Boundary Protection
Boundary protection refers to the security controls at the edges of your network — where your internal network meets the internet, connects to partner networks, or interfaces with other security zones. Boundary protection devices include firewalls, routers with access control lists, web application firewalls, email gateways, and proxy servers.
Effective boundary protection involves monitoring and controlling traffic at each network boundary, denying traffic by default and only allowing what's explicitly authorized, inspecting traffic for malicious content, and logging all boundary crossing attempts for security analysis.
Why It Matters
Boundary protection is a core requirement in the System and Communications Protection domain of CMMC. Assessors will evaluate your network boundaries, the controls protecting them, and your ability to monitor and control traffic flow into and out of your CUI environment.