What is Security Zones in Networking?
3 min read
In networking, security zones refer to segregated areas within a network that have specific security policies and controls applied to them based on the level of risk and sensitivity of the resources they contain. Security zones are a fundamental aspect of network security architecture and play a crucial role in protecting assets from unauthorized access, malware, and other security threats. These zones help you segment your network based on trust and functionality.
How do Security Zones Work?
Zones and Devices: A security zone is a logical grouping of devices on your network that share similar security requirements. Devices are assigned to zones based on their purpose and sensitivity.
Zone Walls: Firewalls act as the security gates between zones. They control the flow of traffic between zones, allowing only authorized communication.
Common Security Zones
There are mainly two types of Security Zones in networks.
1. Uncontrolled Zones
- Any network outside of the organization's control is called Uncontrolled Zones. It has the lowest trust level.
2. Controlled Zones
A controlled Zone is a subnet that protects the internal network from the uncontrolled zone. There are several types of networks within the
controlled zone.
Demilitarized Zones or DMZ (Low Trust) - DMZ contains public-facing services that can access the internet. This includes web servers, proxy servers that host websites for the public, and DNS servers that provide IP addresses for internet users. It also includes email and file servers that handle external communications. The DMZ acts as a network border to the internal network.
Internal Network (Trusted) - The internal network contains private servers and data that the organization needs to protect. This zone contains your core business systems and user devices. It has a higher trust level than the DMZ.
Restricted Zone (Highest Trust): This zone holds the most critical systems in your network, such as financial data servers or control systems. It has the highest trust level and the most restrictive access controls. The restricted zone protects highly confidential information that is only accessible to employees with certain privileges.
Ideally, the DMZ is situated between two firewalls. One of them filters traffic outside the DMZ, and one of them filters traffic entering the internal network. This protects the internal network with several lines of defence. If there's a restricted zone, that too would be protected with another firewall. This way, attacks that penetrate into the DMZ network cannot spread to the internal network, and attacks that penetrate the internal network cannot access the restricted zone.
Benefits of Security Zones
Enhanced Security: By segmenting your network, you limit the potential damage from a security breach. If a hacker gains access to a device in the DMZ, they can't easily pivot to your internal network.
Improved Traffic Management: Security zones allow you to prioritize traffic flow. Critical business applications can be prioritized within the trusted zone, ensuring optimal performance.
Simplified Policy Management: Security policies can be tailored to each zone, making it easier to manage and enforce security across your network.
Conclusion
In essence, security zones are a fundamental building block for a secure network architecture. They create a layered defence system, making it more difficult for attackers to infiltrate your network and steal sensitive data.