Background:
The National Health Service (NHS) Trust is a large healthcare organization responsible for providing medical services to millions of patients in the UK. As a public sector organization, the NHS faces various security and compliance challenges, including the need to protect sensitive patient data, comply with regulations, and defend against cyber attacks.
Challenge:
One of the key challenges faced by our NHS Trust client based in the North East is the need to secure its vast network infrastructure. The network comprises various devices, systems, and applications that support clinical and administrative operations. However, securing the entire network using a traditional perimeter-based approach is challenging due to the dynamic nature of modern threats.
Solution:
To address the security challenges, this NHS Trust implemented a micro segmentation strategy. Microsegmentation is an approach that involves dividing the network into smaller, more manageable segments that can be individually secured. This approach helps to reduce the attack surface by limiting the lateral movement of threats across the network.
This North-East NHS Trust deployed a software-defined network (SDN) that allowed it to create virtual segments based on specific criteria such as user roles, application types, and geographic locations. The segments were then protected using granular security policies that enforced access control and traffic filtering. The SDN platform also provided visibility and control over the network, enabling the IT team to monitor and respond to security events in real-time.
Results:
The micro segmentation strategy has helped the NHS Trust to improve its overall security posture by reducing the risk of lateral movement of threats across the network. The approach has also enabled the IT team to respond more effectively to security incidents by providing granular visibility and control over the network. Additionally, the implementation of micro segmentation has enabled the NHS Trust to meet various compliance requirements related to data privacy and security.
Conclusion:
Microsegmentation is an effective security strategy for large organizations such as the NHS Trust. By dividing the network into smaller, more manageable segments, the approach helps to reduce the attack surface and limit the lateral movement of threats. Additionally, microsegmentation provides granular visibility and control over the network, enabling organizations to respond more effectively to security incidents.