Is Your VPN Actually Securing Your Data?

With the world dramatically changing in the past two years, work strategies have changed substantially. Now companies that once were anti-remote work are embracing the strategy. This means that the way they need to manage their IT has to change with the times. Alas, threats also evolve. Hackers and scammers are now doing more to target virtual private networks. 

The VPN, a tool used to encrypt data as it is transmitted between networks has long been used to secure data-in-transit for all types of businesses. With remote work more prevalent nowadays, threats targeting the VPN are growing. The National Security Agency recently released information suggesting that state-sponsored hackers have managed to take advantage of exploits and common security vulnerabilities to intercept data, remotely execute code, and steal authentication credentials.

Naturally, this news is troubling. Exploiting vulnerabilities that aren’t supposed to be there has the cybersecurity community worried. In fact, stats show that attacks targeting VPNs have increased substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Security professionals are responding by implementing more secure cryptography, but the whole situation is an ebb and flow that doesn’t always work out in the good guys’ favor.

The NSA and CISA have begun to issue recommendations for how companies should implement VPNs to ensure that they give them sufficient protection for their transmitted data, and data security professionals are listening. Alas, with so much being made about the tools being used to exploit vulnerabilities and protect data, the focus on the human element (a crucial part of any cybersecurity strategy) has been muted. With that considered, most cybersecurity professionals agree that for comprehensive security while using VPNs, businesses should ensure that the people using the encryption tool understand their place in organizational cybersecurity.

Unfortunately, for many businesses, the information relayed from these cybersecurity companies tend to be extraordinarily technical in nature, making it hard for even adept technology users to completely understand. This could create a problem for any business. 

At Macro Systems, our technicians can help you make sense of both the tools you use and the information that is being relayed from security organizations. Our team of IT professionals can not only get you the technology you need to protect your data while in transit, we can help you support your whole remote team with technology and advice that make sense to you. 

If you want to ensure that your data is safe while in transit, we can have a conversation about how to get the tools that you need in place and how to get your staff trained with the industry best practices. Don’t be confused by technology advice that goes over your head, reach out to us today at 703-359-9211.