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When Perimeter Defenses Fall: How Dynamic, Persistent Encryption Prevents Catastrophic Data Exposure

We are pleased to invite you to an exclusive webinar:

When Perimeter Defenses Fall: How Dynamic, Persistent Encryption Prevents Catastrophic Data Exposure 

As cyberattacks increasingly bypass firewalls, MFA, and endpoint security, organisations must assume that perimeter breaches will happen.

In this webinar, we explore how incidents like the American Water cyberattack highlight a critical need for data-centric protection.

Learn how dynamic, persistent encryption ensures your sensitive files remain protected, controlled, and unreadable—even if attackers gain access to your systems.

🗓 Date: 16 December 2025, Tuesday
🕒 Time: 3pm – 4pm SGT
💻 Venue: Gotowebinar
🌐 Language: English
👨🏻‍💻 Speaker: Kenneth Lo

Register Now

Hotline (65) 6296 4268 | Email: sales@version-2.com.sg
Website: www.version-2.com.sg | www.v2catalog.com

10 Best Practices to Prevent Ransomware Attacks and Protect Your Business

Proactive defense against ransomware is the single most vital measure organizations can take to safeguard their data, operations, and reputation. As this sophisticated malware continues to advance, exploiting targets across every sector, strengthening cybersecurity defenses and closing common entry points is non-negotiable. This comprehensive guide details the mechanism of ransomware, its vectors, and ten actionable, proven strategies for robust prevention.

Ransomware: Definition and Modern Tactics

Ransomware is malicious software that infiltrates devices or networks, encrypts critical files, and blocks access until attackers demand payment—typically in cryptocurrency. Modern variants are far more dangerous: 41% of ransomware families utilize AI-based tools in 2025 to automate phishing and adapt payloads.

Furthermore, Check Point’s Q2 2025 report shows that cybercriminals routinely employ double extortion (encrypting files plus stealing data) and nearly one-third of major incidents involve triple extortion (adding threats like DDoS attacks or public data leaks). Organizations must update defenses to keep pace with these sophisticated, fast-moving operations.

The True Cost of a Ransomware Incident

Ransomware attacks carry consequences far exceeding the ransom itself. The financial fallout is devastating. According to Sophos’s 2024 report, the average recovery cost from a single ransomware attack has surged by 50% in recent years, reaching $2.54 million.

Hidden Costs: Beyond the ransom, organizations face weeks of partial outages, lost revenue, and severe reputational damage. For example, 61% of mid-size manufacturing firms pay between $500,000 and $1,000,000, yet post-incident forensics, system rebuilding, and legal fees make up the bulk of the total cost.

Prevention—through measures like MFA, segmentation, and secure backups—is significantly more cost-effective than recovering from even one incident, potentially saving organizations millions.

How Ransomware Infiltrates Your Network (Infection Vectors)

Ransomware typically exploits organizational networks through one of the following high-risk paths:

  • Malicious Email & Phishing: A user opens a harmful file (e.g., malicious PDF or macro) disguised as a legitimate document from a trusted vendor or colleague.
  • Social Engineering: Threat actors manipulate employees into sharing login credentials or granting access by leveraging psychological tactics like urgency or impersonation.
  • Exploiting Unpatched Vulnerabilities: Attackers scan the internet for known exploits in outdated operating systems or applications, gaining remote code execution with minimal effort.
  • Weak Remote Access (RDP/VPN): Poorly configured RDP or VPN services, often lacking MFA, are brute-forced or credential-stuffed to gain an initial network foothold.
  • Drive-by Downloads: Simply visiting a compromised website can trigger a stealth installation of ransomware or exploit kits, requiring no click or download from the user.
  • Credential Theft: Attackers steal valid credentials via malware or third-party breaches, bypassing perimeter defenses to deploy ransomware broadly.

10 Tested Strategies to Prevent Ransomware Attacks

Strengthen your defenses with these proven best practices:

  • 1. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): The simplest and most effective prevention. MFA ensures that even stolen passwords cannot grant unauthorized access to critical systems.
  • 2. Secure Remote Access with ZTNA: Replace broad VPN access with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) or secure Business VPNs to verify identity and restrict access to the bare minimum required resources. NordLayer supports this critical defense.
  • 3. Backup Data Securely (3-2-1 Rule): Maintain three copies of data, on two different types of media, with one copy offsite or immutable. This is the ultimate last line of defense against paying ransom.
  • 4. Keep Software and Systems Patched: Implement automated patch management and prioritize updates for critical vulnerabilities (CVSS 8+) to close known security gaps that attackers actively exploit.
  • 5. Implement Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems and sensitive data into separate network zones. This prevents ransomware from spreading laterally throughout the entire network if one endpoint is breached.
  • 6. Train Employees on Security Awareness: Human error is the leading cause of infection. Conduct continuous training on identifying phishing, social engineering tactics, and reporting suspicious activity.
  • 7. Deploy Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Use tools that go beyond basic antivirus, capable of detecting sophisticated malware, command-and-control activity, and unusual file behaviors before execution.
  • 8. Implement Strong Password Policies: Enforce long, unique passwords and combine them with MFA to limit attackers’ ability to guess or brute-force accounts. Use password managers to aid compliance.
  • 9. Use Robust Email Security Filters: Stop ransomware at its source by deploying strong filtering, attachment scanning, malicious URL detection, and DMARC/SPF/DKIM policies.
  • 10. Conduct Regular Security Audits: Perform periodic audits and penetration testing to proactively identify weak points, insecure configurations, and risky access rights before cybercriminals find them.

How NordLayer Helps You Prevent Ransomware Attacks

NordLayer provides essential tools that help reduce ransomware risk and strengthen overall security through a unified ZTNA approach:

  • ZTNA Implementation: Enables secure, encrypted remote access via a Business VPN, ensuring only approved and compliant devices can connect.
  • Network Segmentation & Control: Uses Cloud Firewall and access controls to segment networks and severely limit lateral movement.
  • Threat Blocking: Blocks access to malicious websites and detects malware in downloads using DNS Filtering and Download Protection.
  • Policy Enforcement: Enforces consistent access policies and verifies user identity across all devices and locations.

 

About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Network Security Monitoring as a Service (NSMaaS): Enterprise Visibility Without the Overhead

 Until recently, achieving full network visibility was a privilege reserved for large enterprises. Advanced monitoring required significant capital investment, specialized security teams, and lengthy deployment cycles. Today, IT teams, particularly those across Europe, face heightened complexity, limited staff, and growing regulatory pressures. The threat landscape is constant, but the ability to manage it varies widely.

Making Enterprise Visibility Accessible

Managed monitoring changes the operational equation for organizations that cannot afford a dedicated 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC). It provides many benefits similar to SOC as a Service (SOCaaS) but avoids the complexity and infrastructure burden of building a full security function internally.

With technologies like GREYCORTEX Mendel (a Network Detection and Response, or NDR, solution), providers can offer the same depth of insight previously only accessible to major corporations.

The core value is simple: organizations finally gain clarity into what is happening inside their network. They can spot misconfigurations, detect unauthorized connections, and notice the early signs of malicious activity. For many, this is the first time they can verify whether their segmentation and firewall rules are effective against real-world traffic.

How Service-Based Monitoring Works in Practice

This model is exemplified by partners like SOC360 in Poland. They combine Mendel’s deep visibility with their own expert monitoring and response processes, providing predictable costs, quick deployment, and continuous expert oversight.

Key Components of a Managed NDR Service:

  • ✅ Continuous network and log monitoring, providing a constant pulse on system health.
  • ✅ Detection of hidden threats, unauthorized access attempts, and policy violations using behavioral analysis.
  • ✅ Investigation support using historical metadata and full-context analytics for rapid root cause analysis.
  • ✅ Monthly reporting and guidance with clear, actionable recommendations for IT teams.

For many organizations, this replaces reliance on assumptions and isolated alerts with insights supported by data and clear recommendations.

Scaling Up: Visibility for Mature Security Teams

For larger organizations that maintain their own SOC, the approach shifts. Instead of outsourcing, they integrate GREYCORTEX Mendel directly into their environment. In these setups, deep network visibility becomes a powerful analytical advantage.

In-house SOC teams gain a clear view of device communication, user behavior, and performance trends over time. Crucially, they access historical data that traditional log-centric tools often cannot provide. This depth speeds up investigations, reduces noise, and helps analysts understand not only that something happened, but also how and why it occurred.

Conclusion: Visibility That Fits Any Security Maturity

Network security monitoring proves that meaningful visibility is no longer limited by the size of your security team. Smaller companies gain critical clarity without building a SOC, while mature environments enhance their detection and investigation workflows through deeper network context.

GREYCORTEX Mendel supports both needs: it enables providers to deliver reliable monitoring as a service, and it gives enterprise SOCs the analytical depth required to manage complex infrastructures. The objective remains the same: reduce uncertainty, speed up response, and create a network environment where hidden activity is harder to ignore.

About GREYCORTEX
GREYCORTEX uses advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining methods to help organizations make their IT operations secure and reliable.

MENDEL, GREYCORTEX’s network traffic analysis solution, helps corporations, governments, and the critical infrastructure sector protect their futures by detecting cyber threats to sensitive data, networks, trade secrets, and reputations, which other network security products miss.

MENDEL is based on 10 years of extensive academic research and is designed using the same technology which was successful in four US-based NIST Challenges.

About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

IT Operations Management (ITOM): The Silent Backbone

2025-12-11   IT Operations Management (ITOM) is the technical backbone ensuring IT infrastructure is stable, available, and efficient. It focuses on monitoring, automation, capacity planning, and configuration management (CMDB). By proactively detecting and resolving issues before users notice, ITOM complements ITSM and is rapidly evolving toward AIOps for smarter, data-driven automation.

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Zero-Trust VDI for Trading Floors: Meet SEC 17a-4 with Browser-Native Desktops

Capital markets operate under the harshest interdiv of regulatory scrutiny, cyber risk, and real-time performance requirements. Trading floors must simultaneously ensure sub-10 ms latency, enforce strict segregation of duties, store records immutably, and prevent any leakage of sensitive market data—whether traders are working on-premises, at home, or in regulated international environments.

Traditional VDI and physical trading towers were never designed for this landscape. They assume trusted networks, trusted devices, and perimeter firewalls—models that no longer match the way trading firms operate. In 2025, regulatory agencies expect firms to adopt Zero-Trust principles, enforce strict identity governance, and produce immutable audit evidence on demand.

Browser-native desktops running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) provide a direct path to achieving this. They eliminate the endpoint as a threat vector, record sessions immutably, centralize policy enforcement, and store all regulatory evidence in WORM form. For CISOs and compliance leaders, this architecture simplifies what was previously a patchwork of tools and controls into a single, governable system.

To understand the architecture powering browser-native trading desktops, start with our foundational guide.

Why Zero-Trust Matters in Trading Environments

Trading floors remain one of the highest-value targets for cyber-attacks. Sophisticated adversaries are now specifically exploiting unmanaged home networks, personal devices, and VPN tunnel exposures. A compromised trader laptop is not simply an IT issue—it can lead to unauthorized trades, leaked models, or regulatory violations.

Zero-Trust VDI removes trust from the endpoint entirely. Every session is authenticated, authorized, segmented, monitored, and recorded, regardless of the user’s location. Nothing on the device has privileged access. No data ever lands on the endpoint. Every action is captured for compliance.

Thinfinity’s browser-native protocol and OCI’s defense-in-depth controls create a hardened pathway for financial workloads: low-latency, high-fidelity, and compliant by design.

How Browser-Native Desktops Achieve Zero-Trust

Zero-Trust is not a feature—it is an operational model. Browser-native desktops on OCI enforce this model through five architectural principles that traditional VDI cannot replicate.

  1. Endpoints Carry Zero Data
    Because all rendering is performed through WebGL and HTML5 canvas, the endpoint receives only encrypted pixels. No files, credentials, or cached artifacts are ever present locally. Lost or compromised devices become irrelevant to risk assessment.
  2. Sessions Are Recorded and Stored Immutably
    Every trader session is captured as an MP4 with correlated log metadata. OCI Object Storage WORM ensures these recordings cannot be altered, overwritten, or deleted before their retention period expires. This directly satisfies requirements under SEC 17a-4(f), FINRA 4511, and CFTC 1.31(b).
  3. Policy Enforcement Is Centralized in the Cloud
    Role-based access control defines exactly which applications, data sets, market-data sources, and execution systems a trader can access. No policy exists at the device level—everything is authenticated and enforced from the cloud, reducing regulatory drift and shadow-IT exposure. [Image of Zero-Trust Architecture illustrating centralized policy enforcement]
  4. Identity Is Federated Through SAML or OIDC
    Identity becomes the new perimeter. Traders authenticate using the firm’s enterprise identity provider, MFA, and device posture checks. This removes password sprawl, eliminates local credential exposure, and provides a consistent control plane across jurisdictions.
  5. Network Paths Are Outbound-Only
    Thinfinity connects resources using outbound reverse connections. There are no inbound firewall holes, no exposed RDP ports, and no VPN tunnels to compromise. This architecture maintains Zero-Trust at the network edge without sacrificing performance.

Meeting SEC, FINRA, and CFTC Requirements

Most financial institutions still maintain a web of tools to satisfy evidentiary, retention, and reporting obligations. Browser-native VDI consolidates these requirements into a single audit pipeline.

Immutable Storage (WORM) — SEC 17a-4(f)

OCI Object Storage WORM guarantees that no session recording, audit log, or encryption key can be altered or removed during the mandated retention period. This satisfies non-rewrite, non-erase mandates without specialized appliances.

Recordkeeping Integrity — FINRA 4511

Every workspace interaction is time-stamped, signed, and indexed. Data lineage becomes deterministic, producing standardized evidence files ready for FINRA reviews or internal audit.

Books and Records — CFTC 1.31

Browser-native desktops generate structured logs and tamper-proof session evidence that meets CFTC requirements for electronic records, metadata completeness, and accessibility.

Browser-native VDI does not approximate compliance—it achieves it by design.

Blueprint: Zero-Trust VDI for a Trading Floor (90 Days)

A Zero-Trust trading floor is not a multi-year transformation. Most firms complete the transition within 90 days using the following model:

  1. Phase 1: Establish the OCI landing zone, identity federation, network segmentation, and Cloud Guard baselines.
  2. Phase 2: Build the hardened golden image including Bloomberg, Eikon, Excel libraries, market data entitlements, and internal tools.
  3. Phase 3: Deploy Thinfinity dual gateways, autoscaling GPU pools, and WORM storage policies.
  4. Phase 4: Pilot with a 50-trader group under compliance observation.
  5. Phase 5: Expand to full production with standardized controls across all desks and jurisdictions.

This creates a verifiable, compliant, and inspectable environment that regulators immediately understand and trust.

Zero-Trust as a Competitive Advantage

In capital markets, security and compliance are not abstract mandates—they influence trade execution reliability, time-to-market, talent retention, and the ability to operate across global jurisdictions. A Zero-Trust desktop model built on browser-native delivery gives firms a competitive edge by combining security, operational discipline, and low latency in one architecture.

The shift away from physical trading towers is no longer only about efficiency; it is about building an environment where compliance, auditability, identity governance, and performance coexist without compromise. Browser-native desktops make that possible.

About Cybele Software Inc.
We help organizations extend the life and value of their software. Whether they are looking to improve and empower remote work or turn their business-critical legacy apps into modern SaaS, our software enables customers to focus on what’s most important: expanding and evolving their business.

About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Why Real-Time Log Encryption Is Now Essential

2025-12-09  Real-time log encryption is now essential because logs contain sensitive data and serve as blueprints for sophisticated attackers like APTs and ransomware groups. Following incidents like the Salesforce third-party breach, organizations must treat logs as critical assets requiring protection from the moment they’re created. This proactive approach, exemplified by solutions like Penta Security’s D.AMO, neutralizes damage if storage is compromised and enhances threat detection by preventing attackers from analyzing unencrypted system architecture and account patterns.

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Feature Creep in Backup: Evolution or Escape Strategy?

The backup industry is currently facing an identity crisis. Some vendors are heavily investing in security features, others are pivoting toward comprehensive data management, and still others are attempting to be an all-in-one solution. Storware is taking a deliberate approach, choosing to focus intensely on executing one core function: fast, reliable recovery.

When Success Breeds Complexity: A Cautionary Tale

A classic example of feature creep is the popular disc-burning program, Nero Burning ROM. It initially excelled due to its high specialization. However, the manufacturer gradually added non-core features like video editing and file conversion. This expansion made the software cumbersome and bloated, obscuring its original, intuitive utility for users who only needed basic functions.

This phenomenon—feature creep—is widespread in IT. Research confirms that approximately 80% of features in the average software product are rarely or never used. Furthermore, Gartner estimates that I&O leaders will overspend $750 million on unused ITSM tool features by 2023. This bloat creates complexity, higher maintenance costs, and market opportunities for more specialized competitors.

The Market Reality: Evolution or Desperation?

The enterprise backup and recovery market grew by 5.1% in 2023, yet 2024 has been defined by aggressive consolidation. Major players like Cohesity, Veeam, and Commvault are acquiring competitors to rapidly expand their product scope. For C-level executives, this raises a crucial question: Is this consolidation creating genuine value, or is it a desperate attempt to stay relevant in a specialized landscape?

Data Management: Genuine Transformation or Marketing Makeover?

A contentious trend is the positioning of traditional backup vendors as data management leaders. While backup vendors possess strong knowledge of storage and recovery, true data management requires a completely different level of specialization, encompassing governance, data lineage, compliance, and cataloging.

True credibility depends on evidence: Did the vendor build genuine new capabilities, or just rebrand old functions? Mergers and acquisitions are a natural strategic move, but there is no guarantee that acquired technology is scalable or compatible. Some critics suggest the shift from backup to data management is primarily an escape route—a scramble for survival in a market increasingly favoring specialists.

Cybersecurity and Backup: Together or Separate?

The rise of ransomware dramatically changed the relationship between backup and security. Attackers shifted their strategy to not only encrypt production data but also to compromise backup copies, making ransom demands far more effective.

The scale is alarming: 94% of attacked companies confirm hackers attempted to destroy or damage their backups. When backups are compromised, the median ransom demand jumps from $1 million to $2.3 million. Veeam research confirms 89% of attacks target the repository.

The Industry Response and The Blurring Line

In response, storage vendors have introduced immutable snapshots, WORM (Write Once, Read Many) functions, and “air gap” physical isolation. Gartner forecasts that by 2028, 100% of enterprise-class storage systems will standardly offer these active defense elements.

Some backup manufacturers are now merging backup and threat detection tools onto one platform. This is often driven by financial considerations, aiming to tap into the massive global information security market (expected to reach $292 billion by 2028).

The Case for Integration Over Consolidation

Critics argue that cybersecurity must focus on prevention, while backup’s sole role is restoration. Storware maintains that a much better solution is logical system integration—allowing specialized tools to communicate (e.g., integrating backup with SIEM/threat detection platforms)—while maintaining physical separation for independent backup storage. This hybrid model allows comprehensive protection without sacrificing technical excellence.

The Real Cost of Feature Creep

The financial impact of feature creep goes beyond development. Developers spend an average of 17.3 hours per week dealing with bad code and errors, plus 13.5 hours per week on technical debt. For enterprises, this translates to:

  • Delayed time-to-market (projects experiencing delays of 6 months or more).
  • Increased operational complexity (requiring larger IT teams and extensive training).
  • Higher total cost of ownership (bloated systems demand more resources).

During a ransomware attack, organizations with complex, feature-laden backup systems face longer recovery times, difficulty verifying backup integrity, and an increased attack surface for criminals to exploit.

The Path Forward: Specialized Excellence

The backup industry stands at a crossroads. Vendors who chase every trend risk becoming bloated and ineffective. Storware believes in the path of specialized excellence: delivering the core function—fast and recoverable backup—in a lightweight, efficient, and scalable manner.

Key Takeaways for C-Level Executives

  • Market Consolidation Signals: The 2024 wave of backup vendor M&A activity (Cohesity, Veeam, Commvault) suggests market uncertainty. Evaluate if an acquisition strategy genuinely creates value or merely adds complexity.
  • The Ransomware Business Case: With 94% of attacks targeting backups, backup resilience is a board-level financial risk. Focus on making backups untouchable.
  • The Hidden Tax of Bloatware: Organizations waste $750 million annually on unused software features. Complexity you don’t need is cost you shouldn’t bear.
  • Integration vs. Consolidation: Prioritize integration of specialized tools (SIEM talking to backup) over full consolidation into an all-in-one vendor. Maintain specialized excellence.
  • Recovery as Strategic Priority: Focus on recovery capabilities (RTOs, RPOs, and validated testing) over long feature lists. Simplicity and reliability trump bloat every time.

 

About Storware
Storware is a backup software producer with over 10 years of experience in the backup world. Storware Backup and Recovery is an enterprise-grade, agent-less solution that caters to various data environments. It supports virtual machines, containers, storage providers, Microsoft 365, and applications running on-premises or in the cloud. Thanks to its small footprint, seamless integration into your existing IT infrastructure, storage, or enterprise backup providers is effortless.

About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Defense in Depth for the Modern Enterprise: Evolving Strategies for Hybrid Environments

Key Highlights (Fast Takeaways for Security Leaders)

  • Hybrid environments create blind spots. This article shows the exact gaps attackers exploit in cloud, on-premises, and remote access workflows.
  • Identity is now the strongest control point. You will learn how Zero Trust, MFA, and unified access policies immediately reduce credential-based breaches.
  • Endpoints expose the most risk. The article explains how XDR and Endpoint Privilege Management block lateral movement and protect credentials on mobile devices and laptops.
  • Network access needs tighter control. You will see how ZTNA, segmentation, and Remote PAM limit attacker movement inside hybrid networks.
  • Automation is now required for fast response. The article shows how AI-driven detection and SOAR reduce containment time from days to seconds.

 

Why Traditional Defense in Depth Needs a Modern Overhaul

The Change Healthcare cyberattack in February 2024—the largest healthcare data breach in U.S. history—serves as a perfect example of modern failure. Attackers used stolen credentials on a remote access server that lacked multi-factor authentication, then moved laterally through legacy systems. The response cost $2.87 billion, demonstrating that while Defense in Depth (DiD) remains essential, it must evolve dramatically for hybrid environments.

Traditional DiD assumed clear network perimeters, but two fundamental changes have shattered this model:

The Vanishing Perimeter: Distributed Workloads and Users

The perimeter has vanished due to hybrid cloud adoption (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and accelerated remote work. Employees access corporate resources from untrusted home networks and public Wi-Fi, creating an “everywhere workforce.” This scatters the attack surface across cloud platforms, mobile endpoints, and IoT devices, leaving enterprises with no single perimeter to defend.

Evolving Threat Actor TTPs Targeting Hybrid Weaknesses

Attackers now exploit seams and gaps in hybrid environments. They enter through the least secure component (e.g., a SaaS account) and pivot to attack on-premises servers. Multi-cloud complexity often leaves security controls fragmented, a vulnerability attackers quickly exploit.

 

Core Tenets of a Modernized DiD Security Model

Principle 1: Assume Breach, Implement Zero Trust & Strong MFA

The philosophy must shift from implicit trust to explicit verification everywhere. Your modern DiD must operate on an “assume breach” mindset and design controls accordingly. This is the essence of Zero Trust Architecture. Identity replaces network location as the primary control plane, making Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) non-negotiable for all users.

[Image of Zero Trust Architecture diagram with Identity as the central control plane]

Principle 2: Comprehensive Visibility Across All Environments

Achieving a “single pane of glass” to correlate events from cloud workloads, SaaS apps, on-premises servers, and endpoints is critical. Fragmented monitoring leads to missed threats and delayed incident response. You must invest in tools that break down security silos and extend your SIEM to ingest logs from all domains.

Principle 3: Data-Centricity – Protecting What Matters Most

Modern DiD prioritizes protecting the data itself, not just the infrastructure around it. The solution is a data-centric security strategy: first classify critical data, then apply multiple protective layers as close to the data as possible throughout its lifecycle. This includes strong encryption, tokenization, and rigorous access controls, ensuring that the data remains protected even if other layers fail.

Principle 4: Automation and Orchestration

Automation and orchestration are critical to enforce security policies consistently and respond rapidly. A modern DiD architecture leverages technology to connect layers so they operate as a coordinated whole. The endgame is an autonomic security posture that reacts to cyber threats in seconds, not days, by orchestrating containment actions across the hybrid infrastructure.

 

Re-Architecting Your Layers: Actionable Strategies

Foundation Phase: Identity, Access, and Endpoint Security

  • Identity Management: Deploy a cloud-native Identity Provider and establish comprehensive Privileged Access Management (PAM) with just-in-time elevation. Next-gen PAM platforms like Segura® reduce unnecessary standing privileges and apply consistent technical controls.
  • Endpoint Security: Deploy Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM) for all devices (laptops, smartphones). Maintain aggressive patch management and implement Mobile Threat Defense.
  • Secure Network Fabric: Replace broad VPN access with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). Implement micro-segmentation to prevent lateral movement and extend Remote PAM for external users.

Protection Phase: Application, Data, and Physical Security

  • Application and API Security: Embed automated security testing into DevSecOps pipelines. Deploy Web Application Firewalls and API gateways to monitor all requests and implement Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP).
  • Data-Centric Protection: Use automated data discovery and classification. Deploy strategic encryption (including confidential computing) and use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to monitor data movement.

Intelligence Phase: Automated Detection and Culture

  • AI-Powered Threat Detection: Deploy AI-powered SIEM platforms that aggregate logs from all environments. Implement Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) tools to trigger coordinated containment actions.
  • Security-Aware Culture: Build continuous security awareness that addresses hybrid work realities (securing home networks, recognizing social engineering).

 

Conclusion: The Strategic Next Steps

Implementing DiD in the modern enterprise requires rethinking safeguards to fit a world without perimeters, with identity and data at the center, and with automation woven throughout.

Segura®’s comprehensive PAM platform provides the cornerstone for modern Defense in Depth, offering the complete privileged access lifecycle with significantly faster deployment than traditional solutions. By addressing multiple DiD protections simultaneously, Segura® dramatically reduces infrastructure requirements.

 

About Segura®
Segura® strive to ensure the sovereignty of companies over actions and privileged information. To this end, we work against data theft through traceability of administrator actions on networks, servers, databases and a multitude of devices. In addition, we pursue compliance with auditing requirements and the most demanding standards, including PCI DSS, Sarbanes-Oxley, ISO 27001 and HIPAA.

About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Scale Computing Leads the Way in Server Virtualization and Hyperconverged Infrastructure in G2’s Winter 2026 Report

Austin, Texas – December 4, 2025 – Scale Computing, the leader in edge computing and network solutions, proudly announced today that the company has been awarded a total of 42 badges in the G2 Winter 2026 Report.

Scale Computing received 18 badges in the Server Virtualization category and an additional 24 badges in the Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) category. Accolades included distinctions for Fastest Implementation, Best Support, and Best Usability. The G2 platform, the world’s largest software marketplace for peer reviews, features over 80 million users.

Customer-Driven Recognition and Innovation

“We are honored to have earned 42 badges in G2’s Winter 2026 report–a clear reflection of our commitment to customer success and our team’s dedication to relentless innovation of the Scale Computing HyperCore™ virtualization suite,” said Craig Theriac, vice president of product management, Scale Computing.

“Our customers trust Scale Computing as a leading VMware alternative because our solutions streamline IT infrastructure management, ensure maximum application uptime, and significantly lower costs, delivering scalable IT infrastructure from the data center to the edge. We’re proudly enabling organizations everywhere to simply and securely deploy and manage AI workloads where real-time decision-making, low-latency processing, and operational simplicity are critical. G2 badges are rooted in genuine customer feedback, confirming that our solutions are meeting real-world needs. We sincerely thank every customer whose review helped make this recognition possible. Your experiences drive us forward.”

[Image of Scale Computing HyperCore platform architecture diagram]

The Edge-First Advantage and Product Portfolio

As the industry’s largest edge-first software company, Scale Computing offers a comprehensive suite of solutions built for customers of all sizes, across up to 100,000 locations:

  • Scale Computing Platform™ (SC//Platform™): An edge computing solution that combines simplicity and scalability, offering an easy-to-manage solution that replaces complex infrastructure and ensures high availability for workloads.
  • Zero-Touch Provisioning™: A feature within Scale Computing Fleet Manager™ that simplifies managing edge computing infrastructure to the level of managing cloud resources.
  • Scale Computing Reliant Platform™: An Edge Computing as a Service offering that is hardware- and cloud-agnostic, empowering multi-site businesses to manage applications, networks, and security controls at scale.
  • Scale Computing AcuVigil™: Managed network services that provide visibility of all network devices and deliver local computing power for remote network updates and troubleshooting.

Customer Feedback: Simplicity and Reliability

G2 reports are based on authentic customer reviews, providing tailored insights for buyers. The following review highlights the tangible benefits experienced by users:

“What a breath of fresh air coming from a VMWare environment – now I have instant snapshots, really fast VM replication and no datastores to manage because Scale manages them for me. One big memory and data storage pool to provision from, all thin provisioned – and the SSD tiering all completely automatic. You just set it and forget it. The Management GUI is so simple my Mum could use it. The support is exceptionally good. The API integration is fantastic. The implementation and VM migration was amazing and simple…I have not found any downside as yet – after 4 years it just works, not one glitch or failure.”

— Mike R., Director, Mid-Market, and G2 Platform User

Summary of Awards

Scale Computing was recognized across several categories, including:

Fastest Implementation Best Support Best Usability Leader in Server Virtualization Leader in HCI

Read what other real users have to say about Scale Computing on G2’s Scale Computing page. The entire list of 42 badges awarded to the company in G2’s Winter 2026 Report is available on Scale Computing’s website.

About Scale Computing
Scale Computing is a leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions. Scale Computing HC3 software eliminates the need for traditional virtualization software, disaster recovery software, servers, and shared storage, replacing these with a fully integrated, highly available system for running applications. Using patented HyperCore™ technology, the HC3 self-healing platform automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time, enabling applications to achieve maximum uptime. When ease-of-use, high availability, and TCO matter, Scale Computing HC3 is the ideal infrastructure platform. Read what our customers have to say on Gartner Peer Insights, Spiceworks, TechValidate and TrustRadius.

About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.