The surge in remote work driven by the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant challenges in scaling Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote workforces.
Issues such as degraded performance due to traffic backhauling, interoperability challenges across diverse devices, and maintaining regulatory compliance further complicate VPN scalability.
Traditional VPNs also lack built-in security features, necessitating additional layers of protection that increase latency and cost. To address these limitations, solutions like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) offer a more scalable and secure alternative, decentralizing network management and incorporating comprehensive security measures. This shift is essential for organizations aiming to support a robust, scalable, and secure remote workforce.
1. Complex Setup and Configuration
Setting up a corporate VPN is far from straightforward. It requires selecting appropriate protocols, configuring firewalls, and setting up user credentials. Each system within the network needs to be correctly configured to avoid vulnerabilities and connectivity issues, which can be particularly burdensome for larger organizations with complex networks. The diverse range of devices and operating systems in a corporate environment exacerbates these complexities, making interoperability a significant concern.
2. Balancing Security and Access
One of the primary challenges in scaling VPNs is maintaining a balance between security and access. VPNs must provide employees with secure access to company resources without compromising the overall security of the system. This balance is difficult to achieve, as granting access to one part of the system can inadvertently expose other parts to potential risks. Ensuring appropriate access levels for every user while avoiding over-privileged access is a constant challenge for IT departments.
3. Performance Issues
Performance degradation is a common problem with traditional VPNs, which add an extra layer of encryption and routing to internet traffic. This can significantly slow down connection speeds, impacting productivity, especially when employees need to access large files or use high-bandwidth applications. The necessity to backhaul traffic through corporate LANs for security inspection further compounds this issue, creating significant network latency and bottlenecks.
4. Scalability Concerns
As businesses grow or experience an increase in remote work, the number of people using the VPN can spike. Scaling traditional VPN infrastructure to meet these demands is complex and resource-intensive. It often requires additional hardware, such as servers and routers, as well as increased IT staffing to manage the expanded network. Ensuring that the VPN infrastructure can handle the increased load without compromising performance or security is a daunting task.
5. High Hardware and Infrastructure Costs
Deploying a corporate VPN solution involves substantial hardware investments. Companies need servers, routers, and sometimes dedicated lines for their VPN. This infrastructure is not only expensive to purchase and set up but also requires regular maintenance and upgrades, contributing to a high total cost of ownership. These costs can be prohibitive, especially for smaller organizations or those with limited IT budgets.
6. Interoperability Issues
Ensuring that a VPN service works seamlessly across various devices and operating systems is a significant challenge. Companies may need to configure different protocols or additional software for different devices, adding to the complexity of VPN management. This issue is further complicated by the need to support a wide range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, all with different operating systems and security requirements.
7. User Training and Support
Not all employees are tech-savvy, and many may need training on how to connect to the VPN, resolve basic connectivity issues, and use the service properly. Providing this training adds to the workload of IT departments, which also need to offer ongoing support for VPN-related issues. This can be particularly challenging for organizations with limited IT resources.
8. Maintaining Uptime
Any downtime on a corporate VPN can result in lost productivity and potential revenue loss. Ensuring a stable and reliable VPN connection is crucial, as any interruption can prevent employees from accessing necessary resources. IT departments must quickly resolve any issues to minimize the impact on business operations, placing additional pressure on already stretched IT resources.
9. Regulatory Compliance
Depending on the industry, companies may need to adhere to strict data protection and privacy regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA. Ensuring that the VPN service complies with these regulations, particularly concerning data encryption and user privacy, is crucial but can be complex and challenging to implement.
10. Managing and Monitoring VPN Usage
Keeping track of VPN usage across a large organization is vital for security but is also challenging. IT teams must monitor who is accessing what resources, from where, and when. This monitoring is essential for identifying any suspicious activity early on and is often a requirement for compliance audits. The overhead of managing and monitoring VPN usage can be significant, especially for larger businesses.
Conclusion
Scaling VPNs to support remote workforces presents a multitude of challenges. From complex setup processes and performance issues to high hardware costs and regulatory compliance, traditional VPNs struggle to meet the demands of a large-scale remote workforce. As organizations continue to navigate these challenges, alternative solutions like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) are becoming increasingly attractive, offering scalable, secure, and efficient remote access capabilities.
