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For a while now, VPN has been a staple of a standard security setup and a fast track for mobile business security. But in a shifting climate, businesses are looking for more fit-for-purpose solutions to secure corporate perimeter. With the migration to remote and hybrid work over the last year, cyberattacks have increased at a rate of three to five times compared to pre-COVID.
More than a VPN — data security explained
While VPNs are great at what they do, their scope is limited in the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. However, the role of a decentralised workforce is evident in 2021 — it’s essential.
With the rise of remote work, employees have seen some significant benefits, such as working flexible hours, spending more time with their families, and being able to work more comfortably at home.
However, there is a downside – the risks associated with such decentralisation are greater than ever before. Unencrypted networks, unlisted websites, and slow speeds, even unauthorized users continue to access confidential corporate data. In fact, global losses from cybercrime now total over $1 trillion. In addition, the rise in ransomware and malware attacks targeted at unprotected corporate networks in recent years has also proved to be a significant threat to today’s distributed workforces.
Even before 2020 brought the world to a standstill, the office environment has become less centralised than ever, with the rise of Software as a Service (SaaS) applications for businesses. Since then, though, this decentralization has accelerated to the point where it’s unlikely we’ll ever go back to working the way we did before.
The notable shift towards cloud-based environments has seen businesses choose to migrate their network complexities to a central space - one that widens previously restricted perimeters and accommodates distributed endpoints on the network. As such, the safety of company data is just as important as protecting the company network.
Business owners now require more advanced solutions to have the visibility and control needed to manage their access permissions on the company network.
"Suppose you’re in a leadership position in your company. In that case, you want your employees (whether permanent, contracted, or freelance) to be able to access the applications and resources they need to do their job. At the same time, you’re probably conscious of how far their reach within your network should be. If everybody has access to your most valued assets, by default, you are compromising their safety with such frivolous freedoms,’’ explains NordVPN Team's expert.
This is where Network Access Security comes in. Modern solutions are built with the "Zero Trust" principle in mind - "deny all, permit some." In other words, every user should not be trusted until their identity is verified. As a result, secure access security solutions make it much easier and safer to provide employees with the exact resources and applications they need. At the same time, they ensure that employees don’t access data or assets that are confidential to the company.
Paired with authentication methods such as 2FA and ensuring everyone follows security best practices for business, it can vastly reduce the potential for damage from a data breach (or a breach even occurring).
While VPN technology still has its place in a robust security setup, Secure Network Access is central to the gold-standard Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) model.