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East-West Traffic

What is East-West Traffic?

Network traffic that flows laterally between servers and workloads within a data center, requiring security monitoring for threat detection.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as east-west traffic. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on east-west traffic

Requirements naming east-west traffic across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Protect is the second of five functional elements per MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.2. Activities include: (1) Access Control - identity and access management for IT + OT systems + role-based access + least privilege + privileged access management (PAM) for OT engineer...

IMO-MSC-FAL-Protect-AccessControl-NetworkSegmentation-MalwareDefence-Patch-Awareness-DataSecurity · IMO MSC-FAL Protect Function - Access Control + Network Segmentation + Malware Defence + Patch Management + Awareness Training + Data Security + Crew BYOD + Removable Media
ISMAP (Japan)1 control

ISMAP Cloud Infrastructure controls cover the underlying compute + network + storage + management plane. (1) Virtual Network Segmentation: VPC Virtual Private Cloud isolation + subnets + security groups + NACLs + microsegmentation + service mesh (Istio + Linke...

ISMAP-CloudInfrastructure-NetworkSegmentation-Container-Serverless-WorkloadProtection-Hardening-ConfigManagement · ISMAP Cloud Infrastructure - VPC Network Segmentation + Container/Serverless Security + Cloud Workload Protection (CWPP) + Image/Template Hardening + CIS Benchmarks + Configuration Management + IaC

Kuwait NCF Protect function (Infrastructure). Network Security and Segmentation: defense in depth + perimeter (firewall + WAF + DDoS mitigation) + internal segmentation (microsegmentation + VLAN + zero-trust network access ZTNA) + east-west traffic inspection...

KNCF-Protect-Network-Configuration-Vulnerability-Physical-Secure-SDLC-Hardening-Patching-Drift · Kuwait NCF Protect + Network + Configuration + Vulnerability + Physical + Secure SDLC

Lloyds MS11.6 Secure Configuration and Change Management - configuration baselines aligned with industry benchmarks (CIS Critical Security Controls v8 + CIS Benchmarks for Windows + Linux + cloud + container + DISA STIGs where applicable) + Infrastructure-as-C...

LLOYDS-MS11-Secure-Configuration-Change-Management-Network-Segmentation-Perimeter-Defence-MS11-6-15 · Lloyds MS11 Secure Configuration + Change + Network Segmentation + Perimeter + MS11.6-15

Monitor malware per Section 4.4 including signature-based AV + behavioral EDR + sandboxing + threat intel feed integration + Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) + Indicators of Attack (IOAs).

NISTSP137-6 · Malware, Identity Access, and Network Boundary Monitoring

Questions people ask about east-west traffic

What is East-West Traffic?
Network traffic that flows laterally between servers and workloads within a data center, requiring security monitoring for threat detection.
Why is East-West Traffic important for compliance?
East-West Traffic is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding east-west traffic helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address East-West Traffic?
East-West Traffic appears in the requirement text of IMO Maritime Cybersecurity Guidelines (MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.2), ISMAP (Japan), Japan FSA Cybersecurity Guidelines for Financial Institutions, Kuwait National Cybersecurity Framework, Lloyd's Minimum Standards - Cyber Security. Across these standards we have identified 6 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about East-West Traffic?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how east-west traffic applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how East-West Traffic applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.