Why is application segmentation so important for solid cybersecurity protection?
Application segmentation plays a crucial role in organizational cybersecurity for several compelling reasons. Individually segmenting our numerous applications involves dividing a network’s applications into small, isolated pieces based on their security requirements or functions. General network segmentation security divides a network to enhance protection and manageability. Still, granular segmentation (or microsegmentation zero trust practices) takes this concept further by creating even more specific and finely tuned subdivisions to achieve tighter control and security at a more detailed level, including at the individual application level.
With nearly 30 billion connected devices worldwide, this highlights the expanding attack surface that application segmentation aims to protect by isolating specific applications from potential threats. [Cisco]
This strategy is integral to a robust cybersecurity posture for the following reasons:
- Enhanced Security: By segmenting applications, organizations can apply specific security policies tailored to each segment’s risk level and function. This means sensitive applications can have stricter controls compared to those that are less critical, reducing the overall risk of compromise.
- Limited Lateral Movement: Application segmentation significantly hampers the ability of attackers to move around within a network. It promotes lateral movement cyber security and offers added service account protection. If an attacker compromises one application, the segmentation acts as a barrier, preventing or slowing down the spread of the attack to other parts of the network or other applications.
- Reduced Attack Surface: Segmenting applications effectively reduces the attack surface, making it harder for attackers to find vulnerable entry points. Each segment can be secured with appropriate measures, making it more challenging for threats to penetrate the network deeply.
- Improved Compliance: Many regulatory frameworks and cybersecurity compliance standards require that certain data types or processes be isolated from others within the IT environment. Application segmentation can help organizations meet these compliance requirements, such as PCI DSS compliance, GDPR, and HIPAA best practices, by ensuring that sensitive data is processed and stored in securely isolated environments.
- Easier Management and Monitoring: With applications segmented into more manageable parts, security teams can more easily monitor traffic and activities for signs of suspicious behavior. This targeted monitoring allows for quicker detection of anomalies that could indicate a security threat, improving overall response times.
- Damage Containment: In the event of a breach, damage is contained to the compromised segment, preventing or limiting the impact on the entire network or other applications. This containment is crucial for minimizing operational disruptions and data loss.
- Customized Security Controls: Application segmentation allows for the implementation of security controls customized to each segment’s specific needs and risk profiles. This tailored approach ensures that security measures are practical and efficient, avoiding a one-size-fits-all solution that might not address particular vulnerabilities.
- Protecting Against Zero-Day Threats: Granular subdivision can significantly help in preventing zero day attacks by isolating critical applications into secure segments, limiting potential attack surfaces, and enabling targeted protection strategies that swiftly adapt to emerging vulnerabilities. Working against machine learning created benchmarks of approved behavior, microsegmentation can identify anything out of the ordinary and react accordingly.
In essence, segmenting applications is a foundational cybersecurity strategy that enables organizations to enhance their defensive posture, comply with regulatory requirements, and mitigate the impact of potential breaches. It’s a proactive approach to securing a network’s applications by assuming that breaches can and will occur and planning accordingly to limit their scope and severity.
