores, the window to capitalize on this transformation is narrowing.