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USE CASE

Ransomware Defense

Contain ransomware impact by making critical applications and data unreachable by default. Even when attackers get inside.

  • Protect crown‑jewel apps and data from lateral movement and ransomware spread
  • Enforce least‑privilege access for employees, admins, vendors, and machine‑to‑machine traffic
  • Cloak critical services so scanning and “living off the land” yields little value
  • Deploy as a non‑disruptive overlay: no IP renumbering, firewall sprawl, or network surgery
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How Zentera is Used

Ransomware succeeds when compromised identities and endpoints can reach what matters most. Zentera adds a Zero Trust enforcement layer in front of critical applications and data. Attackers may land, but they can’t spread, explore, exfiltrate, or encrypt at scale.

Key Outcomes

  • Containment by design: ransomware incidents stay scoped instead of becoming outages
  • Critical services stay available: enforce access boundaries around “crown jewels” without redesigning networks
  • Faster response, clearer evidence: unauthorized access attempts stand out and can be exported to your SIEM/SOC
  • Protected applications are unreachable by default and exposed only through explicit policy
  • Every connection is verified and authorized (user‑to‑app and app‑to‑app)
  • Virtual Chambers restrict east‑west traffic so one compromised host can’t become many
Rapid Deployment
Zentera architecture diagram
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NIST SP800-207 NIST Cybersecurity Framework CIS Controls
See full architecture

How It Works

1
Deploy

Add a Zero Trust enforcement layer in front of critical apps without redesigning the network - so you can reduce ransomware impact fast.

Stand up the Zentera control plane and onboard the first protected application (start small: 1 app).

Place enforcement where it fits your environment: lightweight endpoint proxy where supportable + inline/agentless enforcement where required; integrate with your IdP and logging pipeline.

2
Define

Decide what “must not go down” first (your crown jewels) and restrict access to only the people and systems that truly need it.

Select 1–3 high-value targets (e.g., file shares, identity services, ERP/finance, sensitive databases) and define the protection boundary per application.

Create initial least-privilege policies: who/what can access each protected app (users, admin roles, vendors, service-to-service), and set a default-deny posture for everything else.

 

3
Learn

Validate real access needs before locking things down, so protection improves without breaking workflows.

Run in observe/detect mode to baseline legitimate access paths into each protected application.
Use learned/suggested policies as a starting point, then review with app owners and security to finalize the allow-list (including exceptions and change workflow).
4
Enforce

Make critical apps unreachable by default so ransomware can’t spread, discover targets, or encrypt/exfiltrate at scale.

Turn on enforcement (default deny) for the protected scope and block unauthorized access attempts before data is exposed.
Use application-centric isolation (Virtual Chambers) to restrict east‑west movement into protected apps and contain blast radius if an endpoint or credential is compromised.
5
Monitor

Treat blocked access attempts as high-signal early indicators of breach, and use reporting to support leadership, insurance, and audit conversations.

Export allow/deny events to SIEM/SOAR and alert on policy violations targeting protected apps (credential misuse, lateral movement attempts).

Operationalize: tune policies as apps change, expand protection app-by-app, and periodically review access posture for “crown jewels.”

At a Glance

Best for

Security teams and IT leaders who need ransomware containment across hybrid environments without slow segmentation projects

Applies to

Hybrid IT (on‑prem + cloud), multi‑site enterprises, M&A integration, third‑party/vendor access, regulated environments

Protects

Business‑critical applications and data (ERP/finance, file stores, databases, identity services, source code repositories, operational applications)

Enables

Application cloaking, least‑privilege access, rapid application microsegmentation, secure vendor/admin access without broad network trust

Components

Universal ZTNA, Virtual Chambers, Overlay Network, zLink connectors

Time to value

First critical application protected in days. Risk reduction compounds as more “crown jewels” are added.

Integrations

Identity providers (SAML 2.0, OAuth/OIDC, LDAP), SIEM/SOAR platforms, asset discovery tools

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Key Outcomes
Major Reduction in reachable attack surface for protected apps
Days to isolate the first critical system
No Network Surgery (no IP renumbering, minimal firewall change)
Full Visibility into allowed + blocked access for protected assets
See all outcomes & KPIs

The Challenge

Ransomware is no longer “a malware problem.” It’s a business disruption model built on stolen credentials, trusted tools, and lateral movement. Even strong detection stacks often alert only after attackers have already mapped the environment and identified where the leverage lives.

The practical question isn’t whether an attacker can get in. It’s whether a compromise can reach your critical applications and data. If high‑value systems remain broadly reachable once trust is compromised, ransomware retains its leverage—encryption, extortion, downtime, and cascading operational impact.

What's at stake: operational downtime, data exfiltration/extortion, regulatory exposure, recovery cost, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust.

Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short

1 EDR/XDR + detection and response
Why it fails

Alerts do not automatically translate into control. Attackers can still move laterally using valid credentials and trusted tools.

Risk created

Response arrives after attackers have already positioned for encryption or exfiltration.

2 VPN + broad internal admin access
Why it fails

VPNs grant network‑level reach; one compromised credential can traverse the environment.

Risk created

Lateral movement becomes easy, fast, and difficult to contain.

3 Network segmentation with VLANs/firewalls
Why it fails

Segmentation projects are slow and brittle: IP changes, rule sprawl, exceptions, and uneven coverage across hybrid environments.

Risk created

Gaps and workarounds create invisible paths that ransomware can exploit.

4 Backups as the primary strategy
Why it fails

Backups help recovery but don’t prevent encryption attempts, exfiltration, or operational disruption.

Risk created

High downtime + extortion leverage persists, especially if attackers target backup systems too.

The Zentera Approach

Zentera assumes compromise and focuses on limiting outcomes. Instead of trusting internal reachability, Zentera enforces access boundaries around what matters most: applications and data.

Virtual Chambers (Containment)

What it does: Isolate critical applications and data with application‑scale microsegmentation and cloaking.
Why it matters: Ransomware can’t spread to protected systems because reachability is removed by default.

Universal ZTNA (Verified Access)

What it does: Verify and authorize every session (user‑to‑app and app‑to‑app) based on identity, role, and policy, both for on-prem and remote sessions.
Why it matters: Compromised credentials don’t translate into broad access.

Overlay Deployment (Speed)

What it does: Deploy as a non‑disruptive overlay across on‑prem, cloud, and hybrid environments.
Why it matters: You can protect crown jewels quickly - before attackers make their move.

Reference Architecture

ransomware-full

This diagram illustrates how Zentera’s enforcement model protects critical applications and data from ransomware by removing implicit reachability and enforcing identity‑ and policy‑based access to protected systems.

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Identity Verification

Users authenticate through existing IdP before accessing any protected applications

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Virtual Chambers

Critical applications and data are wrapped in policy‑enforced chambers that define allowed connections

3

ZTNA Enforcement

Only explicitly authorized users, devices, and applications can establish sessions to protected systems

4

Endpoint / Boundary Enforcement

Lightweight proxies enforce policy where supportable, with agentless/inline options available where required

What Changes

  • Access control moves from “who is on the network” to who is authorized to this application
  • Critical apps become unreachable by default, reducing discovery and lateral movement
  • Ransomware incidents become containable events, not enterprise‑wide outages

What Stays the Same

  • Existing IP addressing, routing, and core network architecture
  • Existing security stack (EDR/SIEM/SOC) — Zentera adds enforcement, it doesn’t replace detection
  • Existing applications and operational processes (no app rewrites required)
See Product Overview

Key Capabilities

Learn normal application behavior first, then move to a tight allow-list posture for critical systems—so protection improves without breaking workflows.

See all allowed and blocked access attempts with actionable context, and export to your SIEM to support governance, compliance, and cyber insurance conversations.

Overlay architecture means rapid rollout across hybrid environments with minimal operational disruption—no IP renumbering, no network surgery, no downtime risk.

 

Make protected applications and data invisible to unauthorized users and compromised endpoints—scanning and "living off the land" reconnaissance yields nothing.

Create application-centric containment boundaries that prevent ransomware propagation and limit blast radius—without VLAN/firewall rule sprawl.

Enforce identity-based, least-privilege policy across remote access, on-prem access, third-party access, and machine-to-machine sessions—no implicit trust anywhere.

Implementation Details

Deployment & Operations

Where it runs Customer‑hosted control plane or SaaS (including authorized partners/MSSPs)
Deployment model Overlay; lightweight proxies where supportable; agentless/inline options where required
Timeline First critical application protected in days; expand by application group over weeks
Ownership Security defines policy; IT/app owners validate allowed flows; operations monitors and tunes

Outcomes & KPIs

Security

Attack Surface reduced for protected apps by removing implicit reachability
Lateral Movement blocked from reaching protected systems by default
Stolen Credentials limited in value, thanks to explicit authorization

Operational

Crown Jewel Isolation Faster vs traditional segmentation
Firewall Exceptions Fewer, with less rule sprawl over time
Policies Clear and auditable; easier to maintain as environments evolve

Business

Ransomware-Driven Outages Lower probability
Cyber Governance Stronger evidence for audit, governance, and insurance reviews
Critical Services Protected without slowing modernization

Proven Results

Agility you just don't have in a traditional infrastructure

Luis Espinoza Sr Manager Siemens

The ability to grant vendors access to specific applications without VPN has transformed how we manage third-party maintenance.

OT Security Director Director of OT Security Energy Company

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