How zero trust security is redefining business protection

If there is anything history teaches us, it’s that ignoring hidden vulnerabilities can bring down even the strongest of systems.

Overconfidence in legacy defences blinds organisations to evolving threats, often with devastating results.

The message is clear: without foresight, adaptability, and decisive action, failure is not just possible - it’s inevitable.

With the increased adoption of cloud applications, mobile workforces, and remote access, a new form of cybersecurity protection is required - one that is cloud-native, flexible, and designed to secure the modern workplace.

The high cost of security complacency

The consequences of experiencing a cyber-attack can be financially severe for businesses, with costs arising from data breaches, system downtime, and reputational damage.

In 2017, shipping and logistics firm Maersk experienced a cyber breach that resulted in the shutdown of their operations for over 10 days, leading to direct losses amounting to $300 million. Likewise, the UK healthcare sector encountered over 200 ransomware incidents between 2019 and 2024. These incidents resulted in delayed treatments, disrupted services, significant financial burdens, and diminished public trust.

Furthermore, a recent study conducted by Vodafone Business revealed that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were collectively incurring annual losses of £3.4 billion due to having inadequate cybersecurity measures.

The evolving threat landscape

Businesses can no longer afford to treat cybersecurity as an afterthought. The evolving threat landscape - marked by phishing, ransomware, supply chain attacks, and AI-driven exploits - demands a proactive stance.

With employees accessing corporate networks from various locations, often using personal devices and unsecured Wi-Fi networks, the attack surface for cybercriminals has expanded significantly.

A survey conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce revealed that 70% of businesses have experienced a rise in phishing attacks since adopting remote work practices. These attacks often exploit employees' lack of awareness and the absence of robust cybersecurity protocols in remote settings.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reported an alarming increase in ransomware attacks, with a 25% rise in 2024 compared to the previous year.

According to a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) report, there was a 15% increase in cyber-attacks targeting remote workers in 2023. The report emphasised that SMEs were particularly at risk, with 40% of reported incidents involving businesses with fewer than 250 employees. These findings underscore the urgent need for businesses to adopt robust, advanced and cloud-native cybersecurity measures to protect their remote workforce and secure sensitive data.

The case for zero trust: Security built for the cloud era

As cyber threats become more sophisticated and targeted, traditional security measures struggle to keep pace. This is where a Zero Trust framework steps in, offering a holistic and adaptive approach to protect modern enterprises.

With the rise in remote work, more applications running in the cloud, and the extensive flow of data across various locations and devices, Zero Trust provides a security framework that emphasizes the principle of "never trust, always verify."

By integrating crucial security components such as secure web gateways (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA), Zero Trust ensures the safeguarding of users, devices, and applications across dispersed networks, no matter their location.

With a Zero Trust approach, businesses can mitigate threats in real-time with advanced threat detection and full visibility into user activity, unify security across all endpoints, clouds, and networks, enable secure remote work with identity-based access to applications, and cut costs and complexity by consolidating legacy security tools into a single solution.

Vodafone Business and Zscaler: Trusted together

Vodafone Business has formed a strategic partnership with Zscaler, the leading global cloud security solutions provider, to deliver scalable digital security services. Leveraging Vodafone’s extensive and secure connectivity in conjunction with Zscaler’s Zero Trust Exchange platform, we are equipped to provide Professional and Managed Security Service solutions aimed at safeguarding data, applications, and users.

The cornerstone of this partnership is ‘Vodafone Business Secure Access Gateway’, with Zscaler, underpinned by Zscaler’s ZIA and ZPA Technology an agile, intelligent, and scalable cloud-based platform – ideal for businesses who want to replace their existing outdated security controls with modern, cloud-based services.

Vodafone Business Secure Access Gateway with Zscaler ensures that all internet traffic, whether from fixed or mobile connections, is securely routed through Zscaler’s cloud-native security platform. It provides comprehensive protection by inspecting and filtering traffic in real-time, blocking threats, and preventing data leaks.

The platform provides 3 key capabilities

Secure Access Gateway ZIA: Zscaler Internet Access secures users as they connect to services and applications over the internet, whether it’s general internet access or using Software-as-a-Service applications such as Microsoft 365 or Salesforce.com.

Secure Access Gateway ZPA: Zscaler Private Access secures users as they connect to an organisation’s private services and applications.

Digital Experience Monitoring- Zscaler Digital Experience Monitoring (ZDX) provides real-time visibility into user, device, and application performance, helping businesses proactively detect issues, optimise digital experiences, and boost workforce productivity.

In a time when budgets are under constant scrutiny, cybersecurity must deliver more than risk reduction - it should also contribute to efficiency and value creation. A Zero Trust architecture not only reduces the attack surface and strengthens resilience but also streamlines technology investments by consolidating tools and simplifying management.

Instead of layering multiple products and hoping they work together, organisations should adopt platforms that are designed to integrate security, connectivity, and visibility from the ground up. This not only reduces total cost of ownership but also empowers teams to act more strategically, rather than reactively.

As Nelson Mandela once said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." By embracing a unified approach, businesses can achieve what once seemed unattainable, creating a secure, efficient, and resilient digital environment for all.