What is a cloud VPN?
3 min read
The term cloud VPN usually refers to a specific type of VPN technology that focuses on securing the cloud and its resources. While this is the traditional, widespread definition, the industry does not shy away from deliberately modifying its meaning. As a result, some descriptions of cloud VPNs do not do justice to this concept. In this article, we aim to look closer into this concept and find out its use cases and potential flaws.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The rise of cloud computing and the dangers within
Over the years, many businesses have pushed to move their resources to the cloud and abandoned the need for private servers and data centers. For some, cloud computing has become a cost-effective way of delivering services on-demand via the internet.
Cloud-based services are also prone to security breaches. Many scandals circulate the web when people’s private data leaks from their accounts. The problem is that anyone with the correct credentials can access information stored on cloud-based services. Additionally, hackers constantly scour the playground for weak spots in security barriers.
Can you use a traditional VPN as a cloud VPN service?
A brief answer: no, you cannot. The creators of traditional VPNs do not adapt their products to the cloud environment. They lack significant security measures that would make them suitable for protecting data to the highest degree.
A cloud VPN guarantees that people can access a company’s data, files, and applications in the cloud through a website or desktop/mobile app. Furthermore, regular VPNs work when users set up their infrastructure on their devices. This is different for cloud VPN: it becomes a component of the company’s cloud delivery system.
It is usually suitable for businesses and corporations looking for ways to enhance the security of their cloud-based services. Regular users might want to get traditional VPNs to hide their IP addresses and keep their online matters private.
What are some reputable cloud VPN providers?
You will likely stumble upon the Google Cloud VPN when scouting the internet for a reliable service. It is a service that lets users connect the network on their premises to the Google Cloud Platform on a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) network. While traditional VPNs offer privacy and security while browsing the internet, a cloud VPN makes other pledges.
This type of a VPN lays a more secure foundation for organizations and networks, especially those using other Google Cloud services. Therefore, Google Cloud VPN does not take precautions to protect its users outside the specified context. Another interesting feature is that this service battles the limitations of every IPSec-based VPN. As a result, the service uses 3Gbps bandwidth, which is more suitable for smaller organizations. As for the Google Cloud VPN pricing options, they depend on the location of the Cloud VPN gateway and the number of tunnels per hour. Additionally, the cloud VPN focuses on pay-per-use instead of paying a regular subscription fee.
Why businesses choose the Zero Trust access model
Some security experts prefer the Zero Trust model over the regular or cloud VPN due to its flexibility and high-grade security. This type of access works on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Therefore, Zero Trust prohibits access based on user permissions, verification, and authentication.
This model’s application is easy, making it less challenging to create a united protection system for all users, apps, data, and devices. It also prefers to grant users the least amount of access necessary to complete a specific task. On the other hand, multi-factor authentication also works wonders in confirming that all external and internal connections are trustworthy.
This migration to the Zero Trust model reveals the innate issues that the traditional and cloud VPNs have. Nevertheless, the best strategy is to have them both working hand in hand to offer the highest level of security possible.