For years now, business security has meant more than just locking the door and enabling the alarm system before you leave at night. As hackers grow smarter and more resources become virtual, cybersecurity will continue to be crucial. This post will walk you through network segmentation as a way to protect your systems and improve your business’s security.
What Is Network Segmentation?
Network segmentation (a.k.a. network segregation, network partitioning, network isolation) is the process of dividing your network into several smaller sections, often called segments or subnets, and controlling how traffic flows between them. Each segment then acts as its own network, which improves both the security and efficiency within your network.
One way to think of network isolation is like the different areas of a bank. For simplicity’s sake, let’s stick to the lobby, the area behind the counter, and the vault.
By restricting access to different sections, the bank can be sure only authorized personnel are accessing different resources, e.g., clients can only be in the lobby, regular employees can enter the area behind the desk, and only team members with special clearance and permission can enter the vault.
With clear distinctions and permissions laid out, you can better protect the most important parts of the bank, and network segregation provides these distinctions and permissions for your network.
What Are the Two Types of Network Segmentation?
There are two main ways to go about segmentation: physical or virtual. Let’s take a closer look at how each one works.
1. Physical Segmentation
Physical segmentation splits up a network into several smaller physical subnets using hardware like firewalls and routers. This method is somewhat simpler than virtual segmentation, but it’s less flexible because of the physical components like wires and routers.
2. Virtual Segmentation
Also known as logical segmentation, virtual segmentation divides a single physical network into multiple virtual networks. This can be done with either virtual local area networks (VLANs), which use tags to route users to the correct subnet, or network addressing schemes, which give each subnet its own IP address.
How Does Network Segmentation Improve Security?
One of the biggest reasons a company chooses network segregation is to boost its cybersecurity. But how exactly does segmentation help you stay safer?
- Enhanced Monitoring and Control: Administrators can more easily isolate and oversee traffic within specific segments, which helps them identify and address suspicious activity quickly and efficiently.
- Limited Attack Surfaces: It’s a lot harder for anyone without access to attack every subnet at once, which reduces the potential negative impact of cyber incidents and gives scammers fewer systems to work with.
- Contained Breaches: When something does slip through and a hacker gains access to your systems, they’ll be able to manipulate only one section, limiting losses and easing eradication and recovery.
- Improved Compliance: Segmentation isolates, protects, and limits access to sensitive data, which is a common requirement for many compliance standards.
Network Segmentation Best Practices
For your network segmentation to work as effectively as possible, here are some tools and guidelines you can use:
Regular Audits
As your business processes evolve and new threats emerge, it’s essential to regularly evaluate your network security. Regular audits help you identify gaps or weak spots in your security or segmentation. After each audit, work with your IT team to develop solutions and implement improvements to strengthen your defenses and prevent potential attacks.
Firewalls
If your segmentation system doesn’t already involve firewalls, adding them to your security structure can help you further control traffic and block unauthorized users and communications between different segments.
Principle of Least Privilege
Not every employee needs to see and edit every single resource or aspect of your network. The principle of least privilege means you give each member of your organization access to exactly what they need to do their job. In other words, don’t give an employee full use of each subnet if they don’t need it.
These limitations mean that as few people as possible will be accessing the most sensitive aspects of your business, decreasing the chances of a leak or breach.
Continuous Monitoring
Hackers and bots don’t just work 9–5, so it’s important to keep a close eye on all of your network segments at all times. 24/7 monitoring services allow you to catch unauthorized users and eradicate threats before they become full-blown breaches.
Work Securely with Run Networks
Run Networks has been helping Omaha businesses boost their cybersecurity for over 15 years. Our managed firewall services add an extra level of safety to your systems, along with a range of other cybersecurity services. Request a network evaluation today and experience efficient, personalized services, backed by an IT team dedicated to your success.
