When you are online, hackers, governments, Internet service providers, and even websites can spy on your activities. They may collect passwords, personal data, and payment information.
The SSL VPN protects your data from such spying. It is easy to set up and use because it relies on widely used web browsers. It is also easy to maintain as it encrypts the whole connection.
End-to-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption is an important security feature that protects data from prying eyes. When a message is encrypted this way, it’s scrambled and indecipherable to anyone who doesn’t have access to the key. It prevents hackers from intercepting and reading private communications and big service providers like Google from profiting off your personal information by analyzing it for advertising purposes.
In SSL VPNs that use this technology, the data is always encrypted from one device to another, regardless of which server it is transmitted to. It is unlike IPSec VPNs that are used to connect multiple remote networks and provide more flexibility in relating to network services, including non-web-based applications.
SSL Tunnel VPN uses the TLS or Secure Sockets Layer protocol already built into most web browsers. It provides an easy way to establish connections to networks and resources without the need for IT staff to set up and manage complex infrastructure.
While this is an advantage, it also means that the entire system could be compromised if there’s a flaw in the encryption protocol that can be exploited. It is why end-to-end encryption is such an important security feature for organizations to have in place. In addition to preventing hacking, it also protects employees from malware attacks that target browsers by allowing them to work from home with the confidence that their work is secure and their privacy is protected.
Strong Authentication
SSL VPNs are popular with businesses and users because they offer a fast setup, relying on the same TLS protocols as most web browsers. It means you don’t have to worry about many different endpoints that require specialized software. Furthermore, most users already have a web browser installed on their computers, so the installation process is easy.
Once the user connects to the SSL VPN, they will be prompted to authenticate themselves via an authentication portal. This portal can require strong authentication, two-factor authentication, or any validation that ensures the user is who they say they are. It helps to prevent any social engineering attacks, brute force attacks, or other types of unauthorized access attempts that intruders may attempt.
Another benefit of SSL VPNs is that they can tunnel to specific applications, which can be a significant security advantage in some cases. IPSec gateways can’t create such granular access rules, and they are usually geared towards network-level access instead of application-level access. It allows administrators to set up a network environment where remote users can access only the applications they need, and this limit reduces the likelihood of data breaches because hackers’ lateral movement is restricted. It also makes it easier to revoke access permissions when job roles change.
Integrated Firewall
SSL VPNs create “secure tunnels” for your data, making it nearly impossible to spy on your communications while in transit. If someone snooped on your data while it was being transferred, they would all see random bits of data being sent from one computer to another. These tunnels prevent data snoopers from learning anything other than what applications you’re using or which files you’re working on.
SSL-based VPN solutions offer more granular access control than traditional IPSec-based VPNs. Specifically, they allow administrators to create tunnels to specific applications rather than an entire network, making it possible to restrict remote employees to only the applications that have been authorized for them.
Furthermore, because most SSL VPN gateways incorporate perimeter security technologies like antivirus, IPS, and firewall, they can “clean” client traffic at the gateway to ensure that only authorized users connect to the enterprise. It protects against attacks that use a dictionary attack to brute-force password cracking and other popular methods of unauthorized remote access.
Finally, SSL-based VPNs also don’t require additional software or hardware installation. It makes them a more cost-effective solution than many IPSec-based VPNs. In addition, they also eliminate the need for users to download and maintain their clients, making them a more convenient option for employees who regularly connect to corporate resources from home, on the road, or even from Internet cafes.
Easy Maintenance
Unlike IPSec VPNs, SSL solutions have a much lower maintenance cost. They don’t require VPN client software (just a modern browser) to establish the connection and do all the encryption/decryption on their side. On the other hand, IPSec VPNs require specific client software that can often be prone to security vulnerabilities and needs constant updating to keep up with the latest threats.
SSL VPNs also offer granular access control. It means that users can be connected to only the applications they have been authorized to use, not the entire corporate network. It reduces the risk of a single user bringing malware into the company network and its potential impact on other employees’ devices.
Another benefit of SSL VPNs is their ability to connect to non-web-based networks and protocols. It can be advantageous when remote devices are outside the corporate network and cannot communicate via an IPSec VPN.
However, one thing to remember is that SSL VPNs are accessed via web browsers which can be susceptible to malware downloads and attacks. It can be a problem when providing secure access to a network containing sensitive data. To counter this, some SSL VPN gateways come with perimeter defense technologies like antivirus / IPS that will “clean” the clients’ traffic at the gateway and prevent them from connecting to the corporate network when they might be infected.
