As digital ecosystems grow more complex and cyberattacks become more sophisticated, a seismic shift is reshaping enterprise security strategies: the Zero Trust model, rooted in the principle of “never trust, always verify,” dismantles the outdated assumption that anything within an organisation’s perimeter is inherently secure.
In today’s cloud-first, hybrid-work, API-connected reality, that perimeter no longer exists. Instead, Zero Trust ensures that every user, device, and application must continuously prove its legitimacy, no matter where it operates from. This model is rapidly taking hold across the Middle East, where businesses are recognising the limitations of legacy defence strategies and the need for proactive, adaptive security.
Beyond the Perimeter: A Shift in Mindset
“At AmiViz, we assume no user or device is trusted by default—even if it’s inside the network,” says Ilyas Mohammed, Chief Operating Officer. “Our model is built around continuous verification, least-privilege access, and micro-segmentation. It dramatically reduces attack surfaces and minimises the chances of insider threats or lateral movement.”
Ilias Tsapsidis, Sales Director for ESET Middle East, Greece, Cyprus & Malta, agrees, emphasising ease of enforcement without added friction: “We’ve designed our solutions to make Zero Trust accessible across the board. Every access point—whether a person or a device—is vetted without compromising operational efficiency.”
Adaptive and Granular by Design
At CyberKnight, Zero Trust is defined through seven core pillars of security. “We go beyond the perimeter to protect assets, users, and interactions at a precision level,” says Chief Strategy Officer Wael Jaber. “Our framework aligns with the Forrester model but tailors enforcement based on specific risk profiles.”
Infoblox’s Krupa Srivatsan, Senior Director of Product Marketing, notes that DNS—a traditionally overlooked layer—must be integrated into the Zero Trust framework. “Protective DNS is critical. We block malicious domains, enforce encryption, and integrate asset intelligence, transforming DNS into a frontline defence asset.”
Meanwhile, Acronis applies Zero Trust through real-time access proxies. “We authenticate every web or SSH request through application-level proxies,” explains Irina Artioli, Cyber Protection Evangelist. “This ensures strong, context-aware control no matter where the user is located.”
Business-Aligned, Not Just Technology-Driven
Christian Reilly, CTO EMEA at Cloudflare, notes the importance of real-time validation: “With Cloudflare One, we’ve eliminated static perimeter concepts. Every request—regardless of origin—is authenticated and authorised every time.”
Zero Trust works best when it integrates seamlessly with business processes. “It’s not just about tools—it’s about securely enabling workflows,” says Morey Haber, Chief Security Advisor at BeyondTrust. “Whether it’s remote access or endpoint privilege management, our implementations are built on NIST guidance for workflow-layered security.”
Securing Emerging Attack Surfaces: APIs and DNS
Modern security gaps often exist where traditional tools have no visibility. Cequence Security’s Mohammad Ismail, VP for EMEA, puts the spotlight on APIs: “APIs are today’s biggest attack surface. We apply AI to detect threats even when they originate from authenticated but malicious sources.”
Similarly, NETSCOUT’s Dr. Emad Fahmy stresses DNS-layer visibility: “We evaluate access requests based on identity, device posture, and contextual risk—whether the user is inside or outside the perimeter. This helps detect lateral movement and anomalies early.”
Compliance-First Access
Zero Trust flips the access model: compliance comes before connection. “Our Software Defined Perimeter deeply checks device posture before granting access,” explains Saif Alrefai, Solutions Engineering Manager at OPSWAT. “We fingerprint over 10,000 apps and integrate tightly with IAM tools.”
Check Point’s Ram Narayanan highlights the AI-powered nature of modern access control: “Our Infinity Platform adapts policies in real time, enabling risk-based access. It’s a sharp departure from static trust assumptions.”
Scalable Security for the Hybrid Age
Zero Trust isn’t one-size-fits-all. It adapts based on organisational needs and digital maturity. Palo Alto Networks customises its Zero Trust architecture for cloud and remote environments. “We apply continuous verification across users, devices, and workloads,” says Tarek Abbas, Senior Director for Technical Solutions in EMEA South. “Nobody is trusted by default—period.”
Fortinet’s Tony Zabaneh frames it as an imperative for dynamic infrastructures. “Whether internal or external, every device and user must be validated. Trust has to be earned with every connection.”
Automation, AI, and Continuous Verification
For CrowdStrike, the power of Zero Trust lies in AI-native architecture. “We validate access requests in real time using cloud-scale AI,” explains Roland Daccache, Senior Manager for Sales Engineering at CrowdStrike MEA . “This not only detects threats quickly, but also ensures businesses don’t lose productivity.”
Finesse Global’s Pradeep Krishnan Nair, VP of IT Security, underscores performance gains: “By implementing context-aware, intelligent authentication, we’ve improved access speed by 40% and reduced support tickets by 60%.”
A Strategic Imperative, Not a Luxury
Across the board, experts stress that Zero Trust is now essential, not optional. It’s not just about security—it’s about resilience, continuity, and long-term digital trust.
ESET’s Ilias Tsapsidis adds: “Behaviour monitoring helps enforce least privilege and detect threats early. Our clients gain better visibility into what’s happening across their digital footprint.”
“At AmiViz, we eliminate implicit trust, enforce least-privilege access, and verify every identity and device continuously,” reiterates Ilyas Mohammed. “This limits lateral movement, shrinks attack surfaces, and strengthens breach prevention.”
AI-Powered Defence: Built-in Intelligence
Dr. Emad Fahmy, Director of Systems Engineering for the Middle East at NETSCOUT, echoes the emphasis on proactive defence: “Validation of every user and device, combined with AI-powered detection, adds a critical layer of resilience to any enterprise.”
AI-driven Zero Trust models deliver measurable results. CyberKnight’s Wael Jaber notes: “We blend AI with analytics to detect threats, protect data, and support secure hybrid work—without slowing operations.”
DNS Security: The New Frontline
DNS often serves as the primary vector in modern cyberattacks. That’s why Infoblox fortifies Zero Trust at this level. “Protective DNS blocks attacker infrastructure before threats spread,” says Krupa Srivatsan, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Infoblox. “Our traffic-flow intelligence and asset visibility enforce Zero Trust at the edge.”
Cloudflare’s Christian Reilly adds another layer of defence: “We deploy post-quantum encryption and monitor all traffic in real time. Data stays protected even against the most advanced threats.”
Safeguarding APIs and Critical Systems
Acronis focuses its Zero Trust efforts on protecting sensitive services and infrastructure. “We proxy all application requests through engines that inspect, authenticate, and enforce granular access,” says Irina Artioli, Cyber Protection Evangelist, Acronis Threat Research Unit. “This ensures robust protection against even advanced threat actors.”
Cequence Security focuses on the API layer—an increasingly common breach vector. “We monitor behaviour, detect anomalies in real time, and surface shadow APIs,” says Mohammad Ismail. “Clients can remediate risk without breaking operations.”
Containment is the New Prevention
While stopping threats is ideal, containing them is essential. “Security incidents are inevitable,” says Morey Haber, Chief Security Advisor at BeyondTrust. “But Zero Trust minimises blast radius by aligning identity, privilege, and posture controls with NIST and DoD frameworks.”
CrowdStrike’s Roland Daccache adds: “Our Falcon Identity Protection detects compromised credentials before they’re weaponised. We enforce policies dynamically, reducing exposure and protecting hybrid systems.”
Strengthening Endpoints, Reducing Exposure
Tony Zabaneh, Director, Systems Engineering, Fortinet, states: “The goal is not just to block threats, but to minimise what they can access if they break in. Zero Trust limits both internal and external exploitation.”
OPSWAT reinforces endpoint hardening with a multilayered strategy. “We automate vulnerability management, use 20+ malware engines, and deploy anti-keylogging tools,” says Saif Alrefai. “We even hide resources to reduce DDoS risk.”
Compliance, Continuity, and Competitive Advantage
Check Point views Zero Trust as both a regulatory asset and a security strategy. “Our platform continuously adapts to evolving compliance needs and threats,” says Ram Narayanan, Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, Middle East. “That ensures protection and business continuity.”
Palo Alto Networks ensures organisations stay audit-ready. “Our real-time enforcement delivers consistent compliance, reduced data risk, and peace of mind,” says Tarek Abbas.
And at Finesse Global, the benefits are tangible. “We improve security and user experience simultaneously,” concludes Pradeep Krishnan Nair. “Micro-segmentation, 24/7 validation, and intelligent access combine risk reduction with measurable performance gains.”
Trust is Earned—Every Time
In a world of borderless networks, evolving threats, and hyperconnectivity, Zero Trust has become a foundational pillar of cybersecurity. It demands that businesses assume breach, continuously verify everything, and protect every digital interaction with precision and intelligence.
As these regional and global leaders have shown, Zero Trust isn’t a trend—it’s the future. And in this future, trust isn’t granted. It’s verified—again and again.