Why VPNs for remote access are outdated – and Remote PAM provides the solution

In an increasingly connected work environment, remote access has become an essential requirement for business operations. Companies often use Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to provide remote employees or contractors with secure access to internal systems. However, VPNs also have weaknesses, particularly regarding remote maintenance and the security of critical IT infrastructures. In this article, we will explore why VPNs are not the ideal choice and how Remote Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions, such as VISULOX, represent a significantly safer and more efficient alternative.

1. VPNs: Complexity and Security Risks

VPNs offer the advantage of encrypting the traffic between a remote user and the corporate network. This protects sensitive data from unauthorized access. However, the network access through a VPN is often too extensive and provides only a superficial security barrier. Once a user gains access to the network, they often have access to more resources than necessary for their specific task. This poses a significant security risk, especially if the VPN account is compromised.

Weaknesses of VPNs:

• Broad Network Access: A user often gains access to the entire network instead of specific applications or systems.

• Outdated Protocols: VPNs often rely on older technologies that are susceptible to vulnerabilities.

• Complex Management: Maintaining VPN servers and user rights requires extensive IT administration.

2. More Efficient Alternative: Remote Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Rather than relying on VPNs, Remote Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions offer a much safer approach to remote maintenance. PAM solutions are specifically designed to secure and manage access to privileged accounts, applications, and systems.

What is PAM? PAM solutions like VISULOX allow companies to control and monitor access to sensitive IT systems, particularly for external contractors, administrators, and IT teams. Unlike VPNs, PAM solutions provide granular control over access to specific systems and resources without the user entering the entire network.

3. Why PAM Solutions Are Better Suited Than VPNs

Remote PAM solutions offer critical advantages over VPNs, especially for companies looking to conduct remote maintenance securely and efficiently. Here are the key benefits:

• Application-Level Access Control: While VPNs often grant high-level network connectivity, PAM solutions allow for precise control over access. Only authorized users can access specific systems or applications relevant to their tasks.

• Session Monitoring and Logging: With a Remote PAM solution, IT administrators can precisely monitor who accesses which systems and when. Sessions can be recorded and reviewed as needed to detect suspicious activities. VPNs often lack these detailed monitoring features.

• Secure Access Methods: PAM solutions typically offer Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and other security mechanisms that make access to systems significantly more secure than conventional VPNs.

• No Direct Network Access: Users access the required application directly without entering the network itself. This reduces the risk of malware or vulnerabilities breaching the internal network.

4. VISULOX: The Flexible and Secure Solution for Remote Access

VISULOX is specifically designed for secure remote access to privileged accounts and offers a variety of features that significantly enhance the security and efficiency of remote maintenance.

Benefits of Our VISULOX Solution:

• Granular Access Control: VISULOX allows companies to precisely define access to individual applications and servers. External contractors receive only the permissions necessary for their specific tasks, minimizing security risks.

• Real-Time Monitoring: Administrators can monitor all sessions in real-time and intervene as necessary to stop unauthorized or suspicious activities. VISULOX records all sessions so that companies can later perform comprehensive auditing.

• High Scalability: VISULOX is suitable for companies of any size, from small businesses to large, distributed organizations. The platform can be flexibly adapted to changing requirements without extensive configurations.

• Simplified Compliance: As VISULOX monitors and logs access to privileged accounts, it helps companies more easily meet compliance regulations such as GDPR, ISO 27001, and other industry-specific guidelines.

• Easier Management: The management of user rights, access policies, and monitoring is conducted centrally through VISULOX's intuitive user interface. This eliminates the cumbersome management of individual VPN accesses and connections.

5. Why VPNs Are No Longer Suitable for Remote Maintenance

The main disadvantage of VPNs in remote maintenance is that they were not designed for today's requirements in terms of security, scalability, and flexibility. Companies need solutions that offer clearly defined and monitored access, especially when dealing with sensitive data and systems.

While VPNs provide encryption, they do not protect against internal threats or human error. The risk of an unprotected device penetrating the corporate network via a VPN is real. Here, remote PAM solutions like VISULOX provide much better control and security.

Conclusion

Although VPNs were often considered the standard solution for remote maintenance in the past, they no longer meet today's demands regarding security, efficiency, and user-friendliness. Companies should transition to Remote Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions like VISULOX to ensure a safer and simpler management of their privileged accesses.

With VISULOX, companies gain the ability to precisely control, monitor, and log privileged accesses – without the risks and complexities associated with VPNs. This not only makes remote maintenance more efficient but also safer, which is crucial in today's IT world.