An old Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. This is true of the journey to breach readiness. Let’s talk about why you should take the first step right now, and how microsegmentation can get you there.
First, what is microsegmentation? Simply put, it is a technique that divides a network into smaller, isolated segments to enhance security, increase visibility, and provide better control over network traffic. Microsegmentation is a critical component of the Zero Trust security model. If you want to implement Zero Trust, then microsegmentation is a foundational step to take.
Recent history shows that a breach of the perimeter firewall defenses is inevitable for most organizations. When it happens, microsegmentation stops malware or ransomware from spreading laterally through your enterprise network. It prevents a breach from becoming a crisis. That’s why smart leaders are using microsegmentation to go beyond breach prevention. They are making their enterprises breach ready.
This seems very positive; so why isn’t everyone doing it? Here are some of the reasons I hear most often:
- Cost
- Complexity
- Integration Requirements
- Policy Management
- Time
These reasons not to act are common when trying to implement almost anything new. When we inspect each reason, we reveal some surprising findings. Spoiler alert: These reasons to procrastinate on beginning a breach readiness strategy don’t hold up to scrutiny.
Cost: Implementing new hardware and software can be expensive. This is especially true when you consider that today’s network topology can be a hybrid combination of cloud, on-prem, and remote. Sprinkle in OT and IoT, and the prices can skyrocket. You want a solution that can follow you no matter where you are in the world, and you want to limit the amount of hardware and software needed. ColorTokens utilizes your local system firewall to implement segmentation, so there is no need to install third-party software. CrowdStrike integration can be utilized, replacing the need for agent installation. ColorTokens’ solution is more than just another tool—it’s a flexible, user-friendly platform designed to adapt to your needs.
Moreover, it operates in userspace, and no reboot is required. With the ColorTokens SaaS platform, we can support you at every stage, from on-prem to the cloud or even the coffee shop. Whether you prefer our purpose-built appliance or your virtual device, you have the power to keep your OT/IoT environment safe, giving you control over your network security.
Complexity: The traditional segmentation of employing hardware firewalls, VLANs, or infrastructure can be rigid and convoluted. Planning requires a deep understanding of traffic flow and user rights. Adding today’s dynamic environment makes things even more serpentine. ColorTokens helps unwind the curvy path with a visualization tool that lets you observe traffic flow in real-time. This dramatically reduces the effort needed to understand traffic flows and create policies. Our simulation mode quickly identifies any potential disruptions in the data flow, allowing you to travel along your path to progressive segmentation safely. This relief from the complexity of traditional segmentation is a reassurance that ColorTokens is here to simplify your network security.
Integration Requirements: Integrating microsegmentation into existing infrastructure can be difficult and may require significant reconfiguration. Legacy systems and applications might not be compatible with a micro-segmented network, leading to potential disruptions. Because ColorTokens can use the OS’s built-in functionality, there is no need to worry. Existing integrations with various partnerships make deployment quick and painless. Our open API allows seamless integration with third-party tools and technologies, enhancing cybersecurity operations.
Xshield’s asset and traffic visualization simplifies policy definition.
Policy Management: Creating policies using the ColorTokens visualization tool could not be easier. Use our visualizer to easily create rules, tag-based rules to automate the process, or our recommendations to create policy rules based on best practices. These options will save you countless man-hours and help avoid costly mistakes, empowering you to manage your network security policies confidently and at a more granular level.
Time: Time is one thing you can never get back or make more of. Use our integrations to pull data into our platform to avoid reinventing the wheel. Our automation and recommendations allow you to create policies efficiently. Use our open API to automate numerous functions and provide greater control.
The reasons to not get started on the journey don’t hold up to scrutiny. We stand ready to be your steady partner in implementing microsegmentation to protect your digital operations. ColorTokens understands the adage, “It’s not if, but when you will be breached.” Our goal is to stop the spread of a breach and get you back to 100% operations faster. Our battle cry is: “Be Breach Ready!”
Contact us for a free consultation and take the first step toward breach readiness.
