Most network security breaches go undetected for months, allowing hackers to move laterally across the network, mapping critical systems and collecting privileged credentials. This lateral movement sets the stage for their ultimate goal of data exfiltration or ransomware attacks. A Zero Trust security framework can help prevent lateral movements by requiring explicit verification of user identity and device state with every access attempt, limiting access to just the resource a user needs, and applying role-based permissions based on contextual factors such as device posture and network connection. Implementing software-defined perimeters (SDPs) can also reduce the attack surface area, constrain lateral movement, and make hackers' presence easier to detect. By adopting a Zero Trust approach, organizations can significantly reduce the cost of security breaches and prevent lateral attacks from exploiting successful breaches.