One of the most effective protections an organization can implement is a strong network segmentation. Remote users’ access should be limited to only the systems that are required to perform their job functions. Restrictions should be in place to segment your network to prevent unlimited network access for remote users. Segmenting VPN connections to access only the required systems is paramount in creating a strong security barrier.

Organizations can also minimize unauthorized access with a fixed IP method. This way they could reduce the risk of IP sharing when many devices use the same IP address. Companies therefore have a greater chance to protect themselves from vulnerabilities by changing their firewalls to only allow certain IP addresses on their whitelist. This hides the firewalls from the public.

Split tunneling vs. NordVPN Teams gateway

With increased traffic due to remote work and with a need to relocate to remote settings quickly, many companies have had to sacrifice security over speed and performance — elevating traffic using split tunneling. Using a business Virtual Private Network (VPN) for remote access involves what and how much data to send down the tunnel. When creating a VPN, network engineers have an option to enable “split-tunneling,” which sets a determination of what data traverses the VPN.

Enabling split tunneling reduces traffic on corporate networks, increases speed through reduced latency for specific tasks, and grants privacy to end users. These key capabilities primarily reduce traffic on internal networks, with most organizations switching to split tunneling when they set up their VPNs. Users that understand this technology appreciate the privacy and enhanced performance through improved routing paths.

Figure 1: Traditional split
(click to enlarge)