"All systems are on the same flat network, it’s simpler that way."
COMPANY
Sector: Logistics
Size: 450 employees
Location: Wallonia
FACTS & FIGURES
Single flat network without VLANs or segmentation
Malware spread from one workstation to entire company
Business Impact: Complete shutdown of operations
STORY
At a logistics company in Liège, all devices,from employee laptops to critical servers, were connected on a flat network. This made troubleshooting easier, but it also meant there were no boundaries to contain threats. When one user clicked a phishing link that installed ransomware, the malware propagated across the network in minutes, encrypting file shares, databases, and even backup servers. The company was forced to halt all operations while external responders were brought in.
INCIDENT OVERVIEW
Without segmentation, a single compromised device can endanger the entire organization. Segmentation is the equivalent of fire doors in a building: they stop an incident from spreading. Flat networks make life easy for administrators but also for attackers, who can move laterally without restriction once inside. In this case, ransomware did not just take down one laptop but cascaded into a company-wide shutdown, highlighting how lack of segmentation multiplies risk.
BUSINESS IMPACT
Full business interruption
Delayed shipments and revenue losses
Costly engagement of external incident response teams
SECURITY MEASURES
Implement VLANs and firewall rules to separate critical systems
Apply Zero Trust principles with least-privilege access
Regularly test segmentation effectiveness