Why ZTNA is the future of secure remote access

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The perilous state of VPNs

Reliance on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for secure remote access is under siege. A recent report by CyberSecurity Insiders revealed a staggering statistic: 92% of organizations express concern that VPNs compromise their security posture.

This apprehension is well-founded. The recent discovery of the ArcaneDoor vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-20353, CVE-2024-20359, and CVE-2024-20358) targeting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) devices and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) software exposed critical weaknesses. Malicious actors actively exploited these vulnerabilities, highlighting the vulnerability of VPNs to sophisticated attacks.

ArcaneDoor: A wake-up call

The ArcaneDoor exploit highlighted the evolving tactics of cybercriminals. The attackers demonstrated significant resources and planning, employing novel techniques to target multiple entities simultaneously. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of VPNs. Vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-20337, which impacted Cisco's Secure Client across various operating systems, allowed attackers to hijack VPN sessions remotely without authentication.

The consequences for businesses utilizing these services have been severe. Remote access breaches disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and damage an organization's reputation. Patching these vulnerabilities is crucial, but the question lingers: how many more vulnerabilities will emerge before we embrace a more robust approach to remote connectivity?

Introducing ZTNA: A paradigm shift in secure access

ZTNA offers a compelling alternative to VPNs that fundamentally changes how organizations grant access to applications. Unlike VPNs, which grant access to an entire network once credentials are verified, ZTNA enforces a stricter "least privilege" principle. Users are only granted access to the specific applications they require, based on their identity and pre-defined access policies. This minimizes the attack surface and reduces the potential damage if a breach occurs.

The advantages of ZTNA with HPE Aruba Networking

• Granular access control: Secure access extends to all private applications, including modern web applications and legacy thick-client applications.
• Enhanced visibility: ZTNA inspects all traffic, providing granular insights into user activity, downloaded files, and commands used.
• Flexibility in deployment: Access private applications with or without a lightweight agent. Seamless integration with existing Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions ensures a smooth user experience.
• Zero Trust philosophy: Enforce identity and policy-based access without granting blanket network access. Applications, firewalls, and ACLs remain unexposed.
• Complete VPN replacement: Unlike some ZTNA solutions, HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA offers a complete replacement for VPNs, helping organizations consolidate and eliminate reliance on outdated technologies.

Investing in the future of secure access

The ever-present threat landscape demands a shift towards more secure remote access solutions. The HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA solution offers a powerful alternative to VPNs, providing granular control, enhanced visibility, and a Zero Trust approach.

By embracing ZTNA, organizations can move beyond the perpetual patching cycle of VPN vulnerabilities and establish a foundation for secure and reliable remote access in the digital age.