Businesses should now look beyond traditional VPN (Virtual Private Network) security today. Fundamental changes in the working order, technological innovations, and potential threats can make VPNs less useful. Indeed, VPNs are great tools for protecting your privacy on the internet, as well as accessing restricted websites. A good VPN can be very useful if it has the features of no server logs, protects your privacy, does not distinguish between traffic types, and offers egress servers in different locations.
In 2021, 20 percent of respondents state increasing their virtual private network (VPN) capacity by 76%. Conversely, 26 percent of respondents report not having to increase their VPN capacity as a result of COVID-19.
Some access demands pose a major challenge for VPN-based solutions. That’s why there is a growing demand for alternatives that can surgically authenticate users to protect your data, don’t slow down connections, and scale seamlessly with ever-expanding hybrid IT ecosystems. You can find useful information about VPNs from reliable sources by continuing to read this article to see more VPN alternatives.
Here are the most used and the greatest 4 VPN alternatives:
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Zero Trust is a proactive defense strategy. Therefore, the technologies that support it are being adopted more broadly in response to growing security concerns. Zero Trust is an advanced security approach that requires authorization, authentication, and ongoing verification of security postures and configurations before all users, data, and applications inside and outside an organization’s network are granted access.
This approach uses high-end security technologies, including multi-factor authentication, next-generation endpoint security, and identity and access management (IAM) to authenticate a user while maintaining tight security.
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
SASE works with the principle of managing branches and centers securely over the cloud and from a single platform. Thanks to the management of network and security operations through a single-center, it facilitates the complex cyber security and network processes faced by businesses.
SASE platform, which is formed by the combination of SD-WAN, Zero Trust (ZTNA), Secure Internet Access, and Central Management features, is the last point of cyber security and network management processes to maximize efficiency in IT operations.
Software-Defined Perimeters (SDP) and Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN)
Compared to SD-WAN, traditional WANs based on traditional routers are never designed for the cloud. Typically, all traffic, including cloud-targeted traffic, needs to be pulled back from branches to a central or public data center where advanced security review services can be implemented. Backhaul-induced latency hampers application performance, resulting in a poor user experience and loss of productivity.
SD-WAN uses a central control function to securely and intelligently route traffic over the WAN. Along with application performance, this increases business productivity and agility by providing a high-quality user experience.
SDP is a security framework that controls access to resources based on identity. By establishing a perimeter via software versus hardware, an SDP hides an organization’s infrastructure from outsiders, while enabling authorized users to access it.
SDPs provide secure access to network-based services, applications, and systems deployed in public and/or private clouds and on-premises. SDP approach is sometimes said to create a “black cloud” because it obscures systems by cloaking them within the perimeter so outsiders can’t observe them.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
VDI refers to the abstraction and hosting of many virtualized desktop sessions on a central backend server. These virtual desktops can be made accessible to users with thin client endpoints. In the VDI configuration, a central server hosts the entire virtual desktop system, including the operating system and applications. The server uses a remote procedure call (RPC), which is a set of functions that enable communication to/from edge clients.
System administrators use an on-server RPC editor to configure virtualized desktop environments, select available applications, and specify settings and permissions for the operating system (OS). Endpoints in VDI configuration are thin clients, usual computers in ultralight configuration.
Conclusion
VPN and its alternatives allow you to remotely connect to a physical network where you are not. They are security solutions that act as a bridge between organizations’ resources and the employees accessing them. Because this secure bridge is end-to-end encrypted, businesses don’t have to worry about unwanted access or visibility into their networks.
Using VPN and its alternatives ensure complete protection and anonymity of all traffic. That’s why it’s essential to integrate VPN and alternatives into your network that can accurately authenticate users, don’t slow down connections, and scale seamlessly with ever-expanding hybrid IT ecosystems to protect your data.
