Why Zero Trust Makes Sense for ITES Companies

Why Zero Trust Makes Sense for ITES Companies

What’s Trust Got to Do with It? 

Imagine a BPO site in Noida, an AI development team in Bangalore, and a client from Europe accessing systems hosted in Hyderabad — all on the same network. 

How do you decide who to trust? 

If your answer starts with a VPN login and ends with hope, you already know the gaps. 

ITES companies don’t just manage data — they move it, touch it, and share it every second. The traditional perimeter-based model can’t keep up with a workforce that’s remote, transient, and often using personal devices. 

Zero Trust doesn’t assume anything is safe. That’s why it makes sense. 

Don’t Trust. Verify Everything. 

The basic idea is simple: verify every user, device, and connection before granting access. Then, limit that access to only what’s necessary — no lateral movement, no inherited trust, no open corridors. 

For an ITES setup in Gurgaon or Mumbai, this means: 

• Your freelance video editor can’t see HR files 
• Your payroll team’s access is geo-fenced 
• Your internal tools aren’t reachable from a compromised browser extension 

All of this happens quietly in the background, without slowing down the user. 

Where the Gaps Are, and Why They Hurt 

Most ITES firms run lean networks with hybrid tools: cloud CRMs, on-prem apps, vendor portals, and shared drives. 

This patchwork setup creates blind spots. Especially when: 

• Devices aren’t corporate-managed 
• Staff churn is high 
• Multiple clients use the same delivery environment 
• Compliance teams rely on logs from three different tools 

According to a 2024 report by Deloitte India, 63% of ITES CISOs cited user access control and visibility as their biggest cybersecurity concern. 

What Zero Trust Looks Like in Practice 

Zero Trust is not a product. It’s a design principle. The architecture rests on three pillars: 

• Identity Verification: MFA, SSO, and user/device posture checks using tools like Cisco Duo 
• Access Controls: Define who gets access to what, when, and under what conditions. Cisco ISE can segment networks dynamically 
• Continuous Monitoring: Tools like Cisco Secure Access and SecureX track behaviour, enforce policies, and flag anomalies in real time 

With this in place, your L1 tech support in Pune can’t wander into Git repositories. And your HR interns working from Indore can’t accidentally open backend admin panels. 

Why It’s Even More Relevant for India 

With increasing regulatory focus on DPDP compliance and client pressure on data governance, Zero Trust isn’t just best practice, it’s becoming table stakes. 

Proactive Data Systems has seen this firsthand in projects across Bangalore, Chennai, and Mohali, where global delivery centers are subject to contractual obligations that demand role-based access, audit trails, and breach containment plans. 

And it’s not just about compliance. It’s about continuity. A well-implemented Zero Trust model ensures that one compromised credential doesn’t take down your entire operation. 

According to Cisco’s India Security Readiness Index 2023, only 5% of Indian firms surveyed were considered “mature” in Zero Trust deployment. 

Why It’s Not Just About Tools — But Who Deploys Them 

Buying licenses is easy. Getting Zero Trust to work across your patchy cloud, legacy, and multi-client environment is not. That’s where most deployments fail. 

Proactive understands the delivery pressure ITES firms operate under. We’ve implemented Zero Trust frameworks in live environments — across voice, infra, and development — without breaking SLAs. 

You don’t need a rip-and-replace strategy. You need a partner who can map Zero Trust to how your business actually works. 

Before the Breach Happens 

Zero Trust doesn’t slow work down. It helps you keep moving when things go wrong. If you want to build a network that protects your teams, your clients, and your reputation — without building walls — it’s time to talk. 

Proactive is India’s trusted Cisco Gold Partner, helping ITES firms implement Zero Trust securely, gradually, and practically. Contact us now and start your Zero Trust assessment today.

Author

Rachita Mishra Senior Content Writer