The Role of Microsegmentation in Zero Trust Network Architectures

Out of the various types of security architecture solutions in the market, those that rely on zero trust network access, or ZTNA, are considered among the most viable and effective. Large organizations that do a lot of their business on the cloud, for example, have found themselves better served by zero trust network architecture than perimeter-less security models and castle-and-moat security models.

It all boils down to upholding the principle of appropriate access, or assigning different tiers of authorization for users depending on their role and position in the organization. In the ZTNA model, users are ascribed the least amount of privilege possible so that there’s less risk of theft, corruption, and other cybersecurity issues occurring within the company’s network—especially within the lower tiers.

When put into practice, ZTNA demands that users, devices, and applications go through requisite verification and authentication processes before they get access to certain resources. To this end, one particularly powerful technique that an organization can deploy for its ZTNA security model is microsegmentation.

Below is a briefer to help you understand why microsegmentation is important and how the microsegmentation architectural practice is a core component of a zero trust security model.

What Is the Rationale behind Microsegmentation?

In cybersecurity, microsegmentation is the approach of dividing an existing network into smaller and more isolated miniature networks or zones. The goal is to apply custom security controls and roll out disparate security requirements to different zones, thereby tightening security for assets that need more stringent protection.

The partitioning of these security controls can be based on IP addresses, virtual local area networks (VLANs), applications, or host devices, to name a few. A company may also implement a microsegmentation approach to comply with specific security policies from their regulators.

In a ZTNA arrangement, the segmentation is typically done according to user identity and role-based workload. The verification and authentication processes will determine which device or workload a user has proper access to, based on the company’s security policy settings. The users involved can then be directed to the proper zones. Microsegmentation for a network can be done for third parties as well as constituents of the company.

It’s worth noting that a microsegmentation approach is capable of doing more than simple implementation of firewalls or security perimeters. With this approach, the client company can ensure that only certain types of traffic will be allowed into particular zones while other types will be completely blocked off.

How Does Microsegmentation Enhance Security?

Microsegmentation is actually a core component of zero trust security model. The microsegmentation approach can bolster the security functions of a ZTNA-driven solution in the following ways:

Smaller Attack Surface for Both Internal and External Threats

First, microsegmenting the network and customizing security for particular zones can effectively counteract ransomware hackers who’ve either infiltrated the company from the outside or who may be working from the inside. The security design of the network will cut perpetrators off in their tracks by ensuring that there’s very little space for lateral movement across the network.

Companies that urgently have to protect their data assets will want to play it safe by assuming that threats can come from anywhere, even within their ranks. Microsegmentation will allow them to do so by limiting opportunities for attack.

Customized Security Controls Per Tier of Authorized Users

An effective cybersecurity plan makes use of different layers for defense as opposed to relying on a blanket approach for securing assets. Clients who want their cybersecurity strategy to truly work for them are thus advised to consider using microsegmentation. This approach will allow organizations to tighten their security and safeguard company resources according to need, all while observing users’ privilege relative to the company’s hierarchy.

More Efficient and More Traceable Security Management

Lastly, microsegmentation and ZTNA will help companies adequately cover their security needs in business environments that are now more dynamic and complex than they were in the analog era. A cybersecurity strategy that utilizes both microsegmentation and ZTNA will ensure that security issues and points of risk are more traceable and easier to address when they come to light.

This, in turn, will allow an organization to stay faithful to its security policies and improve its overall track record for security management. In that regard, microsegmentation and a zero trust model will be a boost to both the company’s cybersecurity program and its compliance with the stringent requirements of its regulators.

Takeaway: Incorporating the Microsegmentation Strategy into Your Company’s Cybersecurity Plan

Now that businesses are more dependent on their digital resources than ever before, it makes sense to uphold ZTNA and to use microsegmentation as the architectural design strategy for its enforcement. But microsegmentation is by no means a magic bullet for a company’s cybersecurity program, and it works best when paired with other layers of defense like security alerts, access management and monitoring.

In addition, clients and their cybersecurity providers must remember to be strategic about the segmentation of the parent network.

If you’re thinking about how to improve your network security in light of the rapid growth of your business, consider using microsegmentation. Work with a reliable, all-in-one cybersecurity and data privacy solutions provider that will help you apply granular security protocols for your network and uphold ZTNA principles for your company’s resources.