What remediation practice is a newly hired system admin reviewing to strengthen company practices against exploitation of vulnerabilities?

The correct answer is network segmentation. This practice involves dividing a network into smaller, isolated segments to limit the potential impact of security breaches. By implementing network segmentation, an organization can enforce different security policies across various segments, helping to mitigate risks associated with vulnerabilities in one area affecting other parts of the network. For instance, if a segment containing sensitive data is breached, segmentation can help prevent the attack from spreading to other segments, preserving overall network integrity.

This method is particularly effective in environments where differing security needs exist, as it allows for tailored defenses and monitoring. By isolating critical systems, the impact of potential exploits is minimized, and it can also simplify compliance with regulatory requirements by ensuring that sensitive data is adequately protected.

While patching, access control, and intrusion detection are all essential components of a comprehensive security strategy, they serve different functions. Patching is focused on updating systems to fix vulnerabilities, access control deals with ensuring that only authorized users have the appropriate permissions, and intrusion detection is about monitoring for suspicious activity. However, network segmentation directly addresses the overarching issue of containment and isolation, making it a vital remediation practice to strengthen security against exploitation.