The growth of Secure Sockets Layer virtual private networks (SSL VPNs) has accelerated in the last 12 months due to greater awareness among users of the commercial advantages, better marketing which focuses on benefits rather than technology, and improved security features. . The ultimate goal of SSL VPN technology is to allow controlled, secure and managed access to any application, from any device and from any location. Early implementations had some limitations such as user account information not being cleared down from the browser after user sessions, no support for dynamic port assignment, support only for web-enabled applications, and no strong authentication of the user or the access device. The link for this article located at Help Net Security is no longer available. . VPN over SSL provides a safeguarded pathway for accessing applications, broadening remote user connectivity across various devices.. SSL VPN, Secure Access Solutions, Remote Networking, Network Protection. . Bill Locke
Three years ago, I proposed to our technology architects that we eliminate our network firewalls. Today, we're close to achieving that goal. Back then, I thought that network-based firewalls were losing their effectiveness, enabling a mind-set that was flawed. Today, I'm certain. . Perimeter security was originally intended to allow us to operate with the confidence that our information and content wouldn't be stolen or otherwise abused. Instead, the firewall has slowed down application deployment, limiting our choice of applications and increasing our stress. To make matters worse, we constantly heard that something was safe because it was inside our network. Who thinks that the bad guys are outside the firewall and the good guys are in? A myriad of applications, from Web-based mail to IM to VoIP, can now tunnel through or bypass the firewall. At the same time, new organizational models embrace a variety of visitors, including contractors and partners, into our networks. Nevertheless, the perimeter is still seen as a defense that keeps out bad behavior. Taking that crutch away has forced us to rethink our security model. Our new security posture gives our users access to more applications regardless of their location and without sacrificing security. The new security architecture isn't focused on our network firewall. Instead, we embed security within our internal network. This begins with separating our servers from our clients. We can do that now, thanks to layer-3 data center switches that allow for the low-cost creation of subnets. By defining simple ACLs, we further isolate our backend servers. The link for this article located at Security Pipeline is no longer available. . The landscape of perimeter security is changing; examine how conventional firewalls could impede the deployment of applications and the security of access.. Network Security, Innovative Firewall, Application Access, Security Architecture, Perimeter Defense. . Brittany Day
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