Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) lately have become a very popular way for businesses and individuals to secure their internet connections and access resources remotely. However, reports have highlighted significant vulnerabilities in various VPN applications, putting users at risk of cyber attacks.
Due to these vulnerabilities, many organisations are exploring VPN alternatives to ensure secure remote access without compromising their network security.
This has led to the adoption of a zero trust approach, where no user or device is inherently trusted, and every access request is verified and authenticated before granting access. This article outlines the steps you should take if you have a VPN vulnerability and some VPN alternatives for businesses.
Steps to Fix VPN Vulnerabilities
Identify the Vulnerability
The first step is to identify the specific vulnerability affecting your VPN solution. Refer to advisories and alerts from reputable cybersecurity organisations – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) or the CERT Coordination Center.
These sources will provide detailed information about the vulnerabilities, the affected VPN products, and the potential risks.
Assess the Risks
Once you've identified the vulnerability, assess the potential risks to your organisation. Consider the sensitivity of the data and resources accessible through the VPN, as well as the potential consequences of a successful cyber attack. This assessment will help you prioritise your mitigation efforts and determine the appropriate course of action.
Implement Mitigations
If a patch or update is available from the VPN vendor to address the vulnerability, apply it promptly to all affected systems. Follow the vendor's instructions carefully and ensure that the patch is installed correctly. However, if no patch is available, you may need to consider temporarily disabling the vulnerable VPN until a fix is released.
Enhance Security Measures
Regardless of whether you choose to patch your existing VPN or migrate to a VPN alternative, it's essential to enhance your overall security measures. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access solutions to add an extra protection against unauthorised access.
Monitor and Respond
Always keep an eye on your systems for any signs of strange behaviour or possible cyberattacks. Make a plan for what to do if there is a security breach. This plan should include steps for separating the systems that were affected, finding the reason for the problem, and reducing its effects.
Stay Informed and Proactive
Threats to cybersecurity are always changing, and fresh vulnerabilities are found all the time. Sign up for email lists from trusted sources and vendors to stay up to date on the latest security warnings and fixes.
Explore VPN Alternatives
In some cases, the vulnerabilities in your VPN solution may be severe enough to warrant exploring alternative solutions. Several secure alternatives to traditional VPNs are available, such as:
- Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): SASE solutions provide secure, identity-based access to resources without the need for a traditional VPN. They combine features like software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN), cloud access security brokers (CASBs), and secure web gateways (SWGs) into a single cloud-delivered service.
- Proxy Servers: A proxy acts as a middleman between your devices and the internet, routing your traffic through a separate server and hiding your IP address. The best Proxy servers can be used to access resources securely from remote locations.
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): ZTNA solutions provide secure, granular access to resources based on user identities and device posture, eliminating the need for a VPN. They follow the principles of the zero-trust security model, which assumes that no user or device should be trusted by default.
When evaluating VPN alternatives for business, consider things like security, speed, scaling, and ease of use.
Conclusion
Vulnerabilities in VPN solutions pose a significant risk to organisations, as they can potentially expose sensitive data and resources to cyber attackers. If you have a vulnerable VPN, it's crucial to take swift action to mitigate the risks and explore secure VPN alternatives.
