Zero Trust No Longer Optional

Jan. 12, 2026

Your antivirus software is designed to recognize threats it has seen before. It maintains a database of known malware signatures and blocks files that match. This approach worked reasonably well when new malware variants emerged slowly and attackers relied on recognizable payloads.

That world no longer exists.

Ransomware now accounts for 44% of all data breaches, according to recent industry research. Attackers deploy new variants faster than signature databases can update, and many modern attacks don't use traditional malware files at all. Instead, they exploit legitimate tools already installed on your systems, a technique known as living off the land. When an attacker uses PowerShell or Windows Management Instrumentation to encrypt your files, your antivirus sees a trusted Microsoft application doing its job.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the FBI have all published guidance emphasizing that detection-based security is no longer sufficient. Their #StopRansomware Guide specifically recommends application allowlisting and Zero Trust architecture as primary defenses.

What Zero Trust Actually Means

Zero Trust is a security philosophy built on a simple premise: assume nothing is safe until proven otherwise. Traditional security models operated on the idea that anything inside your network perimeter could be trusted. Zero Trust rejects this assumption entirely.

In practical terms, Zero Trust means continuous verification at every level. Users must prove their identity before accessing resources. Devices must demonstrate they meet security requirements. Applications must be explicitly authorized before they can run.

For endpoint protection specifically, Zero Trust flips the traditional model. Rather than trying to identify and block known threats, a Zero Trust approach blocks everything by default and only allows what has been explicitly approved. If ransomware attempts to execute on a protected endpoint, it fails immediately because it was never on the approved list. No signature update required. No behavioral analysis needed. The malicious code simply cannot run.

This approach addresses a fundamental limitation of detection-based security: you can't detect what you've never seen. With Zero Trust, you don't need to.

NIST Definition

The National Institute of Standards & Technology has its own definition of Zero Trust.

"Zero trust (ZT) is the term for an evolving set of cybersecurity paradigms that move defenses from static, network- based perimeters to focus on users, assets, and resources. A zero trust architecture (ZTA) uses zero trust principles to plan industrial and enterprise infrastructure and workflows. Zero trust assumes there is no implicit trust granted to assets or user accounts based solely on their physical or network location (i.e., local area networks versus the internet) or based on asset ownership (enterprise or personally owned). Authentication and authorization (both subject and device) are discrete functions performed before a session to an enterprise resource is established. Zero trust is a response to enterprise network trends that include remote users, bring your own device (BYOD), and cloud- based assets that are not located within an enterprise-owned network boundary. Zero trust focuses on protecting resources (assets, services, workflows, network accounts, etc.), not network segments, as the network location is no longer seen as the prime component to the security posture of the resource."

The Business Case for Zero Trust

The financial impact of ransomware extends far beyond ransom payments. The average ransomware incident costs businesses roughly $5 million when accounting for downtime, recovery efforts, legal fees and reputational damage. The average downtime after an attack is 24 days.

Companies with fully deployed Zero Trust architectures save an average of $1.76 million per breach compared to those without, according to industry data. Beyond cost savings, Zero Trust adoption is accelerating across industries because regulatory frameworks increasingly require it. NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC both emphasize least functionality principles that align directly with application allowlisting. Health care, defense contractors, and financial services firms face particular pressure to demonstrate these controls.

How ThreatLocker Implements Zero Trust

ThreatLocker is a Zero Trust endpoint protection platform that takes a fundamentally different approach than traditional tools. Rather than scanning for threats, ThreatLocker prevents unauthorized software from running in the first place.

Application allowlisting ensures only vetted software can execute. Everything else is blocked by default, including ransomware, cryptominers and unauthorized tools employees might download.

Ringfencing restricts what even approved applications can do. Microsoft Word might be on your allowlist, but Ringfencing can prevent it from launching PowerShell, a common technique ransomware uses to execute payloads. This containment stops attackers from weaponizing legitimate applications through vulnerabilities or fileless attacks.

Elevation control removes standing administrator privileges while still allowing secure, temporary elevation when needed. Excessive user privileges remain one of the most exploited attack vectors, and elevation control addresses this without disrupting workflows.

Storage and network controls govern access to removable media, network shares and inbound traffic. These controls prevent data exfiltration and block lateral movement if an attacker gains initial access.

The platform also provides a unified audit log that records all allowed and denied actions, supporting compliance reporting for frameworks like CMMC, NIST 800-171 and HIPAA.

What This Means for STACK Clients

STACK Cybersecurity has completed the rollout of ThreatLocker Zero Trust endpoint protection and automated third-party software patching for all clients on CyberSTACK and Managed Service Advanced plans. These upgrades are included at no additional cost.

Automated patching addresses another common attack vector: unpatched third-party software. Applications like Adobe products, Zoom, web browsers and other third-party tools now update automatically, eliminating the delays and gaps that come with manual patching. Given that unpatched vulnerabilities cause the majority of breaches, this capability significantly reduces your exposure.

If you're on a CyberSTACK or Managed Service Advanced plan, your systems are already protected. No action is required on your part.

For Clients on Other Plans

Not on a premium plan? ThreatLocker is available as an add-on for all other service tiers. Given the current threat landscape and the limitations of detection-based security, this is worth a conversation.