The Limitations of VPN-Based Access for Organizations

As hybrid and multi-cloud environments become the standard, organizations are under growing pressure to deliver scalable and secure remote access. Traditionally, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been the go-to solution for connecting remote users to corporate networks. While VPNs have been essential for remote access, they were originally designed for simpler, perimeter-based security models. Organizations that rely solely on VPNs face significant limitations, including weak access control, increased risk of lateral movement and poor visibility.

Continue reading to learn the limitations of VPN-based access and how KeeperPAM® provides a strong, modern alternative for securing remote access.

Why VPNs are no longer enough

Although VPNs have been used to enable remote access within organizations, the limitations of VPNs are becoming increasingly clear as IT environments span across multiple on-premises, hybrid and remote systems. Relying on VPN-based access alone can actually make remote access less secure, introducing a variety of security and compliance risks:

• Legacy architecture: Since they were built for perimeter-based security models, VPNs now struggle to provide secure remote access across modern hybrid and cloud environments.
• Lack of granular access control: Once a user is connected to a VPN, they often have broad access to the network beyond what is necessary. This goes against the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) and increases an organization's attack surface.
• Credential and device risk: If a user's device is compromised or their login credentials are stolen, cybercriminals can use the VPN connection to move laterally within an organization's network — increasing the damage of a data breach.
• Operational friction: VPNs can introduce latency and perform poorly, especially when supporting a substantial remote workforce. Maintaining VPNs across a remote workforce is more complex and resource-intensive than alternative solutions designed for modern IT environments.
• Poor visibility: Most traditional VPNs lack monitoring or session recording, making it challenging for IT teams to enforce compliance, perform audits or identify behavioral anomalies in real time.

Secure remote access without the drawbacks of VPNs

While VPNs still serve a purpose in certain scenarios, especially for legacy systems, they are no longer sufficient as a primary solution for securing remote access. Organizations need a solution like KeeperPAM that enforces least-privilege access, is scalable across distributed infrastructures and reduces security risks.

KeeperPAM is a modern, zero-trust, cloud-native Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution designed for securing remote access in complex, cloud-native environments without the limitations of traditional VPNs. Here are the ways KeeperPAM overcomes the main limitations of VPNs:

• Zero-trust gateway: KeeperPAM uses outbound-only connections from endpoints to the Keeper Gateway, eliminating the need for a VPN and inbound firewall changes. With KeeperPAM, organizations can reduce their attack surfaces and simplify deployment across on-prem, hybrid and cloud environments.
• Just-in-Time (JIT) access: Instead of granting standing access, KeeperPAM enforces role-based Just-in-Time (JIT) access, which automatically revokes access when it's no longer needed. After a session ends, KeeperPAM rotates credentials to maintain strong cyber hygiene.
• No credential exposure: Users never view or handle sensitive credentials with KeeperPAM because it injects SSH keys, passwords and other secrets directly into the session.
• Multi-protocol support: KeeperPAM supports secure access to SSH, RDP, web applications and databases. Every session can be recorded for compliance and auditing — all without impacting performance.
• Cloud-native and scalable: Designed for hybrid environments, KeeperPAM provides centralized control and visibility across on-prem, hybrid and cloud providers from a unified platform.
• Developer-friendly: KeeperPAM seamlessly integrates with native tools that developers frequently use, such as MySQL Workbench and pgAdmin, without reconfiguration to eliminate additional friction.

Modernize remote access with KeeperPAM

As organizations navigate the security challenges of hybrid work, multi-cloud environments and sophisticated cyber threats, relying on traditional VPNs alone is no longer enough to secure remote access. Supplementing or replacing VPN-based access with a modern PAM solution like KeeperPAM allows organizations to enforce least-privilege access, streamline operations and meet compliance requirements.

About the Author: Ashley D'Andrea is a Content Writer at Keeper Security. Specializing in producing informative yet creative content, Ashley writes her blogs with the intention of simplifying complex cybersecurity-related concepts to help individuals and businesses stay safe online. Ashley has a B.A. in English literature and psychology from Elon University.