Is there something safer than a VPN?

Yes, there are indeed several advanced security solutions that offer a higher level of security and flexibility compared to traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), especially in today's cloud-centric and remote work environments.

While VPNs provide an encrypted tunnel for secure remote access, they often grant broad network access once connected, which can become a security vulnerability. Newer approaches focus on a "never trust, always verify" model, offering more granular control and reduced attack surfaces.

Why Traditional VPNs May Not Be the Safest

Traditional VPNs establish a secure, encrypted tunnel between a user's device and the corporate network. Once connected, the user typically gains access to a segment of the internal network, regardless of the specific application or data they need. This broad access can pose risks:

• Lateral Movement: If a connected device is compromised, attackers can potentially move laterally across the network.
• Performance Bottlenecks: All traffic often gets backhauled to the corporate data center, leading to latency and poor user experience for cloud applications.
• Limited Cloud Security: VPNs aren't inherently designed to secure access to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications or public cloud infrastructure.
• Complex Management: Managing VPN clients, firewalls, and network policies can be cumbersome for large, distributed workforces.

Safer Alternatives to VPNs

Modern security architectures offer more robust and adaptive solutions:

1. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

ZTNA is a core component of the "Zero Trust" security model, which operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." Instead of trusting users based on their network location, ZTNA verifies every access request, authenticating the user, device, and context before granting access to a specific application or resource.

• How it's safer:
  • Least Privilege Access: Users only gain access to the applications they need, not the entire network. This significantly reduces the attack surface.
  • Micro-segmentation: Network access is broken down into small, isolated segments, preventing lateral movement if one segment is compromised.
  • Contextual Access: Access decisions are based on real-time factors like user identity, device posture (e.g., patched, encrypted), location, and application.
  • No Implicit Trust: Trust is never assumed; every connection is authenticated and authorized.

2. Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)

CASBs act as intermediaries between users and cloud service providers, enforcing security policies as cloud resources are accessed. They are particularly effective for securing access to SaaS applications and protecting data within cloud environments.

• How it's safer:
  • Policy Enforcement: CASBs enforce security policies such as authentication requirements, encryption configuration, and malware detection.
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP): They can prevent sensitive data from being uploaded, downloaded, or shared inappropriately in cloud applications.
  • Visibility and Control: CASBs provide visibility into cloud application usage, identifying shadow IT and risky activities.
  • Device Access Control: They can manage access based on whether a device is managed or unmanaged, ensuring only secure devices can access corporate cloud data.
  • CASBs are a component of broader security frameworks like SASE and can be deployed independently to supplement or even replace the need for a VPN for cloud-specific access.

3. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

SASE (pronounced "sassy") is an emerging cybersecurity framework that converges wide area networking (WAN) and security functions into a single, cloud-native service model. It combines capabilities like SD-WAN, ZTNA, CASB, Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), and secure web gateways (SWG) into a unified, cloud-delivered platform.

• How it's safer:
  • Unified Security: Integrates multiple security functions, providing consistent policy enforcement across all users, devices, and applications, regardless of location.
  • Cloud-Native Delivery: Security is delivered from the cloud edge, closer to users and cloud applications, improving performance and reducing latency.
  • Zero Trust Foundation: Built upon Zero Trust principles, ensuring secure, granular access.
  • Reduced Complexity: Simplifies network and security management by converging disparate solutions into a single platform.

Comparison of Security Models

Here's a quick overview contrasting VPNs with these more modern, often safer, alternatives:

In conclusion, while VPNs remain a viable tool for basic encrypted tunnels, solutions like ZTNA, CASBs, and comprehensive SASE platforms offer a fundamentally safer and more adaptable approach to cybersecurity, aligning better with the demands of modern, distributed IT environments.