{"id":4725,"date":"2022-09-30T14:51:06","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T18:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/network-monitoring\/?p=4725"},"modified":"2022-09-30T14:53:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T18:53:02","slug":"preventing-a-stalled-network-segmentation-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/network-monitoring\/preventing-a-stalled-network-segmentation-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventing a Stalled Network Segmentation Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Network<\/p>\n

As part of Solutions Review\u2019s Premium Content Series\u2014a collection of contributed columns written by industry experts in maturing software categories\u2014 Ido Daniel of Forescout<\/a> charges up a step-by-step guide to prevent your network segmentation project from stalling.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"SRIn healthy relationships, we avoid making assumptions about a situation until we know all the facts and establish where miscommunications may have begun. This same mindset should be applied when evaluating the success of your organization\u2019s network segmentation project.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an unfortunately common practice for organizations to assume their assets and networks are fully separated when they are not. A variety of factors tend to complicate this assumption, including the disintegration of network perimeters due to remote work\u2019s pervasiveness and the growing number and diversity of connected IoT and OT assets. The attack surface, thus, is constantly expanding and poses a more significant challenge to properly segment and monitor networks. As we see evolving risk threats and more complexity in our networks and how assets communicate within them, proper network segmentation is vital. However, organizations need to be aware of the nuances and what to avoid so that they don\u2019t start something they won’t be equipped to finish.<\/p>\n

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Reasons for Stalled Network Segmentation Projects: What to Avoid<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Managing network segmentation projects is kind of like going camping. The way you pack and prepare will be reflective of where you are headed. After all, you wouldn\u2019t pack beach clothes for a trip to the mountains, would you?
\nOne of the main reasons that network segmentation projects stall is because there is a strategic misalignment in how to manage the new network environment. Properly segmenting networks requires a different type of thought process, and too often, teams try to manage their new network segmentation projects the same way they would their original network environment. Taking a flat and static environment and segmenting it requires a thorough understanding of how to manage everything categorically. Once this mindset changes, enforcing network segmentation security and policy, and aligning it with current policies, will be more efficient and accurate.<\/p>\n

Another common oversight that causes stalled network segmentation projects is forgetting to align goals and objectives between different security and business teams. Network segmentation is usually put into place by IT teams, whereas CISOs typically create the policies that the project will follow. On top of this, there are the business managers who work to prioritize and allocate company resources. All of these departments make decisions from different perspectives though they all want what is best for the company. Once security and business teams are on the same page with goals, they can collaborate more productively and begin strategizing for the network segmentation plan.<\/p>\n

Best Practices for Smoother Segmentation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Companies wishing to start network segmentation projects must consider the day-to-day business impacts that undertaking a network segmentation project can have, alongside the advantages it can generate over time. The short-term impact of network segmentation may cause a few workflow disruptions at first, but it makes things easier to monitor and more efficient to secure in the long term. Your networks will have more narrow attack surfaces, more effective policy organizations, and overall, more consistent performance with fewer disruptions.<\/p>\n

Here are five best practices to keep in mind when preparing for and to implement your network segmentation project:<\/p>\n