A network is at danger from every device, every network connection, and every user, whether they mean well or not. However, operating in a disconnected silo is not feasible. The front-end to back-end business velocity is driven by online commerce. The variety of gadgets with network access has increased.
Businesses are now more sensitive, flexible, and fragile as a result of this. Based on the information that is currently available, nearly 4,600 common IT vulnerabilities were found in 2010. By 2023, that figure had risen to about 29,000. Only the traffic that passes through your walls may be secured. The Virtual Private Network (VPN) is now available: intangible barriers to buffer that flow of traffic.
Here are some pointers on how to utilize a VPN to secure your network, for both users and network administrators.
Eliminate Phishing
This may be the easiest and hardest user behavior to govern. Workers need to be aware that any email that appears to be fraudulent is actually a scam. Users should be very careful not to allow scammers to gain access to their systems as this could lead to the demise of their business.
Handle with Care and Control
There are just too many apps on personal devices that could be used as entry points into networks and cause disruptions. Although personal device apps pose a risk, the conveniences provided by companies like Google, which promises to “manage” passwords, provide a far greater hazard. It’s easy for someone posing a threat to obtain an end-user device and gain access to the network security.
Log Off
An attack vector is a personal device that is logged in. Exit the website and accept the inconvenience of a meaningful password. (Take note that this Boston University piece recommends utilizing a password manager, which grants access to all associated apps to anyone who can log into the phone.) Speaking of personal devices, don’t use one that hasn’t been approved and secured by your IT security team on your company network.
Best Practices for Administrators
Administrators are responsible for protecting against network threats from both within and outside of VPNs, if they are merely a virtual extension of physical network boundaries. The best defense would be a community of well-trained users, if only they weren’t human. Keep in mind that a VPN can only protect traffic and connections within the network.
Make Use of Standards-Based Links
Standards-based connections are often safer than custom-coded solutions, according to the National Security Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Custom-coded Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) VPNs operate beneath the protective Network Layer, although IKE/IPSec systems are often more secure.
Employ Top-Rated Encryption
Data and source are hidden during the encryption and decryption process of VPN transmission. Even among the open-source Advanced Encryption Standards (AES) developed by NIST in the 1990s, encryption is not universal. AES is available in 128-bit, 196-bit, and 256-bit forms. It makes sense that the most safe encryption keys would be 256-bit ones. In order to make AES almost uncrackable, it employs 14 rounds of encryption, with each key altering, transposing, or substituting 256-bit data blocks. AES is quicker than asymmetric encryption as it is symmetrical as well—the same key is used for both packet encryption and decryption.
