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Zone Of Control
What is Zone of Control?
What is Zone of Control?Zone of Control Cybersecurity Best Practices : a “Zone of Control” refers to a specific network segment or area within an organization’s infrastructure. This zone is where the organization has the highest level of security control and can actively monitor and manage access to systems and data. This means that they have the most authority to define and enforce security policies within that area; often compared to a “controlled zone” where access is restricted and heavily monitored compared to less secure external networks.
The three-dimensional space surrounding equipment that processes classified and/or sensitive information within which TEMPEST exploitation is not considered practical or where legal authority to identify and remove a potential TEMPEST exploitation exists.
SOURCE: CNSSI-4009
Key aspects of a zone of control:
- Defined boundaries: Zones are typically defined by physical or logical separation within the network, often using firewalls or other network devices.
- Specific security requirements: Each zone has specific security requirements based on the data or systems it contains. For example, a zone housing sensitive data might have higher security controls than a zone housing public-facing services.
- Access control: Access to different zones is typically controlled based on user roles, permissions, and other security mechanisms.
- Monitoring and management: Organizations have the ability to monitor and manage access to systems and data within the zone, allowing them to detect and respond to potential threats.
- Example: An organization with a “DMZ” (Demilitarized Zone) where public-facing services are hosted, a “Restricted Zone” for internal systems, and a “Highly Restricted Zone” for the most sensitive data.
Benefits of using zones of control:
- Enhanced security: By segmenting the network, organizations can limit the potential impact of a security breach. If one zone is compromised, the attacker’s access may be limited to that specific area.
- Improved compliance: Different zones configured to meet specific compliance requirements for different types of data or systems.
- Simplified management: By grouping systems and data based on security requirements, organizations can simplify security policies and procedures.
- Better resource allocation: Organizations can allocate security resources more efficiently by focusing on the most critical zones.
