In today's fast-paced digital landscape, traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are falling short of meeting the evolving needs of businesses. Their network-level access and default trust creates security gaps that can be exploited by attackers, leading to compromised data and costly breaches.
"About 97% of organizations say they understand that their VPN is prone to cyberattacks and exploits."
Additionally, VPNs often provide slow and unreliable connections, frustrating employees and hindering productivity.
To address these issues, Cloudflare Access combined with an expert Cloudflare MSP, offers a cloud-native Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution that revolutionizes the way organizations secure and manage remote access.
What are the Limitations of Traditional VPNs?:
One of the primary concerns with traditional VPNs is the potential for lateral movement within the network. By granting network-level access, VPNs allow attackers to spread through the network once they gain entry, increasing the risk of data breaches and exploitation.
"Since the shift to remote and hybrid work, 44% of organizations have witnessed an increase in exploits targeting VPNs."
Additionally, VPN performance often lags behind modern standards, resulting in slow and unreliable connections.
In the era of remote work and heightened competition for talent, providing poor user experiences due to legacy VPN technology can hinder employee satisfaction and overall productivity.
How does Cloudflare Access Zero Trust Approach work?
Cloudflare Access takes a different approach to secure remote access by implementing Zero Trust principles with the assistance of a Cloudflare MSP.
Instead of providing blanket access to the entire corporate network, Cloudflare Access employs a software-defined perimeter, authorizing access on a per-resource basis. Each access attempt is evaluated against Zero Trust rules based on identity, device posture, geolocation, and other contextual information.
By eliminating default trust and lateral movement, Cloudflare Access significantly enhances security.
What are the advantages of Cloudflare Access over Traditional VPNs?:
Enhanced Security: With Cloudflare Access, the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement is minimized, providing a more secure environment for sensitive data and applications.
Best practices enhanced by the experience of Managed Service Provider (MSP) will ensure you are using Cloudflare Access with the best security posture that is suitable for your business.
Improved User Experience: Cloudflare Access offers lightning-fast performance, leveraging its global edge network with data centers in 400+ locations worldwide.
This ensures that employees experience reliable and responsive connections, regardless of their location.
"Connect users faster and more safely than a VPN, reducing time spent on related IT tickets by 80%."
Simplified Authentication: Cloudflare Access integrates with popular identity providers such as Okta, JumpCloud, Microsoft Azure AD, Ping Identity, and OneLogin, streamlining the authentication process.
It also allows for the incorporation of endpoint protection providers to assess device posture and enforce strict access controls.
Flexible Application Support: Cloudflare Access secures a wide range of applications, including web/SaaS applications, SSH connections, remote desktops (RDP), and other protocols.
This versatility allows organizations to protect various resources without the need for a VPN.
Implementing Cloudflare Access:
To transition from a traditional VPN to Cloudflare Access, organizations can adopt a phased approach, with the assistance of a trusted Cloudflare MSP.
Start by identifying one or two critical applications that would benefit from the improved security and user experience provided by ZTNA.
Consider applications with known issues, high usage, or frequented by high-risk users. Cloudflare provides a user-friendly Zero Trust dashboard that guides the setup process, eliminating the need for complex virtual machine configurations.
Throughout the implementation, involve key stakeholders such as identity administrators, application managers, and network administrators to ensure a holistic and successful rollout.
By gradually migrating applications to Cloudflare Access, organizations can modernize their access security while still maintaining coexistence with existing VPN infrastructure.
The Business Impact:
Implementing Cloudflare Access can yield significant benefits for businesses.
IT teams experience improved efficiency, reduced access-related support tickets, and faster onboarding processes for new employees. Quantifying the impact can be achieved by tracking metrics such as ticket numbers and resolution times.
Additionally, employee feedback and engagement surveys can provide valuable insights into the enhanced user experience and increased productivity resulting from the transition.
Traditional VPNs no longer meet the demands of modern businesses striving for enhanced security and improved user experiences.
Cloudflare Access offers a compelling alternative, implementing Zero Trust principles to safeguard data and streamline remote access.
With the assistance of a well-experienced Cloudflare MSP and by gradually transitioning critical applications to Cloudflare Access, organizations can reap the benefits of increased security, faster performance, simplified authentication, and flexible application support.