What is Segmentation in terms of cybersecurity?

Segmentation is a cybersecurity practice of dividing a network into smaller, isolated sections or segments to increase security and reduce the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. By segmenting a network, organizations can limit the impact of cyberattacks and prevent attackers from moving laterally across the network.

Network segmentation involves creating separate networks or subnets for different departments or groups within an organization, such as sales, marketing, finance, and IT. Each segment may have its own firewall, access controls, and monitoring systems to ensure that traffic flows only between authorized segments.

Segmentation can also be applied at the application level, with applications being separated into isolated segments with their own access controls, monitoring, and auditing capabilities. This can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and reduce the risk of data breaches.

Segmentation can help improve overall network security by limiting the potential impact of cyberattacks, making it easier to detect and isolate threats, and reducing the complexity of security management. However, it requires careful planning and implementation to ensure that the segments are properly configured and that authorized users can access the resources they need.