Network Segmentation And Micro Segmentation
No one can guarantee that micro segmentation would have prevented every recent breach but i can argue that the obstacles to deploying fine grained security in the data center go away with micro segmentation.
Network segmentation and micro segmentation. This approach enables security models. Micro segmentation is a security technique that enables fine grained security policies to be assigned to data center applications down to the workload level. Unlike network segmentation micro segmentation detaches segmentation from the network by leveraging the host workload firewall to enforce policy. Micro segmentation is an emerging security best practice that offers a number of advantages over more established approaches like network segmentation and application segmentation.
Network segmentation isn t new. Network segmentation creates sub networks using vlans subnets and security zones within the overall network to prevent attackers from moving inside the perimeter and attack the production workload. What can micro segmentation do that a firewall cannot. Using the age old and some security professionals might say tired analogy.
The added granularity that micro segmentation offers is essential at a time when many organizations are adopting cloud services and new deployment options like. Network firewalls provide protections at the network boundary but have no visibility or control over communication that takes place within virtual data centers. Segmentation divides a computer network into smaller parts. It s an approach that emerged in recent years to deliver more effective segmentation.
Network segmentation is the thick walls and wide moats of the castle while. The granularity level at which micro segmentation works is upto vms and individual hosts unlike network segmentation. Sometimes it is referred to as host based segmentation or security segmentation. Micro segmentation would be a great idea and would enhance the security of your network but there are limitations to most prosumer we re talking a level above standard consumer networks you buy at best buy or staples but a notch lower than most enterprises networking equipment that doesn t make it practical.
Network segmentation is best for north south traffic and microsegmentation adds a layer of protection for east west traffic server to server application to server web to server etc. Companies have relied on firewalls virtual local area networks vlan and access control lists acl for network segmentation for years. Other terms that often mean the same thing are network segregation network partitioning and network isolation.