Network segmentation is important for a multitude of reasons. A few examples include isolating parts of a network to reduce attack surfaces and containing breaches. Overall, network segmentation best practices control traffic flow between segments. However, it’s helpful to not get network segmentation vs micro segmentation mixed up.
With micro segmentation, businesses get granular control within a network. This is great for larger enterprises, allowing them to isolate specific workloads and minimize threats at a more detailed scale. In the scope of network segmentation vs micro segmentation, this article acts as a practical guide for small businesses and large enterprises alike.
Benefits of Segmentation Strategies
The short version is that segmentation helps to minimize lateral movement across the network. Another way to put it is that breaches in one segment won’t compromise sensitive systems or data in other segments.
In addition to that, utilizing segmentation strategies helps businesses comply with certain regulations. Whether it’s HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI, for example, enforcing access controls helps businesses stay aligned with these regulators. If you’re new to network segmentation tools and strategies, understanding the difference between network segmentation vs micro segmentation is a must.
What is Network Segmentation?
Dividing a network into isolated segments, network segmentation is a core part of enhancing security while controlling traffic. More specifically, each segment comes with defined access policies, which limit unauthorized movement across the network.
Here’s a quick breakdown of common approaches to network segmentation:
- Using a combination of VLANs, network firewall security, and subnets
- Helps to simplify network management by supporting easier monitoring
- Software and policy-based controls for dynamic segmentation
- Integrating zero-trust principles for strict access controls
- Segments at the application layer to control traffic between workloads, apps, and services
Although this strategy is only one focal point of network security, it can do wonders for threat prevention. Once again, in the scope of micro segmentation security,
What is Micro Segmentation?
With this particular strategy, you’re isolating workloads on a granular level. This is much more specific, such as focusing on individual machines or applications. Considering how vast networks can get for larger organizations, micro segmentation tends to be a part of the security strategy.
Here are several unique details about what’s included with micro segmentation:
- Focuses on controlling traffic between specific workloads or user devices
- Utilizing technologies include zero trust frameworks, host-based firewalls, and software-defined networking (SDN)
- Supports dynamic segmentation without a heavy reliance on physical infrastructure
- Unlike perimeter security, micro-segmentation monitors and restricts lateral traffic within the network
- Particularly effective with hybrid and multi-cloud setups from private clouds, public cloud platforms, and data centers
Among the many evolving cybersecurity strategies, segmentation is a part of the conversation. What’s more important is deciding which segmentation strategies are relevant to the needs of your business.
Network Segmentation vs Micro Segmentation
To help streamline your understanding of the topic, it doesn’t hurt to size up the differences next to each other. In the table below, you can see how both segmentation strategies differ across several security categories.
| Focal Point | Network Segmentation | Micro Segmentation |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of Segmentation | Divides the network into broader, isolated segments | Isolates workloads on a granular level |
| Traffic Control | Controls traffic flow between segments | Controls traffic between specific workloads or devices, including lateral traffic |
| Technologies | VLANs, subnets, firewalls, policy-based controls | Software-defined networking, zero trust frameworks, and host-based firewalls |
| Security Focus | Reduces attack surface and limits unauthorized movement across segments | Minimizes internal threat propagation and provides granular internal containment |
| Use Case | Small businesses, separating critical systems from general traffic; general enterprise segmentation | Large operations with more complex networks, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments |
| Infrastructure Dependence | Often relies on physical and logical network structures | Functions dynamically without heavy reliance on physical infrastructure |
Network segmentation best practices are important for any business, small or large. However, which of these you apply to your security strategy is important in the grand scheme of things. Making sure your network is properly segmented also requires understanding the risks you face at your current stage and with scaling.
The Bottom Line
Regardless of the comparisons in network segmentation vs micro segmentation, they work to simplify management as a whole. When it comes to applying it to your operation, that’s where understanding the differences becomes important.
While small businesses tend to benefit from traditional segmentation, larger companies gain a lot of value from micro segmentation. If you aren’t sure which side is relevant to your network demands, speak with our team members at Firewalls for the direct answer you need.
