Deploying attack isolation on enterprise networks involves implementing strategies to contain and limit the spread of cyber threats, minimizing damage and ensuring business continuity. Below are best practices along with examples, including relevant cloud services:
1. Network Segmentation
Divide the network into smaller, logically isolated segments (e.g., by department, function, or sensitivity level) to prevent lateral movement of attackers.
- Example: Separate the finance department’s network from the general employee network to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Cloud Service: Use Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) with subnets and security groups to enforce segmentation in cloud environments.
2. Zero Trust Architecture
Adopt a "never trust, always verify" approach, where no user or device is trusted by default, even within the network.
- Example: Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) and continuous identity verification for accessing critical systems.
- Cloud Service: Implement Identity and Access Management (IAM) with least-privilege access controls.
3. Micro-Segmentation
Apply granular security policies at the workload or application level, even within a segmented network.
- Example: Isolate individual containers or virtual machines in a Kubernetes cluster to prevent cross-container attacks.
- Cloud Service: Use Tencent Cloud Security Groups and Network ACLs to enforce micro-segmentation.
4. Firewalls and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
Deploy next-generation firewalls (NGFW) and IPS to monitor and block malicious traffic in real time.
- Example: Block suspicious outbound traffic from internal servers to known malicious IP addresses.
- Cloud Service: Leverage Tencent Cloud Anti-DDoS and Web Application Firewall (WAF) for traffic filtering.
5. Isolation of Critical Systems
Air-gap or place high-value systems (e.g., databases, industrial control systems) in isolated environments.
- Example: Use a dedicated private network for payment processing systems with no direct internet access.
- Cloud Service: Host sensitive workloads in Tencent Cloud PrivateLink for secure, isolated connectivity.
6. Container and Virtual Machine Isolation
Ensure workloads in containers or VMs are isolated using hypervisors, namespaces, or sandboxing.
- Example: Run untrusted applications in separate VMs with restricted permissions.
- Cloud Service: Use Tencent Cloud CVM (Cloud Virtual Machines) with secure baseline configurations.
7. Incident Response and Automated Isolation
Automate the isolation of compromised systems (e.g., quarantining infected endpoints) during an attack.
- Example: Automatically disconnect a compromised endpoint from the network using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools.
- Cloud Service: Integrate Tencent Cloud Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) for automated threat response.
8. Regular Testing and Validation
Conduct penetration testing and red team exercises to validate isolation effectiveness.
- Example: Simulate an attacker moving laterally across segments to identify gaps.
By combining these practices, enterprises can build a resilient attack isolation strategy, with cloud services like Tencent Cloud VPC, IAM, Anti-DDoS, and CWP enhancing security and isolation capabilities.