Importance of Hierarchical Management in Network Security in 2025

Most of you who started reading this blog probably know what Hierarchical Management is but not everybody knows the significance it carries in network security protocol management. NSPM is by itself a complicated system where structures that are used in normal software carry 10 times the significance and any small detail in it can differentiate between efficient solution and inefficient one. And with the rapid expansion of network tecnhologies and rising cyber crimes in 2025 your Hierarchical Management needs to support network infrastructures that are big enough to deal with the current threats.

The properly designed Hierarchical Management follows the general network infrastructure hierarchical design concept, so that equipment can be classified and managed based on matrix views such as infrastructure, data center, and business area. Every layer must be manageable to perfection.

What Problems Can Bad Hierarchical Management Design Bring?

1. Which data center does this device belong to? Which business area does this device belong to? What is this device used for? If your Hierarchical Management doesn't answer those questions you should find another solution.

2. If firewall device amount in this data center is not tracked properly this can lead very costly policy issues

3. Different branches should have different network infrastructures, separate management permissions, and be invisible to each other otherwise you will need whole team of engineers to clean up this mess.

4. If there are too many devices managed on the platform, and the order is too messy. A lack of device management matrix view can lead to many problems.

*Main Functions of Efficient Hierarchical Management Design *

1. Multi-level architecture view: Support for extended infrastructure layers (infrastructure- Data center - business domain), deeply adapted to the complex IT architecture of the enterprise.
2. Precise architecture mapping: 100% compliant with information construction standards: From the physical computer room to the business domain, the enterprise network architecture and IT governance model are fully replicated.
3. Asset Positioning and Independence: Click any level node to expand the associated devices. At the same time, it can meet the needs of different companies with different independent infrastructure levels.

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How to Create Hierarchical Management**

I’m going to demonstrate exactly how efficient hierarchical management should work in practice—by using SkyCloud’s iNet platform as a live example. You’ll see how device-level configurations are organized into policy zones, how those policies roll up into network-wide rules, and how centralized oversight ensures consistency and compliance across all layers.

1. Create data center: To create a new data center from the dashboard view, go to the left sidebar and expand the "Device Catalog" under the "Device" section. Hover over or click on "Infrastructure," then select "Create Data Center" from the dropdown. This opens a form where you can enter the data center name and description. After filling in the fields, click "OK" to save and add the new data center to your infrastructure.

Config -- Device -- Catalog – Infrastructure:

1. Create a business domain in the data center: Once the new data center is created, it appears under the “Infrastructure” section in the Device Catalog. By right-clicking or hovering over the newly created DataCenter_1, you can access options such as Edit, Delete, or Create Business Domain. The main panel updates to show the basic info of the selected data center, including its name, creation time, and description, along with status blocks for associated network components like firewalls, SDN controllers, and virtual gateways.

Config -- Device -- Catalog -- Infrastructure -- [DataCenter]:

1. Add devices, including firewalls, load balancers, switches, routers, and virtual gateways

Config -- Device -- Catalog -- Infrastructure -- [DataCenter] -- [Business domain]:

Solutions that offer most effective Hierarchical Management

Since you understood the importance of Hierarchical Management in NSPM I will tell you where you can find the solutions that utilize it the best:

1. Cisco stands out as a primary example of a company applying hierarchical management design in network security protocol management, especially with its SDN hierarchical control models and traditional three-layer network design.

2. Palo Alto Networks also contributes with centralized, layered security management tools. Other organizations and research efforts demonstrate the practical application of hierarchical policy management principles in network security.

3. SkyCloud's iNet embodies hierarchical management principles by combining multi-level subnet topology, modular scalability, distributed control, and robust SNMP-based monitoring to efficiently manage network security protocols across complex, layered network environments. This design enhances scalability, security policy enforcement, and operational resilience, making it suitable for large enterprises and distributed organizations like banks.

Conclusion

After breaking down the risks of poor structure and the benefits of a sound one, the path forward is evident. True Network Security Protocol Management (NSPM) is impossible without a deliberate and intelligent Hierarchical Management design. This is the only way to track every asset, enforce granular policies, and ensure different business units operate securely and independently.

You’ve seen how platforms like SkyCloud’s iNet bring these principles to life, turning abstract concepts into practical, efficient workflows. Industry giants like Cisco and Palo Alto Networks build their top-tier solutions on this same foundation for a reason: it works. Don't let your network infrastructure become an unmanageable mess. Evaluate your current system today. If it can't offer the multi-level architecture, precise mapping, and asset independence discussed here, it's time to explore a solution that can fortify your network for the challenges ahead.