Abstract: A method for continuous “universal” trust (CUT) leverages a core network that manages authentication set-up and continuous trust logic for entities that use the network. During communications through the network, and regardless of source or destination, CUT logic is applied to each entity independently, and without requiring authentication to be done directly between entities that desire to communicate with one another. In a typical implementation involving a user and a service, CUT authenticates both user and service independently. To facilitate both initial and continuous authentication, a CUT engine applies authentication factors to an entity, independently of factors that may be applied by the CUT entity to any other entity that uses the network. In this solution, the CUT engine continues to authenticate and maintain trust between each entity and the core network, irrespective of the underlying communication to be carried out or occurring between the entities themselves.