What is the process of segmentation?
Segmentation works by managing the flow of traffic between the various segments. You may choose to prevent all traffic from one section of the network from reaching another, or you could limit the flow based on the type of traffic, the source, the destination, and a variety of other factors. A segmentation policy describes the process by which you decide how to segment your network.
What is a good illustration of segmentation?
Consider the case of a major bank with numerous branch offices. Branch personnel are prohibited from accessing the bank’s financial reporting system according to the bank’s security policy. By prohibiting all branch traffic from accessing the financial system, network segmentation can help to implement security policies on a network. In addition, by reducing overall network traffic, the financial system will function more efficiently for the financial analysts who rely on its services.
What is in charge of enforcing the segmentation policy?
Internal firewalls, Access Control List (ACL) configurations on networking equipment, and Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) configurations on network equipment were all examples of classic segmentation systems. These approaches, on the other hand, are expensive and time-consuming.
Software-defined access (SDA) technology, which groups and tags network traffic today, makes segmentation easier than ever. It then makes use of traffic tags to impose segmentation rules directly on the network equipment, without the need for the complexity of older methods.
What is the definition of microsegmentation?
Microsegmentation makes use of a great deal more information in segmentation policies, such as information from the application layer. In order to address the highly particular requirements of an organisation or a business application, it makes it possible to create policies that are more detailed and flexible.
The advantages of network segmentation are as follows:
Enhance the efficiency of operations.
Network congestion is reduced as a result of segmentation. For example, medical devices in a hospital can be separated from the facility’s guest network, ensuring that medical devices are not harmed by web browsing.
Cyberattack harm should be kept to a minimum.
By restricting the extent to which an attack can spread, segmentation helps to strengthen cybersecurity. Using segmentation, for example, you can prevent a malware outbreak in one section from spreading to other sections.
Devices that are vulnerable should be protected.
Protecting devices that are unable to defend themselves against attacks can be accomplished by segmentation. For example, it is possible that the infusion pumps attached to a hospital were not equipped with adequate security measures. Network segmentation can prevent potentially hazardous Internet traffic from ever reaching the segmented networks.
Reduce the breadth of compliance requirements.
By minimising the number of systems that are subject to regulatory oversight, segmentation helps to lower the expenses associated with regulatory compliance. Using segmentation, for example, you can distinguish between systems that process payments and those that do not. As a result, the costly compliance standards and audit processes are applied only to the systems that are in scope, rather than to the entire network.
