A method for controlling access of a computing device to a multi-layer network implementing a zero-trust architecture, the multi-layer network comprising a switch and an apparatus for controlling access to a plurality of hierarchical levels of the multi-layer network, the method comprising: receiving, by the apparatus, an access request message at the multi-layer network from the computing device, the access request message including one or more identifiers associated with the computing device for requesting access to the multi-layer network; determining, by the apparatus, a hierarchical penetration level among the plurality of hierarchical levels of the multi-layer network to be assigned to the computing device based on the one or more identifiers within the access request message, wherein determining the hierarchical penetration level to be assigned includes: comparing, by the apparatus, the one or more identifiers of the access request message to a list of known identifiers and corresponding known hierarchical penetration levels associated with the known identifiers, the list stored in a database; and determining, by the apparatus, if the one or more identifiers of the access request message matches with any of the known identifiers in the list; assigning, by the apparatus to the computing device, the corresponding known hierarchical penetration level as the hierarchical penetration level of the computing device if the one or more identifiers of the access request message matches with any of the known identifiers in the list, or assigning a default hierarchical penetration level as the hierarchical penetration level of the computing device if the one or more identifiers does not match with any of the known identifiers in the list; and granting, by the multi-layer network, the computing device access and control privileges for the multi-layer network, the access and control privileges permitting access up to a permitted level of the hierarchical levels of the multi-layer network that corresponds to the hierarchical penetration level assigned to the computing device. receiving, by the apparatus, an access request message at the multi-layer network from the computing device, the access request message including one or more identifiers associated with the computing device for requesting access to the multi-layer network; determining, by the apparatus, a hierarchical penetration level among the plurality of hierarchical levels of the multi-layer network to be assigned to the computing device based on the one or more identifiers within the access request message, wherein determining the hierarchical penetration level to be assigned includes: comparing, by the apparatus, the one or more identifiers of the access request message to a list of known identifiers and corresponding known hierarchical penetration levels associated with the known identifiers, the list stored in a database; and determining, by the apparatus, if the one or more identifiers of the access request message matches with any of the known identifiers in the list; comparing, by the apparatus, the one or more identifiers of the access request message to a list of known identifiers and corresponding known hierarchical penetration levels associated with the known identifiers, the list stored in a database; and determining, by the apparatus, if the one or more identifiers of the access request message matches with any of the known identifiers in the list; assigning, by the apparatus to the computing device, the corresponding known hierarchical penetration level as the hierarchical penetration level of the computing device if the one or more identifiers of the access request message matches with any of the known identifiers in the list, or assigning a default hierarchical penetration level as the hierarchical penetration level of the computing device if the one or more identifiers does not match with any of the known identifiers in the list; and granting, by the multi-layer network, the computing device access and control privileges for the multi-layer network, the access and control privileges permitting access up to a permitted level of the hierarchical levels of the multi-layer network that corresponds to the hierarchical penetration level assigned to the computing device.