Zero-trust and Data Breaches: Why the Threat in Europe is Just a Click Away

European companies are increasingly becoming targets of cyberattacks and data breaches. Millions of records are stolen—whether through ransomware, insider threats, or inadequate security measures. The solution? Zero Trust—a security model that leaves traditional defense strategies behind and can prevent data breaches through strict access controls, continuous monitoring, and micro-segmentation.

Notable Data Breaches in Europe: What Companies Must Learn

The following examples illustrate the severity of the situation and how companies become targets for cybercriminals due to insufficient security measures:

• Deezer (2022): 229 million user data leaked—including names, birth dates, and email addresses.
• JobRad: Data breach with stolen customer data, including addresses and birth dates.
• Continental (2022): LockBit hacker group steals a portion of company secrets and data.
• Fortigate: Hackers publish over 15,000 VPN credentials and network configurations.

These cases show: Perimeter security is no longer sufficient. Once attackers gain access, they often have free access to large amounts of data. But how can you better protect against data breaches and the associated dangers? The answer lies in a Zero Trust approach.

What Are the Benefits of a Zero Trust Approach?

This security concept is based on the assumption that threats exist both inside and outside a network. Many companies with Zero Trust implementations report fewer security breaches and significantly reduced incident response times. These results are achieved through continuous verification, strict access policies, and enhanced data protection measures.

Zero Trust as Protection Against Data Breaches

Zero Trust differs from traditional security models as it does not rely on “trusted” network zones. Every request is treated as a potential threat and must be verified.

Specific Zero Trust protection mechanisms could have mitigated the damage for the mentioned incidents:

• Principle of Least Privilege: Only authorized individuals have access to critical data.
• Continuous Authentication: Every access is checked, specifically preventing unauthorized access.
• Micro-segmentation: Networks are divided into isolated areas—ransomware attacks cannot spread unchecked.
• End-to-End Encryption: Even if data is stolen, it remains unreadable.

Zero Trust in Risk Management

This proactive security strategy directly impacts the overall risk profile of companies. According to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average cost of a data breach rose to 4.88 million USD—a 10% increase from the previous year and the highest recorded value to date.

Companies that rely on AI-driven security measures and automation were able to save an average of 2.22 million USD per incident. Additionally, the report shows that security breaches detected internally shortened the lifecycle of a data breach by 61 days and saved companies nearly 1 million USD in additional costs.

These insights underscore that Zero Trust not only improves IT security but also has direct financial impacts. Through continuous verification and monitoring of critical resources, Zero Trust minimizes security gaps and operational disruptions, reduces reputational risks, and ensures a more resilient IT infrastructure. Zero Trust thus becomes an indispensable component in risk management and a crucial factor in reducing business risks. 

How Zero Trust Reduces Business Risks

Reducing security risks is a crucial factor in minimizing business risks. Companies must proactively implement security strategies to identify and mitigate potential threats. By focusing more on cybersecurity and security protocols, companies can strengthen their resilience and increase the trust of customers and investors.

This is especially true in the context of Zero Trust, where the systematic reduction of security risks through continuous verification and strict access controls directly contributes to the reduction of business risks. Implementing such controls not only protects sensitive data but also ensures business continuity and reduces potential financial losses from cyberattacks. The structured approach of Zero Trust allows companies to view security as a strategic business factor, not just a technical necessity.

How Can a Zero Trust Architecture Help in Risk Management?

The Zero Trust architecture strengthens risk management by requiring continuous authentication and verification. Trust is never implicitly granted; every access is questioned and validated. This minimizes the attack surface and protects sensitive data from internal and external threats, leading to a more robust security strategy for companies.

Why Zero Trust is Important in Third-party Cyber Risk Management 

Finally, in the age of interconnected value chains, security risk extends far beyond a company’s own boundaries. External threats often arise from vulnerabilities in the supply chain—whether through compromised software updates, inadequately secured cloud services, or insufficient security standards among business partners. Zero Trust therefore demands and enables the constant review and authentication of all external access points to minimize security gaps from third parties.

While traditional security models classify partners and suppliers as trustworthy after a one-time check, Zero Trust implements ongoing controls: Every access is verified, every activity logged, and every connection monitored—regardless of how long the business relationship has existed. This consistent monitoring of external interfaces has led to a reduction in successful attacks via third parties for companies with extensive supplier networks.

However, while securing against external threats from business partners is an essential aspect of the Zero Trust model, an equally critical source of danger must not be overlooked: the threats that come from within the company itself.

Insider Threats: When the Danger Comes from Within

While companies continuously improve their defenses against external cyberattacks, one danger often remains in the shadows: Insider Threats. Individuals with legitimate access rights—including employees, service providers, or partners—can unintentionally or deliberately become security risks.

Particularly insidious are social engineering attacks and intimidation attempts, where employees are manipulated or pressured to disclose sensitive company data or access it without authorization. If overly extensive access rights are also granted, the risk increases significantly. Attackers then find it easy to use employees as unwitting accomplices for data theft or sabotage.

How Does Zero Trust Protect Against Insider Threats?

• Least Privilege: Every user only has access to what they truly need.
• Continuous Monitoring: Suspicious activities are detected in real-time.
• Behavioral Analysis through AI: Unusual user behavior (e.g., large data queries outside working hours) is automatically flagged.

Unlike traditional security models, which often rely on trust within corporate boundaries, Zero Trust treats internal and external access with equal care. This holistic approach creates an important foundation for comprehensive corporate security at a time when insider attacks are among the fastest-growing cyber threats.

Zero Trust in Practice: First Steps for Companies

A robust Zero Trust strategy can lay the foundation for a successful security strategy. The practical implementation takes place in three essential steps:

1. Inventory & Strategy for Zero Trust Implementation

• Which systems and data are particularly worth protecting?
• Who needs access to which information?

This fundamental analysis forms the foundation of any successful Zero Trust implementation.

2. Implement Zero Trust Security Measures

• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) for all accesses
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for secure work without traditional VPNs
• Data Encryption consistently introduced (for both stored and transmitted data)
• Micro-segmentation: Divide the network into smaller, isolated zones

3. Continuous Monitoring & Automation with Zero Trust Solutions

• Log Analysis & Monitoring: Early detection of suspicious activities
• AI-driven Threat Detection: Automatic identification of anomalies

Conclusion: Zero Trust – The Essential Foundation for Cybersecurity and Resilience

The days when companies could rely on traditional security models are over. Zero Trust should no longer be an optional concept—it is much more the only effective strategy against modern cyber threats. Given the ever-increasing number of data breaches and insider threats, a paradigm shift in IT security is essential.

Companies that invest in Zero Trust now not only strengthen their defenses against attacks but also protect their business continuity, reputation, and regulatory compliance. Waiting until the next security incident occurs is acting too late—and risks the loss of sensitive data, high financial damage, and lasting loss of trust.

The decision is clear: Zero Trust is not just a security measure but a strategic necessity for a resilient digital future.

Kiteworks: Zero Trust for Maximum Protection of Sensitive Data

The successful transition to a Zero Trust security model requires a structured approach that goes beyond classic network security. Data classification, identity-based access controls, encryption, continuous monitoring, and cloud security are essential building blocks to effectively protect sensitive information, prevent unauthorized access, and consistently meet regulatory requirements. A proactive Zero Trust strategy ultimately offers not only protection but also the necessary resilience and agility for a secure digital future.

Kiteworks applies Zero Trust where it matters: directly at the data. Instead of relying solely on network boundaries, Kiteworks offers a Zero Trust Data Exchange Platform that authenticates every access, encrypts every transmission, and monitors every interaction—regardless of where the data is located. With Kiteworks’ features, the protection of sensitive information is ensured throughout its entire lifecycle.

• Comprehensive encryption of all data at rest and in transit with AES-256 technology
• Granular access controls with dynamic policies that adapt based on user behavior and data sensitivity
• Automated compliance checks for regulatory requirements like GDPR, BDSG, and industry-specific standards
• Detailed logging of all access attempts with AI-driven anomaly detection and real-time threat response
• Ownerless editing without local file storage for secure document collaboration

By adopting Kiteworks’ data-driven Zero Trust model, you can reduce your attack surface, ensure compliance with data protection regulations, and protect sensitive content against evolving cyber threats.

The Private Content Network from Kiteworks offers sophisticated access controls that combine granular permissions with Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and ensure that every user and device is thoroughly verified before accessing sensitive information. Through strategic micro-segmentation, Kiteworks creates secure, isolated network environments that prevent lateral movement of threats while maintaining operational efficiency.

Furthermore, end-to-end encryption protects data both during transmission and at rest with powerful encryption protocols like AES 256 Encryption and TLS 1.3. Finally, a CISO Dashboard and comprehensive audit logs provide extensive monitoring and logging capabilities, giving companies complete transparency over all system activities and enabling rapid response to potential security incidents.

For companies seeking a proven Zero Trust solution that makes no compromises on security or usability, Kiteworks offers a compelling solution. To learn more, schedule a personalized demo today.