Sort Out Segmentation with Mesh Networking

Note: This is the second installment of a multi-part blog series tackling real-life networking challenges in enterprise environments.

Segmentation is one of the most common and effective ways for companies to improve their network security in today’s digital landscape. But what is network segmentation? In its most basic form, network segmentation is dividing a network into isolated sections with access controls. Instead of letting everything communicate freely, segmentation applies predefined rules to restrict traffic flow between different devices, users, or sections of the network. This not only enhances security, but it also improves network performance by reducing congestion.

There are several ways to achieve segmentation — including physical segmentation, or using separate hardware like switches and routers to create isolated networks; logical segmentation, implementing VLANs and subnetting to separate traffic within the same physical infrastructure; and microsegmentation, a software-defined approach that restricts access based on roles or workloads.

But why does network segmentation matter? Enterprises handle massive amounts of sensitive data and must protect critical systems for unauthorized access. Without segmentation, an attacker could easily move laterally across the entire network, exposing critical systems. Aside from outside attacks, by using segmentation, an enterprise also limits insider threats. Employees only access what they need, reducing accidental or intentional misuse.

Segmentation also ensures compliance. Many regulations — such PCI-DSS and HIPAA — require strong access controls.

There are many ways an enterprise might use network segmentation. Here are a few examples:

• An IoT provider that offers smart building automation for multiple clients can use segmentation to give clients secure access to their own building’s IoT systems, without giving them access to other clients’ systems.
• An auto manufacturer’s IT (information systems) and OT (operational systems) share infrastructure but have different security needs. Utilizing segmentation allows IT to monitor OT devices while ensuring OT staff can’t access sensitive IT data.
• A hospital can use segmentation to protect sensitive onsite medical devices. Hospitals rely on network-connected medical devices, such as MRI machines and infusion pumps, which must remain secure and operational even in the event of a cyber breach. If a compromised administrative computer is infected with ransomware, segmentation can stop the attacker from spreading the malware to critical devices and disrupting patient care.

Why Network Segmentation Is So Hard

Despite its many benefits, network segmentation can be challenging to implement effectively. Organizations often struggle to define policies that balance security with usability. Additionally, older legacy systems may not support modern segmentation techniques, making the process even more tricky to navigate.

One major challenge is the operational overhead that comes with segmentation. VLANs, firewall rules, and Network Access Control (NAC) solutions all require constant updates and maintenance to remain effective.

Scalability is another concern. As networks grow, traditional segmentation methods become increasingly difficult to manage. What works for a small environment may not be practical for a large enterprise with multiple sites and network environments.

Finally, striking the right balance between security and performance is crucial. Over-segmentation can lead to inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and increased complexity, ultimately hindering productivity instead of enhancing security.

Why Your Segmentation Tools Are Holding You Back

Organizations today use a combination of traditional and modern tools to manage network segmentation, each with their own advantages and limitations.

• Traditional Firewalls & VLANs
  Firewalls and VLANs have long been fundamental to network security, providing effective segmentation. However, they require extensive manual setup, which can be time-consuming and complex to maintain.
• Certain SDN Solutions
  Software-defined networking (SDN) offers a more centralized approach, allowing administrators to control network behavior through software. While this enables greater flexibility, some SDN implementations can be complex to deploy and manage — especially solutions offered by legacy providers.
• Microsegmentation Solutions
  Microsegmentation solutions, including VMware NSX, Cisco Tetration, and Illumio, provide fine-grained control over network traffic, restricting access at a highly detailed level. While these solutions are ideal for cloud environments, they can be expensive to implement and require significant expertise.
• NAC Solutions
  Network access control (NAC) solutions, such as Cisco ISE and Aruba ClearPass, help enforce security policies by verifying and managing device access. While they strengthen overall security, scaling these solutions across a large network can be difficult.
• Zero Trust
  Zero Trust Network Architectures (ZTNAs) provides dynamic access to private services and have several desirable properties: they’re software-only, can be deployed quickly, and work well across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. However, they provide limited support for applications that can’t be accessed with a web browser (i.e., legacy apps, IoT, and embedded networking) and usually require traffic to be passed through a centralized proxy.

Additionally, many of these solutions struggle to work seamlessly across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Connecting the Disconnected with Mesh Networking

A mesh network overlay lets devices communicate securely over your existing setup. [It empowers you to control access without the need for complicated VLANs or firewall rules. Instead of relying on static IP addresses, modern software-defined network overlays use dynamic segmentation, applying policies based on identity. This makes it much easier to isolate devices and users while maintaining flexibility.

For a mesh network to effectively handle segmentation, it should include:

• Multi-homing capability – Devices should seamlessly belong to multiple networks without unnecessary complexity.
• Policy-based segmentation – Access control should be based on roles and device identity.
• Unique cryptographic authentication – Every device must authenticate before communicating, ensuring only trusted entities interact.
• End-to-end encryption – Protects data in transit, reducing exposure to threats.
• Cross-platform compatibility – Should work across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments without requiring major infrastructure changes.

Break Free from Segmentation with ZeroTier

Traditional segmentation is difficult to implement, maintain, and scale. A mesh network overlay simplifies this process by offering a more secure, flexible, and scalable approach.

ZeroTier’s software-defined networking platform provides all the essential features needed for effective segmentation — without the headaches of outdated solutions. ZeroTier is not only hardware agnostic but also offers end-to-end encryption, multi-homing capabilities, policy-based segmentation and unique cryptographic device IDs. If you’re looking for a modern approach to network segmentation, mesh networking with ZeroTier is your sorting force.

Ready to learn how ZeroTier can help you achieve effective segmentation? Request a demo today.