Right now, your small business faces substantial risk from cyberattacks. If you want to remain vigilant, you’ll need to take several steps toward protecting your valuable networks, reducing the risk of a catastrophic data breach. One approach is network segmentation: enhancing small business cybersecurity through isolation.
This approach divides your network into smaller, more secure subnetworks to increase security and visibility. It also gives you greater control over the business’s entire computer network. Learn more below.
What Is Network Segmentation?
Segmenting your network works exactly how you imagine—you divide your corporate network into distinct sections to enhance your small business network security. You’ll start by categorizing and isolating data according to the level of protection you think it requires. That way, it’s possible to contain hackers and limit their access to other valuable information not in the segment they breach.
With network segmentation enhancing small business cybersecurity through isolation strategies for cyber protection, things are changing. Network administrators can now easily tailor security protocols to the data within each segment. So, the most secure segments will contain the highest-value targets, such as:
- Personal identifying information
- Account passwords
- Payment details
Even if a cyber attack succeeds in a less secure segment, the higher-value information remains secure. Enhancing small business cybersecurity measures through isolation also places each connected device into an individual segment, stopping breach hops and widespread damage.
Operational Efficiency and Enhanced Security With Network Segmentation
Implementing cybersecurity isolation techniques in small enterprises is critical to your business’s safety and security. It also enhances operational efficiency for the following advantages:
Better Access Control
Network segmentation allows you to grant access to sensitive information as needed.
Enhanced Network Insights
It’s easier for the IT department to monitor network traffic and balance network performance when they can see where the traffic is moving and how. A better picture of network activity also makes spotting anomalies and launching an investigation effective.
Simpler Compliance
Companies that collect protected information must abide by strict governmental and industry rules regarding data protection. Segmented network solutions for cyber resilience make this easier.
Control Low-Level Network Access
The rise of the Internet of Things means that the typical network connects many devices without robust security. There’s no need for the office thermostat to share the payment processing system’s network. Segmentation isolates what you need to keep safe.
Improve Your Small Business Network Security With Segmentation
SMEs can take multiple approaches to segmenting networks, designing the segments based on who needs to access the data and how secure it must be. Establish security rules and protocols for each segment, then implement technical controls like firewalls and VLANS to control access.
Then, there are two segments companies can’t afford to overlook when developing network segmentation: enhancing small business cybersecurity through isolation requires both guest and IOT networks. These two specific segments tightly control access by non-employees and connected devices, better securing your sensitive data.
Network segmentation secures your operation for a more competitive business. It keeps your company’s data, assets, and reputation safe from cybercrime.
