Virtual private networks form the backbone of remote access for most organisations. The assumption that VPNs provide secure access has proven dangerously optimistic. Modern attacks target VPN infrastructure with alarming success.
Unpatched VPN appliances represent massive risks. Critical vulnerabilities in VPN products get disclosed regularly. Attackers weaponise these vulnerabilities within hours. Organisations that delay patching leave their entire network exposed through compromised VPN infrastructure.
Credential stuffing attacks target VPN portals. Attackers use credentials stolen from other breaches, trying them against VPN authentication. Without multi-factor authentication, these attacks succeed with disturbing frequency.
Split tunnelling creates security complications. Users connect to the corporate VPN while simultaneously accessing the internet directly. Their compromised home networks can attack corporate resources through the VPN tunnel. Many organisations disable split tunnelling, forcing all traffic through the VPN. This creates performance problems and user frustration. Comprehensive external network penetration testing examines whether your VPN implementation actually prevents unauthorised access.
Always-on VPN sounds secure but creates issues. Devices maintain constant VPN connections, ensuring all traffic traverses corporate networks. Mobile devices drain batteries maintaining these connections. Users disable the VPN to extend battery life, then forget to re-enable it.
William Fieldhouse, Director of Aardwolf Security Ltd, explains: “VPN security requires layers. Strong authentication, device health checking, network segmentation, and monitoring all contribute. VPN access shouldn’t grant unlimited network access. Least privilege principles apply to remote access as much as local access.”
Certificate-based authentication provides stronger security than password-based approaches. Digital certificates stored on managed devices ensure both user and device authentication. Implementation requires certificate management infrastructure and processes.
Device posture assessment validates device security before granting access. Is the device running current patches? Does it have endpoint protection enabled? Are there signs of compromise? Unhealthy devices get quarantined or denied access entirely.
Network segmentation limits VPN user access. Remote users shouldn’t automatically access every internal resource. Segmentation restricts VPN users to necessary resources only, limiting potential damage from compromised accounts.
Session timeout policies balance security and usability. Short timeouts enhance security but frustrate users with frequent re-authentication. Long timeouts allow attackers prolonged access through stolen sessions. Risk-based timeouts adjust based on user behaviour and access patterns.
VPN logging provides essential security telemetry. Connection attempts, authentication events, and accessed resources all warrant logging. Analysis of VPN logs identifies suspicious patterns like unusual connection times, rapid connection from geographically distant locations, or excessive failed authentication attempts. Working with the best penetration testing company ensures comprehensive assessment of your remote access security controls.
Zero trust network access offers an alternative to traditional VPNs. Instead of granting network access, ZTNA brokers application access based on identity and context. Users authenticate, device health gets verified, and access to specific applications gets granted without exposing the entire network.
