VPN의 작동 원리

How a Standard Internet Connection Works

A standard internet connection sends data from your device to the internet via your Internet Service Provider (ISP). This data packet contains:

• A header
• A payload (the actual data being transferred)

The header includes information such as:

• The IP address of the original device
• The destination

If you’re using HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), the payload is encrypted—but the header remains visible. This means your IP address is still accessible to:

• Your ISP
• The websites or services you interact with

This allows them to block content based on your IP address location or build a profile of your activity for targeted marketing.

What Changes When You Use a VPN

While there are various types of VPNs, they all insert an intermediary step into this process to improve security and privacy. When using a VPN:

• All data leaving your device is encrypted
• The encrypted data still travels through your ISP, but they can no longer see the content or destination

The Role of the VPN Server

The data is routed to a remote VPN server, where it is decrypted and forwarded to the intended website or service. The source IP address becomes the VPN server’s IP, not yours. This masks your IP address and location, adding a layer of anonymity and security.

The response from the website follows the same route:

1. Sent back to the VPN server
2. Encrypted again
3. Then returned to your device

VPN Protocols and Tunneling

When you connect to a VPN server:

• The connection is authenticated
• Data is encrypted and transferred through a secure tunnel

All of this is managed by the VPN protocol in use.

VPN Use Cases

Typical use cases of VPNs include:

• Providing Secure Remote Access: VPNs allow employees to access internal resources from outside the office. Remote or hybrid workers can use a VPN to make a secure connection to the company’s private network over the public internet, encrypting all data.
• Connecting Multiple Office Locations: VPNs provide a secure and cost-effective method of connecting different branch locations over the internet. Businesses can enable seamless data sharing and centralized resource access by creating a site-to-site VPN tunnel between offices.
• Complying with Regulations: VPN encryption helps organizations in regulated industries to comply with data privacy requirements. Data shared with users or third parties outside the network is automatically encrypted using a VPN.
• Supporting Global Operations: By changing IP addresses, VPN users can access geo-restricted content wherever they are located. This helps support businesses with global operations for testing regional websites, consistent platform access, or performing international market research.

The Benefits of Using a VPN

VPN은 두 지점 사이에 암호화된 터널을 생성하도록 설계되었습니다. 두 엔드포인트 모두 공유 비밀 키를 가지고 있으며, 이를 통해 발신 트래픽을 암호화하고 수신 트래픽을 해독할 수 있습니다. 이 공유 비밀 키는 사용자의 암호에서 파생되거나 키 공유 프로토콜을 통해 파생될 수 있습니다. 정확한 메커니즘은 사용 중인 VPN 프로토콜에 따라 다릅니다.

VPN 연결의 이점은 무엇입니까?

VPN의 목적은 직원에게 회사 리소스에 대한 안전한 원격 액세스를 제공하는 것입니다. VPN 연결의 몇 가지 이점은 다음과 같습니다.

• 데이터 보안: VPN은 원격 작업자와 회사 네트워크 간의 트래픽을 암호화합니다. 이는 도청 및 MitM 공격으로부터 트래픽을 보호하는 데 도움이 됩니다.
• 가시성 향상: 원격 사용자는 인터넷과 조직의 클라우드 기반 리소스에 직접 액세스할 수 있습니다. VPN을 사용하면 모든 트래픽이 기업 네트워크를 통해 흐르므로 조직에서 이 트래픽을 검사하고 보호할 수 있습니다.
• 경계 보안: VPN은 원격 사용자의 트래픽을 회사 네트워크 경계 내부로 라우팅합니다. 이를 통해 조직은 기존 경계 기반 솔루션으로 트래픽을 보호하고 관리할 수 있습니다.
• 로컬 주소 지정: VPN을 사용하면 원격 사용자가 회사 네트워크에 직접 연결된 것처럼 취급됩니다. 이를 통해 조직은 온-프레미스 및 원격 모두의 모든 사용자에 대해 로컬 주소 지정을 사용할 수 있습니다.

VPN은 안전한가요?

사이버 보안 프로토콜 및 시스템은 종종 "CIA Triad"를 기반으로 평가됩니다. 이는 다음을 제공하는 시스템의 능력을 나타냅니다.

• 기밀성: 무단 액세스로부터 민감한 데이터를 보호합니다. VPN의 주요 목표는 암호화를 사용하여 기밀성을 제공하는 것입니다.
• 무결성: 무단 수정으로부터 데이터 보호. VPN은 인증 암호화 알고리즘을 사용하는 경우 무결성 보호를 제공할 수 있습니다.
• 가용도: 사용자가 시스템을 계속 사용할 수 있는지 확인합니다. VPN은 일정량의 대역폭이 필요하고 원격 엔드포인트가 사용자의 트래픽을 지원하는 데 필요한 용량을 갖기 때문에 가용성 문제가 있습니다.

VPN vs. Alternative Remote Access Solutions

There are alternative remote access solutions you can implement to achieve higher security.

제로 트러스트 네트워크 액세스(ZTNA)

ZTNA is a security framework that removes implicit trust to continually verify and authenticate user identity.

Business attack surfaces are expanding as more organizations utilize a mix of hybrid cloud and on-premises infrastructure. This means broad network access, as provided by VPNs, introduces new security risks that require additional controls beyond encryption.

ZTNA and least-privilege access (providing only the access needed for a given role) help limit attack surfaces by:

• Allowing users access only to specific systems
• Preventing lateral movement within networks
• Reducing the severity of a data breach, since attackers struggle to compromise more systems

ZTNA also promotes strong authentication and authorization processes by:

• Routing access requests through an access broker
• Granting access only to the specific application needed
• Avoiding the full network access typically granted via VPNs

Given how VPNs work, users are often provided with blanket access. In contrast, ZTNA offers more controlled, application-level access that prioritizes security and limits the impact of attacks.

보안 액세스 서비스 에지(SASE)

SASE combines the connectivity of a Wide Area Network (WAN) with a range of security technologies and frameworks, including:

• 제로 트러스트 네트워크 액세스(ZTNA)
• 클라우드 접근 보안 중개 서비스(CASB)
• 보안 웹 게이트웨이(SWG)
• Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS)

Delivered as a single, cloud-based solution, SASE unifies networking and security capabilities for simpler operations. While VPNs are best suited to on-premises IT architectures and providing external users with internal access, SASE:

• Distributes functionality across the cloud
• Delivers services at the network edge

SASE is designed for the needs of modern workloads, where traffic is increasingly directed to:

• SaaS applications
• Other cloud services, rather than on-prem data centers

Its security architecture ensures:

• Consistent security policies
• Access control, regardless of user location or the service/application in use

Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN)

An SD-WAN offers a software alternative to managing the infrastructure needed to connect multiple branch locations or provide remote access. Rather than controlling network access by adjusting network devices, it achieves this through centralized software. This enables dynamic routing based on:

• Application needs
• Bandwidth availability
• Security policies

While SD-WANs are a networking framework and not a security tool like a VPN, they often provide security capabilities as well as connectivity.

This includes encryption without some of the performance limitations of a VPN tunnel.

What Should You Consider When Choosing a VPN?

While there are alternatives that enable remote network access, VPNs remain a widely supported and easy-to-implement option. When choosing a VPN for your business, there are a number of factors you need to consider.

The most prominent factors include:

• Network Scale: The number of employees and locations that make up your business. You need to understand the scale of your operations and find the right VPN provider for your needs. For example, how many staff work remotely, at least some of the time? Where are your centralized resources stored? How many locations do you need to connect using site-to-site VPNs?
• Security: The main security factor to consider is VPN encryption. Look for solutions that rely on strong, modern encryption standards. Beyond encryption, there is a range of other VPN security features vendors provide. These include authentication, kill switches, leak protection, and malware blocking.
• Speed: Defined by the VPN protocol and the number and location of VPN servers operated by the vendor. Network speeds impact user experience, so consider VPNs that have a minimal impact on latency.
• Integration: How the VPN integrates with the existing IT infrastructure and user devices. This depends on the VPN protocol’s compatibility with operating systems, browser extensions, cloud environments, and other security tools.
• Management: Whether or not the VPN is easy to use and provides comprehensive visibility into network connections.

Stay Secure with Quantum Remote Access VPN

Check Point’s Quantum Remote Access VPN offers high-level security and fast network speeds regardless of the scale of your operations and your existing infrastructure. With a simple user experience, employees can quickly set up Quantum on any device and start accessing internal resources securely.

Plus, IT teams can configure and manage all VPN connections from a single, integrated console.

Security features include:

• Multi-factor authentication.
• Endpoint system compliance scanning.
• Encryption of all transmitted data using IPSec or SSL.

Request a demo today and learn more about Check Point’s industry-leading remote access VPN.

Alternatively, consider Harmony SASE to combine VPN benefits and secure remote access with added flexibility and comprehensive security controls.