What is the purpose of network segmentation?

The purpose of network segmentation primarily centers around enhancing security within an organization’s network architecture. By dividing a network into distinct segments, organizations can enforce stricter access controls and policies tailored to specific parts of the network. This means that sensitive data and critical systems can be isolated from general network traffic, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and containment of potential security breaches. If a security incident occurs in one segment, it can be more easily contained without affecting the entire network, thus enhancing the overall security posture.

For example, a company may choose to segment its network so that payment processing systems are isolated from general employee access, thereby reducing the likelihood of data breaches affecting sensitive financial information.

The other options, while they touch on relevant aspects of networking, do not accurately reflect the main purpose of segmentation. Consolidating network traffic through a single point could lead to a bottleneck and increase the risk of failure or attack. Enhancing user experience could be an indirect benefit of segmentation but is not its primary goal. Reducing management costs is not a direct objective of segmentation either; while it may lead to streamlined operations, the core intention is security improvement.