Table of Content
- What is a remote access VPN?
- Understanding what is a remote access VPN
- What components make up a remote access VPN?
- Why do you need remote access VPNs?
- How do remote access VPNs work?
- Types of Remote Access VPNs
What is a remote access VPN?
Remote work has become popular over the past few years and remains so because of the flexibility it offers without necessarily taking down productivity. You can sit at a fancy cafe with your favourite coffee and parallelly meet your deadlines on time, if not sooner. Quite a bonus, isn't it?
However, there's a question we need to address here. You have the flexibility box checked, but how do you know the security box is? You need to know if the network you're using is secure, and if not, there's always the risk of threats and attacks. The aftermath and recovery of any such incident are definitely not cakewalk. We know anything like that never really ends well.
However, there's some good news: with a remote access VPN, you can have your data remain safe while you access your organization's resources remotely, and we'll soon discuss how.
Understanding what is a remote access VPN
A remote access VPN is a Virtual Private Network(VPN) that allows individual users to establish a secure connection to a private network remotely. With this technology, employees, contractors, or authorized individuals can access an organization's resources on its internal network. They can do so as if they were directly connected to the network, even if and when they are travelling, working from home, or from an off-site location.
What components make up a remote access VPN?
A remote access VPN comprises several components that work together to offer a secure remote connection to a private network (Given that the user is rightfully authorized). They are:
- VPN client: The software that's installed on the user's device to initiate and manage a VPN connection.
- VPN gateway/server: It is the entry point to the private network that authenticates users and manages connections.
- Authentication system: This ensures that only authorized users can access the VPN through methods such as digital certificates, passwords, or client apps validating user credentials and devices.
- Encryption: Remote access VPNs make use of encryption to create a secure tunnel between the client and the gateway, securing data as it travels over the public internet.
- Private Network: This is the internal network (such as the organization's LAN or cloud infrastructure) that remote users access securely upon authentication.
Why do you need remote access VPNs?
With the concept of remote work growing popular and being implemented vastly, VPNs have become a need in providing secure access to company resources from any location. They enable employees to connect to corporate networks securely, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected even when accessed from home or other remote locations.
However, the benefits of remote access VPNs don't just stop at enabling secure remote work. They extend to:
Data Protection
VPNs encrypt data in transit, protecting sensitive information from potential eavesdropping and interception. With this, any data transmitted over the internet remains secure and confidential. Not to forget, the encryption also enables protection against threats and unauthorized access.
Flexibility
We know that remote access VPNs offer employees the flexibility to access necessary resources from any location securely. This can improve productivity and enable flexible work arrangements, without the necessity to be present at the organization.
Compliance
Remote access VPNs help with compliance by providing secure, encrypted connections that protect sensitive data in transit, which is crucial for meeting regulatory requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA. They prevent unauthorized access to personal and confidential information by encrypting data and controlling user access, thereby ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information.
This encryption and access control help organizations adhere to data protection standards and avoid penalties associated with non-compliance. Additionally, VPNs can facilitate audit trails and monitoring, further supporting compliance efforts by providing transparency and accountability.
How do remote access VPNs work?
Here's how a remote access VPN works, step by step:
1. Initiating a connection
- The remote user launches a VPN client on their device, after which the client prompts them for authentication with their credentials.
- Now, the VPN client initiates a connection to the VPN gateway with the preconfigured server address
2. Authentication
- The VPN gateway receives the connection request and sends the user's credentials to the authentication server, which then verifies the user's credentials against its database.
- An approval message is now sent to the VPN gateway by the authentication server if the credentials are verified to be valid.
3. Establishing a tunnel
- The VPN client and gateway negotiate encryption parameters after successful authentication, and establish a tunnel using an agreed-upon encryption protocol such as IPsec or SSL/TLS.
- Now, the VPN gateway/server will assign an internal IP address to the client device.
4. Data transmission
- Before all the data leaves the device, it is encrypted by the VPN software.This encrypted data travels through the public internet to the VPN gateway.
- The incoming data is now decrypted by the VPN gateway/server and forwarded to the appropriate internal network resource.
- The responses from the internal network resource are encrypted by the VPN gateway and sent back to the client.
- The data is decrypted by the VPN client and presented to the user's applications.
5. Accessing the network
- The remote user's device now appears to be directly connected to the organization's network, and the user can access internal resources based on the permissions assigned to them.
- All the network traffic from the user's device is routed through the VPN tunnel, which encrypts all the data, hence masking the user's IP address and routing the traffic through a secure server. This creates a private, encrypted pathway for the internet traffic.
6. Session management
- The connection is monitored for activity by the VPN gateway, and the session is maintained. This is done to ensure only authorized users have and maintain network access. It also enforces granular permissions, enables activity monitoring in real-time and the process helps detect suspicious behavior. With this, organizations can quickly respond to security incidents and prevent potential threats.
- If the connection is idle for a specified period, the gateway can terminate the session. If the connection drops, the client software can automatically reconnect.
7. Disconnection
- Lastly, when the user is done with their tasks/work/ functions, they can manually disconnect the VPN. The client now notifies the gateway, which proceeds to terminate the tunnel.
- The assigned internal IP address is now released and can be reused to initiate connections in the future.
Types of Remote Access VPNs
There are several types of remote access VPNs, they are:
IPsec VPNs
Short for the Internet Protocol Security VPN, this uses the IPsec suite to secure communications over IP networks. IPsec operates at the network layer, providing a secure tunnel for data packets between devices. This VPN is widely adopted due to its compatibility with various operating systems and network devices, making it suitable for both site-to-site and remote access situations.
SSL VPNs
SSL VPNs use the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, now commonly replaced by the more secure Transport Layer Security (TLS), to create encrypted tunnels between a user's device and an SSL VPN gateway. These VPNs are user-friendly as they operate through web browsers, eliminating the need for dedicated client software.
SSL VPNs are easy to deploy and manage, offering secure remote access with minimal configuration. They are particularly beneficial for environments where users are in need of quick, browser-based access to specific applications or resources without full network access.
Mobile VPNs
Mobile VPNs are designed to maintain secure connections across various network changes, such as switching between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. They are ideal for environments that require persistent connectivity, such as public safety, for instance. Mobile VPNs ensure that application sessions remain active even when connectivity is interrupted or the devices enter hibernation. This VPN supports consistent roaming and is compatible with applications demanding constant connectivity, providing security through user and device authentication as well as data encryption.