Cybersecurity Glossary
Virtual Private Network
An encrypted tunnel between a device and a network, used for remote access.
What Virtual Private Network means
A virtual private network extends your network to a remote device so it can reach internal systems, and encrypts everything along the way. In cloud first organisations its role has narrowed, because applications are reached directly and secured by identity rather than by network location.
Why Virtual Private Network matters for small businesses and nonprofits
Concentrating all remote access through a single appliance creates one very attractive target, and these appliances have been the entry point in many significant breaches. If you run one, patching it is urgent rather than routine.
What to do about Virtual Private Network
- Require multi factor authentication on remote access without exception
- Patch access appliances immediately when fixes are published
- Consider identity based application access instead of extending the whole network
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