VPNs are critical for information security. But simply having these cozy security tunnels in the toolkit isn't enough to keep an organization's data safe.

Blanket forts are great. As kids, we love the feelings of warmth and security that come from being wrapped, safe from the world, in that cozy embrace. IT security pros get a similar feeling when network communications are wrapped in a virtual private network (VPN).

VPNs are encrypted "tunnels" through which network traffic can safely flow. But simply having a VPN in the toolkit isn't enough to keep data safe; the VPN has to be deployed properly and used correctly to be effective.

There are two scenarios for deploying a VPN. One is "point-to-point," in which a VPN protects the network links between servers, data centers, or large infrastructure blocks. The other scenario is for mobile, where the VPN wraps the communication from a laptop, desktop, or handheld computer in the blanket fort of encryption wherever the device may be.

In many ways, the VPN between fixed assets is the easier deployment, since it will be totally within the control of the central IT group to connect assets that rarely, if ever, change. However, the mobile VPN "in the wild" is a much different deployment exercise, one that requires particular attention in order for the VPN to be truly effective at protecting the data flowing to and from devices in the field.

What can an organization's security staff do to make sure that its VPNs are protecting all of the data that has to flow from the field? Start with the steps described here, each of which must be communicated with employees so they understand how important data protection is.

One additional point: For purposes of this article, we're discussing VPNs as a general tool — not just the public VPN services widely used by consumers. If you're already using VPNs for all your network connections, let us know what your best practices look like in the comment section, below.

(Image: Photon Photo — Adobe Stock)

About the Author(s)

Curtis Franklin, Principal Analyst, Omdia

Curtis Franklin Jr. is Principal Analyst at Omdia, focusing on enterprise security management. Previously, he was senior editor of Dark Reading, editor of Light Reading's Security Now, and executive editor, technology, at InformationWeek, where he was also executive producer of InformationWeek's online radio and podcast episodes

Curtis has been writing about technologies and products in computing and networking since the early 1980s. He has been on staff and contributed to technology-industry publications including BYTE, ComputerWorld, CEO, Enterprise Efficiency, ChannelWeb, Network Computing, InfoWorld, PCWorld, Dark Reading, and ITWorld.com on subjects ranging from mobile enterprise computing to enterprise security and wireless networking.

Curtis is the author of thousands of articles, the co-author of five books, and has been a frequent speaker at computer and networking industry conferences across North America and Europe. His most recent books, Cloud Computing: Technologies and Strategies of the Ubiquitous Data Center, and Securing the Cloud: Security Strategies for the Ubiquitous Data Center, with co-author Brian Chee, are published by Taylor and Francis.

When he's not writing, Curtis is a painter, photographer, cook, and multi-instrumentalist musician. He is active in running, amateur radio (KG4GWA), the MakerFX maker space in Orlando, FL, and is a certified Florida Master Naturalist.

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