How network virtualization is used as a security tool

When people think of network virtualization, the advantages that come to mind typically include faster provisioning of networks, easier management of networks and more efficient use of resources. But network virtualization can have another major benefit as well: security.VMware is one of the companies attempting to bring network virtualization into the market. Its flagship product for this is NSX and at the company’s recent VMWorld conference it said the software platform has 150 customers and an annual sales rate of $100 million. Perhaps most surprising: Up to 40% of those installations were not driven by NSX’s agility and management advantages. Instead, security was the major factor. NSX’s ability to microsegment network traffic and have pervasive virtual firewalls throughout the data center have resonated in the market, VMware officials say.