Document Type
Article
Abstract
Ransomware has become a critical threat to modern enterprises, exploiting excessive privileges and flat network architectures to spread rapidly. Traditional perimeter-based security models are insufficient, as they rely on implicit trust within internal networks. This paper examines how Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) mitigates ransomware through least privilege access, continuous monitoring, and micro- segmentation. Experimental results show that ZTA can significantly reduce impact, limiting encryption to about 20% of targeted files while preserving most data. Continuous monitoring enables rapid detection (5.3 seconds) with high accuracy (up to 97.2%) and a 78% reduction in false positives. Micro-segmentation further restricts lateral movement, reducing attack paths and network exposure by over 99%. De- spite implementation challenges, ZTA strengthens enterprise defenses against ransomware attacks.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Ely
(2026)
"Zero Trust Architecture and Ransomware Mitigation,"
Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal: Vol. 13:
Iss.
2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61366/2576-2176.1186
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/horizons/vol13/iss2/6
Primo Type
Article