City Resilience Through Zero Trust Microsegmentation

This case study outlines how a major metropolitan area in the United States, with a population exceeding 7.5 million, adopted zero trust microsegmentation principles to enhance its cybersecurity posture. The city faced significant challenges due to legacy systems that were no longer supported and a flat network structure that allowed lateral movement of threats across its 40 departments. Following a major ransomware attack, the city collaborated with ColorTokens to implement a phased approach termed 'Crawl, Walk, Run.' In the initial phase, ColorTokens provided extensive training to city personnel, fostering confidence in managing cybersecurity. As the program progressed, city staff took on more responsibilities, ultimately leading to independent operation of microsegmentation. The results included a substantial reduction in the attack surface, improved compliance with PCI standards, and enhanced staff capabilities in managing cybersecurity. The partnership with ColorTokens proved essential in navigating the complexities of the city's cybersecurity needs.