When most applications lived in the office server room, a VPN was the obvious way to give remote staff access. Today, teams work from home, client sites and while travelling, and applications live both on-premises and in the cloud. Securing that access needs more than a single tunnel.
How a remote access VPN works
A remote access VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a user’s device and the company network. All traffic through the tunnel is protected, even on public Wi-Fi. VPNs remain a proven, valuable tool, especially for reaching on-premises systems such as file servers and ERP databases.
The limits of “connect and trust”
A traditional VPN often gives a connected user broad access to the network. If an attacker steals a password, they may be able to move freely once inside. That is why modern security adds extra layers around the VPN.
Layer 1: Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA requires a second proof of identity, such as an app notification or one-time code, in addition to the password. It is one of the simplest and most effective controls against stolen credentials and should be enabled on VPN, email and cloud applications.
Layer 2: Zero trust principles
Zero trust is based on a simple idea: never trust, always verify. Instead of trusting anyone inside the network, each request is checked based on who the user is, the health of their device and what they are trying to reach.
- Least privilege: users only reach the applications they need, not the whole network.
- Device checks: access can depend on the device being updated and protected.
- Continuous monitoring: unusual activity is flagged and access can be revoked.
Layer 3: The firewall at the edge
A next-generation firewall terminates VPN connections and inspects traffic with intrusion prevention, gateway antivirus and application control, stopping threats before they reach your network.
Where to start: enable MFA on all remote access, review who has VPN access and what they can reach, keep your firewall firmware updated, and segment sensitive systems from the rest of the network.
Secure your remote workforce
Newtech designs and implements VPN and secure remote access solutions together with firewall and antivirus protection for businesses across the UAE. Speak to our security team.
