Securing the Systems Behind 4,200+ Production Lines Worldwide

Challenge

Mikron is the leading partner for high performance production systems, building the complex components used to produce the things that matter – pharmaceutical devices, precision medtech, automative parts, and more. But Mikron faced challenges securing the systems behind that precision engineering, seeking to protect its environment without expanding headcount or adding complexity. 

With frequent changes to the environment, maintaining consistent policies via Group Policy Objects (GPOs) proved nearly impossible, requiring a dedicated full-time team member – and even that wasn't enough. Mikron wanted to proactively close coverage gaps left by an IT transition, but other segmentation vendors they evaluated couldn’t easily integrate with the organization’s existing Microsoft environment. 

Solution

Mikron turned to Zero Networks for the simplicity, speed, and Microsoft compatibility they needed. Zero's agentless architecture meant the proof of concept was running in minutes with minimal configuration. The dashboard delivered instant clarity into segmentation health and surfaced conflicts with existing GPOs, making it approachable for system administrators and networking staff alike. 

Critically, Zero Networks integrated seamlessly with Mikron's Microsoft environment – no proprietary tooling or a rip-and-replace approach required. This ensured the comprehensive protection Mikron needed without risking operational disruption.  

“As soon as I saw Zero Networks, I said ‘please take a look at this.’ Our CISO, system admin, and networking guy agreed immediately that this was our golden egg.” 

Stefano Baranzini, IT Team Leader, Mikron 

Result

With Zero Networks, Mikron completed its full network segmentation rollout within weeks – not years. The task that once required an entire FTE to manage through GPOs can now be shared across multiple team members, freeing dedicated security capacity for work that actually moves the needle. 

Zero’s dashboard helps Mikron map services between clients and servers, enabling more informed decision-making, faster response times, and easier management of assets requiring telemetry for Microsoft Defender. Most importantly, Mikron's customers – the manufacturers who depend on Mikron-built systems to produce critical devices and precision components – can count on a partner whose own infrastructure is protected by design.