Long gone are the days when switchboard operators were relied upon to make phone connections. Advancements in telecommunication quickly eliminated the need for cumbersome and manual intervention. It is time we abandon the switchboard-like model that we have inherited from virtual private networks (VPNs), remove unnecessary complexity, and make room for security innovation.
Policy Management Should Not Be a Full-Time Job
Security admins managing VPNs and policies are often left with a difficult choice— open broad access to simplify operations but introduce serious security risks or restrict access and spend an admin’s working day manually providing access.
When VPNs are used across hybrid environments, managing access based on static IP addresses does not work. New IP addresses are assigned dynamically by the cloud provider and require admins, once again, to spend valuable time managing policies.
Given the increase and rapid evolution of cyber threats, it is imperative to devote time protecting the organization rather than placating the pitfalls of antiquated VPNs.
Ditch the VPN for a Better, Simplified Approach
Change requires letting go of the past and embracing the present. For the telectommunications industry, it was replacing the switchboard with automated systems to handle the influx in required connections. For cybersecurity today, it is letting go of cumbersome VPN technology and applying a simpler approach to secure access with the Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP).
The Software-Defined Perimeter transforms security by implementing the principles of Zero Trust, enabling cloud adoption and focusing on the user’s identity, not the IP address. This provides a better alternative to the insecure VPN and reduces manual intervention to manage policies and access requests.
The dynamic policies and automation capabilities of an SDP break down the need for resource-intensive management. Solutions like AppGate SDP dynamically look at what the user is doing at any point in time and adjust access based on predetermined rules. AppGate SDP’s programmable architecture allows it to scale seamlessly with new cloud or on-prem deployments, and API integrations enable process automation unachievable with VPNs.
Case Study: Datadog Retires VPN and Deploys SDP
Datadog previously relied on traditional VPNs but knew it needed a simplified, cohesive platform to manage user access. It turned to AppGate SDP to replace its VPN and unleashed the true potential of DevOps. Covering 600-plus users in more than 100 locations, AppGate SDP provides individual, one-to-one network segments only to the resources users are permitted. It allows developers to access distributed resources simultaneously across cloud and on-prem environments, removing constant and agonizing VPN switching.
Kill the VPN. Unleash Innovation.
As enterprises seek to innovate through moving to the cloud, embracing DevOps, or supporting remote talent, they cannot afford to be held back by antiquated security. VPNs are dangerous and complex when it comes to protecting today’s IT-driven organizations.
Learn more about why it is time to kill the VPN and replace it with a Software-Defined Perimeter in this latest on-demand webinar.
