Remote work is the present. Over 97% of workers prefer working remotely, and more employers are starting to embrace remote work. However, for cyber security leaders, remote work means more cyber security risks. Traditionally, IT professionals relied on VPNs to safely give employees access to company data and apps. However, VPNs are no longer suitable for the modern hybrid workplace. The key? Password free, zero-trust security.
Why VPNs Are No Longer Enough
Virtual private networks or VPNs were once the height of privacy and security over the Internet. The encrypted connection protects organizations’ networks while allowing employees to exchange information digitally through trusted computers. However, with the rise of remote work and the practice of “bring your own device” or BYOD, VPNs have become an easy target for hackers.
With employees bringing their own devices to work, IT administrators can no longer monitor how safe the devices are. So, when a compromised device or credential gets access to a VPN network, the entire network becomes compromised as well. Sometimes, it takes years for IT administrators to notice that their network has been compromised, meaning that their data (and that of their clients) are leaked continuously for years.
Apart from that, VPNs simply no longer fit the modern workplace set up. Keeping a VPN network has become costly and time-consuming, resulting in poor user experience. It is costly for IT administrators to check and ensure that each device can be trusted. For organizations with remote workers in different geographical areas, they will need to establish additional VPN servers in these employees’ locations.
A Modern Solution: Zero-Trust Approach
A zero-trust security model removes trust on all devices, and requires all users inside or outside the network to be authenticated, authorized, and validated before being granted any access to the organization’s data. This minimizes instances of misuse and compromised credentials.
This type of security framework turns a decentralized IT network into an advantage. By requiring continuous vetting for every attempt to access the network, zero-trust is able to limit the access of a hacker, and, therefore, the impact of a data breach. IT administrators will also be able to detect a breach right away and respond right away.
Password Free Approach To Security
The zero-trust approach is best implemented with password free authentication. KBA-based authentication tends to be burdensome to the users and easy targets to hackers. By replacing passwords with key-based authentication, organizations enjoy 99.5% sign-in success rates, 78% sign-in speed increases, and increased security overall across employee and customer logins.
Check out Nok Nok products to learn more about how password free authentication fits your organization.
