Strategic partnership to expand zero trust adoption across Europe

Zero Networks and Exclusive Networks have formed a partnership that directly targets one of the biggest challenges facing modern enterprises, effective cybersecurity at scale. Exclusive Networks is now the official distributor of Zero Networks’ solutions across Europe. The focus is simple: expand access to smart, integrated security tools that don’t slow down your business. The partnership centers on deploying Zero Trust, a model that assumes no user or device, inside or outside the network, should be trusted by default. It’s a shift in thinking most businesses know they need, but few have been able to implement without friction.

The Zero Networks platform integrates three capabilities into one system: microsegmentation, identity-based access control, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). These are not checkboxes. They work together to stop attackers from moving inside your network, because once they’re in, lateral movement is what does real damage. This is fast-moving security that learns and adapts in real time. The tech is already in place; it just needs to reach more businesses.

The timing of this push into the UK and Ireland makes sense. These are mature markets with high digital adoption, advancing regulations like GDPR and NIS2, and mounting pressure on enterprises to prove their cybersecurity programs are more than compliance checklists. This partnership addresses that demand with something most security models still lack, speed. Speed in deployment. Speed in scaling. Speed in responding to breaches before they spread.

For context, Zero Networks isn’t a newcomer. They’ve raised over $100 million in funding, including a recent $55 million Series C led by Highland Europe. They’ve grown revenue by more than 300% and tripled their workforce since their last funding round. That pace shows confidence from investors and continued relevance in a noisy market. Now it’s backed by the channel strength of Exclusive Networks, a company with a strong reputation in value-added cybersecurity distribution across Europe.

This is about putting Zero Trust within reach for companies of all sizes, without the delay and complexity that usually comes with it. The partnership has one goal: get cutting-edge security to the businesses that need it, faster. And for leadership teams looking to move beyond reactive security and into proactive resilience, this matters now more than ever.

Accelerated ransomware defense through microsegmentation and adaptive access

Ransomware isn’t slowing down. It’s faster, more frequent, and more disruptive than ever. But with that comes a clear opportunity for smarter defense. Zero Networks is making a strong bet on microsegmentation combined with adaptive access control. The goal is containment, stop an attacker before they can move through your systems. Once this kind of threat spreads, it multiplies its damage. That’s where microsegmentation steps in. It restricts lateral movement. Every internal connection is evaluated. No blind trust. That’s what security should’ve been doing all along.

Tony Hadzima, Vice President of Sales for EMEA and LATAM at Zero Networks, and formerly of Palo Alto Networks, calls this out directly: “Ransomware is costing millions, but it can be contained before damage is done. Microsegmentation is the fastest way to stop ransomware spreading inside a business.” He’s right. Speed of containment is everything. If response time lags, incident costs grow. This layered, identity-driven approach blocks attackers even if they get past firewalls or endpoint defenses. The strength is in how quickly and surgically the network responds.

A survey from Enterprise Management Associates confirms where the market stands: 96% of cybersecurity professionals said they view microsegmentation as “extremely” or “very important” for defense. That’s a near-universal alignment from people responsible for protecting enterprise infrastructure.

For C-suite executives, this is about decision-making clarity. You can’t predict every attack, but you can control how far it reaches. When you deploy microsegmentation in a modern Zero Trust setup, you create real friction for any intruder trying to move across your environment. There’s efficiency in that. It reduces cleanup, insurance claims, reputational damage, and legal risk. You shut down the attacker’s progress path. That’s leverage.

The market is learning this the hard way, with attacks that turn downtime into headlines. The smart move now is to implement defenses that act decisively and run quietly in the background. This partnership between Zero Networks and Exclusive Networks pushes that line of defense out of the boardroom and into every endpoint it needs to protect. Quick deployment, adaptive control, and zero unnecessary complexity. That’s how ransomware loses momentum.

Empowering channel partners for rapid zero trust deployment

Speed of deployment matters. So does scale. That’s why channel partners are at the center of the go-to-market strategy between Zero Networks and Exclusive Networks. This isn’t a passive distribution model. It’s built for velocity, give partners everything they need up front: a unified platform, strong margins, full technical training, go-to-market support, and deployment speed that doesn’t compromise quality. The goal is to cut friction and close the deployment gap that’s slowed zero trust adoption in too many organizations.

The combined offering brings Zero Networks’ identity-based security and microsegmentation directly to partners, with the training, certifications, and pre-sales engineering that let them hit the ground running. This model eliminates the need for long sales cycles or slow onboarding. It’s packaged for performance: plug in, start selling, support fast deployments, earn value. Most importantly, it gives partners something many don’t have access to, real zero trust architecture that’s portable and scalable across industries and customer sizes.

Rob Tomlin, Vice President North Region at Exclusive Networks, highlighted this advantage clearly: “We’re excited to welcome Zero Networks into our cybersecurity portfolio. Their innovative approach to zero trust, particularly their plug-and-play microsegmentation and adaptive access controls, aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver disruptive, effective solutions to our partners.” The alignment is tight: smart tech meets channel-ready execution.

For businesses and decision-makers, this means faster access to security infrastructure that normally takes months to roll out. It also ensures that channel partners aren’t improvising with half-baked toolkits, they’re working with defined processes and support. That makes outcomes consistent across regions and deployments. The backend is already built. Deployment windows shrink. Customer trust grows.

Adam Hofeler, Vice President of Channel at Zero Networks, explained it directly: “Exclusive Networks is a powerhouse in cybersecurity distribution, and we’re thrilled to partner with them to bring our technology to more organisations across Europe.” He’s right. This isn’t about just shipping licenses. It’s ecosystem-building with an infrastructure that can actually support rapid growth.

Boardrooms and executive teams don’t need more complexity in cybersecurity. What they need are systems that scale, that partners can execute without expensive delays, and that bring protection online when it’s actually needed, in real time. This partnership gives the channel that capability. No bloated integrations. Just defined, supported zero trust rollouts at scale.

Regulatory pressures driving adoption of advanced cybersecurity measures

Regulations aren’t moving slowly. In Europe, frameworks like GDPR and NIS2 are evolving fast and pushing security expectations higher. These aren’t suggestions, they’re operational requirements with legal and financial consequences. Enterprises that fail to meet those standards are making themselves vulnerable not only to breaches but also to fines, litigation, and damaged reputations. The market is adjusting, and security strategies have to move with it.

Zero Networks built its platform with this reality in mind. It offers granular access control, segmentation, and real-time visibility into who can do what, and where, inside the network. That kind of control isn’t post-facto, it’s embedded into workflows from the start. The result is a system that doesn’t just check a compliance box, it actively enforces the principles behind the regulations. For CISOs and CTOs, that means shifting from reactive fixes to preventative frameworks that hold up in insurance reviews, audits, and incident reports.

European directors and data protection officers are under pressure to show they’ve done more than install a firewall. They need to prove control over internal network interactions. Zero Networks’ focus on blocking lateral movement inside networks addresses one of the core attack vectors that regulators care about. If an attacker can’t move, the potential impact of a breach shrinks dramatically. That aligns directly with regulatory intent.

For insurers, segmented and identity-based systems signal maturity and risk reduction. That translates into better coverage terms, fewer exclusions, and stronger claims positions. From a board-level lens, this also means tangible business value. Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties, it’s becoming a trust signal for investors and partners, especially as supply chain expectations tighten and vendor evaluations get more technical.

This partnership between Zero Networks and Exclusive Networks is positioned to meet that demand at scale. It gives companies across Europe access to advanced tools without overwhelming internal IT or compliance teams. Deployment speed makes it viable even for organizations racing to meet upcoming deadlines under NIS2. And with Exclusive’s deep market reach and service infrastructure, support is already where it needs to be.

In short, the regulatory bar has been raised, and Zero Networks is architected to meet it. Business leaders don’t need lengthy integration timelines or regulatory guesswork. What they need is targeted, functional control built for today’s risk landscape. This solution delivers that, quickly and with precision.

Key highlights

  • Strategic expansion play: Executives should note the strong alignment between Zero Networks and Exclusive Networks to accelerate Zero Trust adoption in the UK and Europe, leveraging Exclusive’s distribution and Zero Networks’ integrated platform to scale advanced cybersecurity faster.
  • Ransomware requires speed: Leaders must prioritize microsegmentation to contain ransomware before it spreads. With 96% of surveyed professionals calling it critical, it should be a core component of any cyber defense roadmap.
  • Channel partners are growth accelerators: Organizations looking to scale security offerings should structure enablement programs like Zero Networks and Exclusive, offering fast onboarding, support tools, and predictable delivery to drive faster market access.
  • Compliance is a business differentiator: With regulations tightening, decision-makers should treat cybersecurity upgrades as forward-looking investments that support both compliance and insurer expectations, especially in high-regulation markets like the EU.

Alexander Procter

October 6, 2025

8 Min