Zero Trust and Whitelisting

Managed Security Services

What is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a security framework that states that organisations should not trust any entity inside or outside their perimeter at any time. Organisations must provide the visibility and IT controls needed to secure, manage and monitor every device, user, app, and network used to access business data.

As part of an ongoing effort to ensure all systems are secure, we are now adding a zero-trust approach to your security stack. As attackers become more sophisticated, so do the complexities in stopping software-based threats.

Large governments and other enterprise organisations regularly adopt the techniques and solutions we are implementing. As your managed service provider, we understand that using a higher grade of security is fundamental in protecting you from the latest threats.

DNA IT, now with the power of ThreatLocker®

Vulnerable applications are the #1 cause of security breaches.  Attacks against web applications are now the fastest-growing category.

Working with ThreatLocker®, we can protect your applications from ransomware, and other malicious threats are one of our top security concerns.

ThreatLocker® combines Allowlisting with Ringfencing and Storage, Elevation, and Network Access controls in ways that make security simple. By combining these solutions, your applications will not be exploited. 

Allowlisting

Using the ThreatLocker® solution, you can deny any application from running on your device that is not a part of the Allowlist. This helps to mitigate and stop cyberattacks from happening on your devices or across your network.


Firewall-like Application Policies

A powerful firewall-like policy engine that allows you to permit, deny or restrict application access at a granular level.


Time-Based Policies

Permit access to applications for a specified amount of time. Automatically block the application after the policy has expired.


Built-In Applications

ThreatLocker® automatically adds new hashes when application and system updates are released, allowing your applications to update without interference while preventing updates from being blocked.

Ringfencing™

Ringfencing™ controls what applications are able to do once they are running. By limiting what software can do, ThreatLocker® can reduce the likelihood of an exploit being successful or an attacker weaponiSing legitimate tools such as PowerShell.


Mitigate Against Fileless Malware

Stop fileless malware by limiting what applications are allowed to do.


Granular Application Policies

Stop applications from interacting with other applications, network resources, registry keys, files, and more.


Limit Application Attacks

Limit application attacks like application hopping by limiting what applications can access.


Limit to Your Files

The average computer has over 500 applications, and only a handful of those need to access your files. With Ringfencing™, you can choose which applications need to see which files.

Storage Control

Storage Control provides policy-driven control over storage devices, whether the storage device is a local folder, a network share, or external storage such as a USB drive. ThreatLocker® Storage Control allows granular policies to be set, which could be as simple as blocking USB drives, or as detailed as blocking access to your backup share, except when accessed by your backup application.


Audit Access to Files

A full detailed audit of all file access on USB, Network, and Local Hard Drives is centrally accessible within minutes of a file being opened.


Granular Storage Policies

Users can request permission to elevate applications and attach files and notes to support their requests.


Simple Requests for Access

A pop-up with the option to request access to the storage device.


Simple USB Blocking

USB Policies allow access based on device serial number, vendor, and/ or file type.

Elevation Control

Elevation Control puts IT administrators in the driving seat, enabling them to control exactly what applications can run as a local admin without giving users local admin rights.

When ThreatLocker® is first deployed, all existing applications are learned. Administrators can review the applications and select which can be run as a local administrator. Once enabled, a user can run the software as a local administrator without entering any credentials.


Complete Visibility of Administrative Rights

Gives you the ability to approve or deny an individual’s access to specific applications within an organisation even if the user is not a local administrator.


Streamlined Permission Requests

Users can request permission to elevate applications and attach files and notes to support their requests.


Varied Levels of Elevation

Enables you to set durations for how long users are allowed access to specific applications by granting either temporary or permanent access.


Secure Application Integration

Ringfencing™ ensures that once applications are elevated, users cannot jump to infiltrate connected applications within the network.

Network Access Control

ThreatLocker® Network Access Control is an endpoint and server firewall that enables you to have total control over network traffic, which ultimately helps you to protect your devices. Using custom-built policies, you can allow granular access based on IP address, specific keywords, or even agent authentication or dynamic ACLs.


Configurable

Network Access Control gives users the ability to configure network access to endpoints using global and granular policies.


Dynamic

NAC enables users to deny all traffic to published servers while only allowing a single IP address dynamically or even a keyword. This is great for a user who is traveling often.


Cloud-Based

The cloud-managed solution provides customers with a centralised view of endpoint policies and network traffic across your organisation.


Enhanced Network Security

Ensure rogue devices on your network cannot access your servers or endpoints with Dynamic ACLs.

FAQs

Zero Trust security is a modern approach to cybersecurity that assumes no user, device or service can be trusted by default and requires continuous verification before granting access. Combined with whitelisting — the practice of only allowing authorised applications, processes or IPs to run — Zero Trust helps organisations reduce risk, limit attack surfaces and improve overall security posture. DNA IT Solutions supports Irish businesses in designing and implementing Zero Trust frameworks, including identity and access management, micro-segmentation, least privileged access policies and application whitelisting controls. By enforcing strict access verification and restricting unapproved software, organisations can better defend against breaches, lateral movement and unauthorised access.

1. What is Zero Trust security?

Zero Trust is a security model that assumes no user or system is inherently trusted, requiring continuous authentication and authorisation for all access requests.

2. Why is Zero Trust important?

Zero Trust reduces the risk of breaches by limiting access, enforcing strict identity checks and reducing lateral movement within networks.

3. What is whitelisting?

Whitelisting is the practice of only allowing known, approved applications, scripts or IP addresses to run or access systems, blocking everything else by default.

4. How do Zero Trust and whitelisting work together?

Zero Trust establishes the overall security framework, while whitelisting reinforces it by restricting unapproved software and connections.

5. Can whitelisting prevent malware and ransomware?

Yes. By allowing only trusted applications and processes, whitelisting reduces the chance that malicious software can execute or spread across systems.

6. Is Zero Trust only for large enterprises?

No. Zero Trust principles apply to organisations of all sizes and can be tailored to meet resources and risk profiles.

7. Does Zero Trust improve compliance?

Yes. Zero Trust frameworks often align with regulatory requirements by enforcing least-privileged access and strict identity controls.

8. What are common Zero Trust components?

Common components include identity verification, multi-factor authentication, least privileged access, segmentation and continuous monitoring.

9. How does DNA IT help implement Zero Trust and whitelisting?DNA IT assesses your environment, designs Zero Trust policies, configures whitelisting controls and provides ongoing support and monitoring.

10. How long does it take to implement a Zero Trust framework?

The timeline varies depending on environment complexity, existing controls and business needs, but comprehensive planning and staged rollout are essential for success.

Zero Trust security is a modern approach to cybersecurity that assumes no user, device or service can be trusted by default and requires continuous verification before granting access. Combined with whitelisting — the practice of only allowing authorised applications, processes or IPs to run — Zero Trust helps organisations reduce risk, limit attack surfaces and improve overall security posture. DNA IT Solutions supports Irish businesses in designing and implementing Zero Trust frameworks, including identity and access management, micro-segmentation, least privileged access policies and application whitelisting controls. By enforcing strict access verification and restricting unapproved software, organisations can better defend against breaches, lateral movement and unauthorised access.