How to Defend Against VPN Attacks

In today's hybrid work environment, where employees transition between remote and in-office settings, the frequency of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) attacks is on the rise at an alarming rate. In fact, a recent report shows that 28.7% of ransomware insurance claims were from attacks initiated through VPNs, due to either outdated software, or VPN gateways that were guarded by default or weak passwords – and no multi-factor authentication (MFA) protection.

These attacks pose major risks to businesses, threatening not only the integrity of their data but also their financial stability and reputations. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated in their methods, it’s crucial for organizations to stay one step ahead of them by implementing effective security measures.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to better safeguard your organization against VPN attacks by adopting data protection strategies that combine technological solutions and employee education.

Ready? Let’s get started by discussing:

• The Rise of VPN Attacks in a Hybrid Workforce
• Understanding the Vulnerabilities in VPN Systems
• Proactive Security Measures for VPN Users
• The Importance of Implementing a SIEM/SOC Solution
• Strengthening VPN Security with Multi-Factor Authentication and Conditional Access Policies
• Shift to Zero Trust Security for More Secure Remote Work

The Rise of VPN Attacks in a Hybrid Workforce

As businesses increasingly adopt hybrid work models that combine remote and in-office work, the use of VPNs has surged. Unfortunately, this shift has not gone unnoticed by cybercriminals; in fact, they seem to be focusing their efforts on VPN users. The uptick in malicious activity poses significant threats to businesses, especially those that depend heavily on remote access to corporate networks.

Elevity has spoken with many small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that think they’re too small to be a target for cybercrime. More often than not, they’re wrong in this assumption.

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Cybercriminals exploit various vulnerabilities in VPN systems, taking advantage of outdated software, weak passwords and unpatched security flaws. Because these attacks can lead to data breaches, financial losses and severe reputational damage, it’s important to have this discussion, particularly with clients and prospects who have a hybrid workforce; if we can help organizations understand the growing risk landscape, we can help them protect their workforces from potentially costly threats.

Understanding the Vulnerabilities in VPN Systems

VPN systems are designed to provide secure and encrypted connections for remote users. However, like any technology, they aren’t immune to vulnerabilities. Common issues include outdated encryption protocols, insufficient patching of software and weak authentication mechanisms. Cybercriminals constantly evolve their tactics to take advantage of these weaknesses, using methods such as phishing attacks, brute force attacks and exploiting software vulnerabilities.

The complexity of modern VPN systems can also be a double-edged sword. While advanced features offer enhanced security, they can also introduce new vulnerabilities if not properly configured. Organizations have to stay vigilant and be proactive in identifying and addressing potential security gaps in their VPN infrastructures.

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Proactive Security Measures for VPN Users 

To defend against VPN attacks, businesses need standardized security measures for their VPN users. Regularly updating and patching VPN software is a key step in minimizing risks. Ensuring strong, unique passwords and employing robust encryption protocols can also significantly improve security.

Additionally, providing comprehensive security training for employees can help reduce human error, which is often a factor in successful cyberattacks. By educating staff on best practices for VPN use and recognizing potential threats, businesses can strengthen the forces they apply to protecting their data.

Cybersecurity awareness training is important for all workforces. Ongoing education that includes both regular refreshers and tips about evolving scams on the horizon will make employees aware of how their behaviors could inadvertently lead to a breach.      

The Importance of Implementing a SIEM/SOC Solution 

When defending against VPN attacks, a multi-layered cybersecurity approach is best. However, one critical component that Elevity often recommends to clients is the implementation of a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Operations Center (SOC) solution. This approach gives businesses real-time visibility into multiple attack vectors, allowing for the correlation of events and detection of potential threats.

SIEM/SOC solutions go beyond traditional antivirus measures by exporting logs securely from remote PCs and analyzing them using both AI and human expertise. This dual approach helps pinpoint     patterns of attack and indicators of compromise, making it possible to react to emerging threats with greater speed and effectiveness.

Strengthening VPN Security with Multi-Factor Authentication and Conditional Access Policies 

Another effective layer to add to VPN security is the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA), combined with proper conditional access policies. MFA boosts security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification before they can access the VPN.

Conditional access policies can limit the lifetime of authentication tokens, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers to use stolen credentials. For trusted or registered devices, consider setting this token lifetime to 30 days. However, for bring-your-own-device (BYOD) scenarios, we recommend that it should be much shorter—typically 24 hours. This approach makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to exploit stolen credentials and increases the likelihood of detecting indicators of compromise prior to business data or financial loss.

Shift to Zero Trust Security for More Secure Remote Work 

Due to the limitations and risks associated with traditional VPNs, many businesses are moving toward zero trust security paradigms, an approach that minimizes trust and continuously verifies every access request.

Zero trust security is based on the premise of “never trust, always verify” and is more of a concept or idea than a defined protocol. We expect to see more organizations adopt zero trust paradigms as they add to their multi-layered cybersecurity strategies.  

How Elevity Can Help Your Organization 

At Elevity, our proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity takes into account your organization’s needs – both today and into the future. Contact us today to learn more about how partnering with Elevity can help shield your network against emerging cyber threats.