Zero Networks, a provider of zero trust security solutions, has introduced a new segmentation capability designed to block lateral movement during attacks against operational technology (OT) systems. This important capability, built into Zero Networks Segment, a key component of Zero Networks’ integrated Zero Trust platform, significantly reduces the risk of ransomware attacks for industries that are highly reliant on OT devices, including manufacturing, healthcare, oil and gas, transportation, and utilities.
According to reports, manufacturing was the top industry affected by ransomware in 2023. Additionally, a May 2024 fact sheet published by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) found that threat groups are increasingly targeting the OT systems of critical infrastructure providers. In particular, in these two sectors, the risk of disruption to business continuity and potential danger to the public makes these companies highly likely to pay hackers’ extortion demands.
“Historically, it has been very difficult and expensive to segment OT, and given how easily these devices can be hacked, OT-heavy sectors like global manufacturing and critical infrastructure face major security challenges.” Said “Our new OT segmentation capabilities make organizations that use and rely on OT devices more secure than ever before,” said Benny Rachnishok, CEO of Zero Networks. “We’re reducing the OT attack surface, making it impossible for attackers anywhere in the world to do any damage, even if they manage to infiltrate a network or obtain privileged user credentials.”
Zero Networks’ microsegmentation solutions are agentless, automated and powered by MFA to effectively protect critical resources, defend against advanced attacks and enable cybersecurity compliance while reducing operational costs and complexity.
The platform was recently validated by independent analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG), which detailed how Zero Network Segment creates a secure micro-perimeter around an organization’s network-connected assets, including OT devices, to thwart ransomware and lateral movement attacks. ESG also found that Zero Network saves the average enterprise 87% of the costs they would have spent on traditional firewall-based segmentation, and 75% in cost savings when compared to traditional microsegmentation.