Piolink said on Sunday it completed patent registrations in South Korea, the United States and Japan for a technology that implements micro-segmentation using its Tfront security switch.

The company said the patent covers a method in which network infrastructure itself implements zero-trust-based micro-segmentation without installing separate agents or adding security equipment. It said the approach upgrades existing L2 and L3 switches into security switches, reducing deployment complexity and cost burdens.

The company said it presents a practical and economical alternative for institutions preparing to transition to the National Network Security Framework (N2SF).

N2SF requires logical network separation and zero-trust-based access control. Piolink said the technology implements endpoint control and micro-segmentation within the network itself, supporting the establishment of a foundation to respond to N2SF without major changes to existing operating systems.

Piolink also already provides the Piolink Tfront ZT applying the patented technology. Tfront ZT is a zero-trust platform that provides user and endpoint identification, network micro-segmentation, threat blocking through built-in security functions, and visibility into internal networks.

Young-cheol Cho (조영철), Piolink's chief executive, said: "Many institutions agree on the need to adopt N2SF and zero trust, but are concerned about deployment costs and operational complexity." He added: "Endpoint control and micro-segmentation can be implemented simply by replacing aging switches with security switches, so Tfront ZT can be the most practical and economical way to transition to N2SF."