VPN and Zero Trust: What Are They and Why Are They Important?
At DTC, we believe that educating our clients is just as important as keeping them secure and online. In this blog, we will discuss what VPN and Zero Trust remote access are and which security measures you should consider for your business.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that connects remote employees to a company’s confidential resources by routing traffic through secure channels. This allows users to access a private network remotely and securely. Businesses commonly use VPNs to enable employees to access company resources securely when working remotely, and individuals use them to protect their online privacy and security.
What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security concept and framework based on the principle that no one is a trusted user. Instead of assuming that everything behind a business’s firewall is safe, Zero Trust requires verification from anyone trying to access network resources, regardless of their location. This means that users and devices are continuously authenticated and authorized before granting access to only applications or data they are approved to use, following the principle of “never trust, always verify.”
What challenges could come from using VPN or Zero Trust?
Using either Zero Trust or a VPN comes with its own set of challenges. VPNs can pose security risks due to broad network access, complications in implementing multi-factor authentication, and scalability issues with the increasing number of remote users. On the other hand, implementing Zero Trust may require a complete overhaul of the existing security system and continuous validation from its users.
Which one to choose?
While VPNs have been a mainstay for companies over the years due to their accessibility and ease of use, rapidly evolving threats have propelled Zero Trust into a necessary security practice for businesses.
Conclusion
In today’s threat landscape, the shift from VPN to Zero Trust is increasingly important. While VPNs will continue to be used, the rising number of threats makes the transition to Zero Trust critical for businesses. Limiting your attack surface is essential in today’s business environment. Please consider these questions when planning your remote access solution.
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