Don’t Let VPNs Be Your Only Line of Defence

Relying solely on a VPN for remote work security is like putting a padlock on your front door while leaving the side windows open. It may keep casual threats out, but modern attackers are looking for soft spots, and remote teams often have plenty.

Here’s the problem:
Once someone is “on the VPN,” they’re often trusted implicitly. But that device might be unpatched, infected, or even stolen. One cracked password later, and you’ve got a foothold inside your network.

Here’s how to level up:
You don’t need an enterprise budget to apply Zero Trust principles:

1. Start with Device Trust
   Use tools like Tailscale or Cloudflare Access to enforce device posture — only allow logins from healthy, known devices.

2. Go Passwordless
   Enable FIDO2/WebAuthn for sensitive logins. Most cloud platforms support it, and it's a significant improvement over SMS codes.

3. Use Conditional Access
   With Google Workspace or Azure AD, you can block access based on geography, IP reputation, or device risk.

4. Split and Isolate
   Don’t give VPN users access to your whole network—segment by role, app, or environment using firewalls or cloud-native security groups.

Takeaway:
VPNs are a great tool — just don’t treat them like a security silver bullet. Layer up, check device trust, and make attackers work a lot harder.

Try adding device checks to your VPN this week. It’s easier than you think — and way safer.