Remote Access VPNs: Business Productivity, Deployment, and Security Considerations
- Provide secure communications with access rights tailored to individual users
- Enhance productivity by extending corporate network and applications
- Reduces communications costs and increases flexibility
Should a company go for IPSec VPN remote access?
A company should go for IPSec VPN remote access if it has a strong networking department with the ability to configure each employee’s hardware device individually (installing client software, enforcing security policies etc.). IPSec VPN connections are also important for an employee who needs widespread access to the company’s network.
How to protect your network from remote access?
So, you have a three-layer line of defense working to protect remote access to your network: anti-virus, firewall, and VPN. The network security team should monitor alerts from these defenses constantly. Adopting two-factor authentication for remote access through VPN further boosts your network security.
What are the best practices for securing remote access?
Best Practices for Securing Remote Access. RAS: The most basic form of VPN remote access is through a RAS. This type of VPN connection is also referred to as a Virtual Private Dial-up Network ... IPSec: IPSec is an IP packet authentication and encryption method. It uses cryptographic keys to protect ...
How secure are VPNs?
While VPNs provide security by encrypting data and sending it through a “tunnel,” there are limitations to that security. Before examining those limitations, let’s take a look at how VPNs work.
Is remote access VPN secure?
A remote access VPN works by creating a virtual tunnel between an employee's device and the company's network. This tunnel goes through the public internet but the data sent back and forth through it is protected by encryption and security protocols to help keep it private and secure.
What are the security risks associated with remote access?
Many remote access security risks abound, but below is a list of the ones that jump out.Lack of information. ... Password sharing. ... Software. ... Personal devices. ... Patching. ... Vulnerable backups. ... Device hygiene. ... Phishing attacks.
What are the security risks of VPN?
The Not-So-Good VPN Security RisksThird-party VPNs can't create or enforce policies that protect credentials. ... More secure VPN = Less productive workforce. ... High VPN support costs = Higher cost of doing business. ... All or nothing = VPNs create security risks. ... Lack of accountability creates third-party VPN risks.More items...•
Is VPN more secure than remote desktop?
The essential difference when comparing VPNs and RDP is that a VPN doesn't provide your device with any additional functionality the way an RDP does. You're still using the same old device, only that its IP address has changed and it is now a whole lot more secure when accessing the Internet.
What are the security requirements for remote access?
7 Best Practices For Securing Remote Access for EmployeesDevelop a Cybersecurity Policy For Remote Workers. ... Choose a Remote Access Software. ... Use Encryption. ... Implement a Password Management Software. ... Apply Two-factor Authentication. ... Employ the Principle of Least Privilege. ... Create Employee Cybersecurity Training.
What security considerations do you think are important for users accessing their company desktops remotely?
These are the top remote work security issues businesses should be wary of.Managing All Devices and Employees.Insecure Passwords.Phishing Emails.Using Unsecured Personal Devices & Networks.Video Attacks.Weak Backup and Recovery Systems.Require employees to connect over VPNs.Install multi-factor authentication.More items...
Which of the security risks can be avoided by using a VPN?
VPNs are a great way to protect your Internet traffic and privacy from government surveillance, ISP snooping, and nosy hackers.
Which of these security risks can be avoided by using a VPN?
With a VPN, malicious actors can't monitor your online traffic and direct you to their website through browser hijacking. The private network connection insulates your network connection, limiting any attempt to hijack your browser, while keeping your browsing session secure.
Is VPN safe for online banking?
Is it safer to do online banking with a VPN? Yes, online banking with a VPN is safer than without it. A virtual private network does NOT compromise your data, protecting it when you bank over public Wi-Fi or through a home network. Generally speaking, encryption is the most important feature a VPN offers.
Which method of remote access is the most secure?
Implement a Secure Connection for Remote Network AccessWired Connection: A wired connection is the most secure method for remote network access.Home Wi-Fi: The second most secure network connection is using a secured home Wi-Fi connection.More items...•
What is the difference between VPN and remote access?
A VPN is a smaller private network that runs on top of a larger public network, while Remote Desktop is a type of software that allows users to remotely control a computer. 2. Remote Desktop allows access and control to a specific computer, while VPN only allows access to shared network resources.
Why would you use RDS instead of VPN?
VPN – Virtual Private Network encrypts your data and masks the IP address so that no malicious hacker can access the data and detect your location. The data is decrypted only at the intended destination. RDS – In RDS, the data is stored on the remote server and not on the end-point device.
What are security considerations for remote users examples?
Five Remote Access Security Risks And How To Protect Against ThemWeak remote access policies. ... A deluge of new devices to protect. ... Lack of visibility into remote user activity. ... Users mixing home and business passwords. ... Opportunistic phishing attempts.
What is the greatest risk that remote access poses to an organization?
The overriding risk of remote access services and software is a hacker gaining deeper access to your organization, exposing you to a host of IT security threats. Once they gain privileged access to your system, it will be difficult to prevent data loss, prevent phishing, protect against ransomware, etc.
What is the risk of unauthorized access?
What are the risks of unauthorized data access? Once an individual has gained unauthorized access to data or computer networks, they can cause damage to an organization in a number of ways. They may directly steal files, data, or other information. They may leverage unauthorized access to further compromise accounts.
Security Considerations for Remote Access
Remote access has long been a great way to allow timely and cost-effective maintenance of systems. Often, a problem can be fixed in an hour of remote diagnostics versus a day of travel and an hour on-site. On one occasion, I actually hooked a 56K modem up to a machine so I could remotely diagnose it and download a new program.
Threats
Where do threats come from? The paper discusses some of the major vectors:
External Connections
The External Connections section focuses on some of the common connection methods in use today:
Challenges Inside the OT Network
Now that you’ve opened your network for remote access, there are risks to be considered:
Policies and Procedures
This section covers some of the ways you can mitigate the challenges in the previous section. This covers the following concepts and more:
Summary
There is no one right way to go about remote access, much less, cybersecurity as a whole. The methodology for your organization might be obvious to you and your team. Even obvious solutions can be difficult to implement, and DMC can help you improve your remote access capabilities and processes.
How to improve VPN security?
Another way to improve VPN security is through perfect forward secrecy (PFS). If PFS is used, encrypted communications and sessions recorded in the past cannot be retrieved and decrypted should long-term secret keys or passwords be compromised.
Why are VPNs important?
VPNs were developed to solve two challenges: the high cost of leased lines for branch offices, and the growing need to enable remote workers to access the corporate network securely. While VPNs provide security by encrypting data and sending it through a “tunnel,” there are limitations to that security.
What are the different types of VPNs?
There are basically four types of VPNs: 1 A firewall-based VPN is equipped with both a firewall and VPN capabilities. This type uses the security provided by firewalls to restrict access to an internal network and provides address translation, user authentication, alarms and logging. 2 A hardware-based VPN provides high network throughput as well as improved performance and reliability, but is also expensive. 3 A software-based VPN provides flexibility in terms of how traffic is managed. This is best for when endpoints are not controlled by the same party and when different firewalls and routers are used. 4 A secure socket layer (SSL) VPN enables users to connect to VPN devices using a web browser. SSL is used to encrypt traffic between the web browser and the VPN device.
What is software based VPN?
A software-based VPN provides flexibility in terms of how traffic is managed. This is best for when endpoints are not controlled by the same party and when different firewalls and routers are used. A secure socket layer (SSL) VPN enables users to connect to VPN devices using a web browser. SSL is used to encrypt traffic between ...
Which is better: OpenVPN or PPTP?
For those looking for the most secure, OpenVPN is the best. For those looking for support for many devices, PPTP may be the way to go. A VPN provides a means of accessing a secure corporate network over insecure public networks.
What is VPN connection?
From the user’s perspective, the VPN connection is a point-to-point connection between the user’s computer and a corporate server. The nature of the public network is irrelevant to the user because it appears as if the data is being sent over a dedicated private link. As workers become more mobile, VPN connections allow users working at home ...
How does VPN work?
They operate on a principle of trusting whoever enters the network rather than using the principle of least privilege. The more secure ones are difficult to implement, as employees take time to put new security protocols in place, and VPNs overall are neither very flexible nor easy to manage.
What is remote access VPN?
The most basic form of VPN remote access is through a RAS. This type of VPN connection is also referred to as a Virtual Private Dial-up Network (VPDN) due to its early adoption on dial-up internet.
Why is IPSec VPN important?
IPSec VPN connections are also important for an employee who needs widespread access to the company’s network. A word of warning: If you are using IPSec VPN for remote access, but you are not deploying Internet Key Exchange (IKE, certificates) as an authentication method, the connection will be vulnerable.
Why is IPSEC used?
This allows IPSec to protect data transmission in a variety of ways. IPSec is used to connect a remote user to an entire network. This gives the user access to all IP based applications. The VPN gateway is located at the perimeter of the network, and the firewall too is setup right at the gateway.
What is client side VPN?
The client-side software is responsible for establishing a tunneling connection to the RAS and for the encryption of data. RAS VPNs are appropriate for small companies, requiring a remote access for a few employees. However, most serious businesses have moved on from this basic form of VPN connection.
What is IPSEC protocol?
IPSec: IPSec is an IP packet authentication and encryption method. It uses cryptographic keys to protect data flows between hosts and security gateways. The unique feature of IPSec is that it operates at the Network Layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) protocol model.
What is the line of defense for remote access?
So, you have a three-layer line of defense working to protect remote access to your network: anti-virus, firewall, and VPN. The network security team should monitor alerts from these defenses constantly.
Should a company use IPSEC VPN?
A company should go for IPSec VPN remote access if it has a strong networking department with the ability to configure each employee’s hardware device individually (installing client software, enforcing security policies etc.).
IIoT driving OEM business models
The IIoT has revolutionized the way business owners view their production environment by providing the capability to acquire real-time data from machines and devices in the field so that business owners can efficiently monitor and control production processes.
Challenges using VPN & RDC
Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), the latter using Virtual Network Computing (VNC), are two common methods used to remotely access machines and equipment at field sites.
Cloud-based secure remote access
Cloud-based remote access is a new type of remote access solution that enables flexible remote access to field machines. The network topology of a cloud-based remote access solution is composed of three components: remote gateway, cloud server, and client software.
Ease of use
Plug and play remote access without technical configuration. In a cloud-based remote access solution, security parameters, such as the hash functions, encryption/decryption algorithms, etc., are configured automatically.
Flexibility and scalability
Client software isn’t limited to a specific hardware platform. As long as they have an active client account, users can download the client software to any laptop/PC and have remote access from anywhere and at any time.
Conclusion
OEMs and machine builders require a secure, easy-to-use, and scalable remote access solution to enable on-demand remote access to machines deployed in the field. The traditional VPN and RDC solutions are cumbersome and require IT/networking knowledge as well as changes in the security/firewall policies.
What is AOVPN security?
The AOVPN solution is improved by additional security measures included with the Celestix appliance platform (physical, virtual and AWS edition). Based on Microsoft and industry standard security best practices, the Celestix appliance platform has undergone extensive hardening and attack surface reduction. These processes disable or remove unnecessary services, applications, roles, and features for a stronger security posture. Additional measures include updating the default configuration of the Windows firewall to further restrict remote access to services running on the host and improving default encryption algorithms used by applications and services.
What is AOVPN RRAS?
AOVPN RRAS server can be configured to enforce revocation of VPNs that’s uses IKEv2 and machine certificates for device tunnel authentication. If a AOVPN enabled device is compromised or stolen then its machine issued certificate can be revoked and its access can be denied on the VPN server after its revocation list has been updated.
What is AOVPN in Windows?
AOVPN is a compelling remote access solution that can be used to better manage remote Windows clients and dramatically improve their security posture, while at the same time securely providing ubiquitous and familiar remote access to on-premises applications and data. AOVPN leverages mature, well understood, and commonly deployed Windows platform technologies and works with Azure conditional access. Client connections are fully authenticated using a combination of digital certificates, in addition to machine and user authentication. The solution provides significantly higher levels of assurance when compared to DirectAccess, and security can be further enhanced with custom configuration. AOVPN provides support for both split and force tunneling and lost or stolen devices can be denied remote access administratively. The Celestix E Series hardware appliance platform increases the solution’s security through service hardening and attack surface reduction and simplifies feature installation with streamlined management interface.
What is AOVPN client?
AOVPN client to connect to the public Internet and the corporate network simultaneously. Some security administrators believe this to be a security risk, but closer evaluation reveals this risk to be more perceived than actual.
Can AOVPN be used in a firewall?
AOVPN in Windows Server 2012 R2/2016/2019 can now be configured behind an existing edge firewall for additional protection. Using this deployment model, the AOVPN server is configured using private IPv4 addresses. The server can be configured with two network interfaces in parallel with existing perimeter networks, or with a single network interface either in the DMZ or on the LAN.
One Security Solution for All Deployment Scenarios
Deploying large-scale VPN solutions for remote users is a thoughtful process. Beyond enabling simple access, things such as segmenting users based on role, security profile, and the content and resources they require are first-order tasks. Teams also need to identify users that require special access to resources.
Enabling a Multi-Pronged Security Approach
Fortinet customers that deploy FortiGate solutions in the cloud, on-premise, or at remote locations are able to take advantage of its single pane of glass management, enabling the control and orchestration of multiple firewalls across locations to establish and maintain consistent security and user experience.
Advantages of a Unified Security Approach for Remote Access
Of course, such increased traffic demands create more stress on existing infrastructure performance and functionality are pushed to their limits. In such situations, excess performance headroom is much appreciated.
Leveraging Existing Investments
Addressing new or increased capacity requirements due to increased demand for applications hosted in the cloud as well as SaaS services can seem like a significant challenge.
Author: Haris Khan
Remote work is the new normal for IT teams around the globe, and there is no surprise as to why remote work is becoming so increasingly popular for organizations. The modern employee workforce is no longer restricted to one physical location.
What is secure remote access?
Secure remote access refers to the technology used for securely accessing a system or application remotely. Cybercriminals and malicious actors are consistently looking out for vulnerabilities and loopholes in remote work infrastructures to exploit and plan cyber attacks.
Which technologies are used for remote work access?
Secure remote access can be effectively implemented by utilizing a collection of highly innovative, secure, and flexible technologies while accessing a system or application from a remote location A few prominent examples of such technologies are listed below:
10 Best Practices for Secure Remote Work Access
Some of the best practices that you can adopt to improvise remote access security in your organization are described below:
Why cloud desktops are an optimal choice for secure remote access?
Cloud desktop solutions offer greater flexibility and ease of access as all of your files, applications and desktop reside on the cloud. Cloud desktops are one of the most resilient and secure forms of remote access.
All-In-One Secure Remote Access with V2 Cloud
As the organizational trend keeps transitioning to remote work, it’s crucial to comprehend the numerous cybersecurity risks and threats that are associated with remote access security. Remote work has become an increasingly viable option with tons of advantages.
Threats
- Where do threats come from? The paper discusses some of the major vectors: 1. Insiders 2. Hacktivists 3. Cybercriminals 4. Terrorists 5. Enthusiasts 6. Nation-states Each type of threat actor is discussed in the guide. While we generally think of hackers trying to steal IP or money, the threats could just as easily be accidental operations by employees. A technician accidentally ca…
External Connections
- The External Connections section focuses on some of the common connection methods in use today: 1. Cell modems – Generally some form of direct connection into a machine over a cellular network. This could be a direct cellular gateway or a technician tethering their maintenance laptop to their cellphone. 2. VPN – Virtual Private Network is a tunnel through the plant firewall. This re…
Challenges Inside The OT Network
- Now that you’ve opened your network for remote access, there are risks to be considered: 1. Can an external user accidentally introduce malware to your system? 2. What if they access and download to the wrong equipment or, worse, download a dangerous change that could injure someone? 3. HMI devices have been running variants of Windows for 20+ year...
Policies and Procedures
- This section covers some of the ways you can mitigate the challenges in the previous section. This covers the following concepts and more: 1. Zero trust – Every point of access must require authentication. There is no more leaving the barn door open as soon as you’ve entered the one shared password that gets you into the network. 2. Limit accessibility – The access should be fo…
Summary
- There is no one right way to go about remote access, much less, cybersecurity as a whole. The methodology for your organization might be obvious to you and your team. Even obvious solutions can be difficult to implement, and DMC can helpyou improve your remote access capabilities and processes. Learn more about DMC's cybersecurity expertise.