diff --git a/website/src/app/blog/page.tsx b/website/src/app/blog/page.tsx index 1cf3801c6..d1395563c 100644 --- a/website/src/app/blog/page.tsx +++ b/website/src/app/blog/page.tsx @@ -19,10 +19,27 @@ export default function Page() { Blog

- Announcements, tutorials, and more from the Firezone team. + Announcements, insights, and more from the Firezone team.

+ +

+ The number of employees working remotely is accelerating, so + secure remote access should be a large part of any organization’s + cybersecurity strategy. Secure remote access lets remote and + hybrid employees work from anywhere in the world, on any device, + without compromising your organization’s network, data, and system + security. +

+
+ + + ); +} diff --git a/website/src/app/blog/secure-access/readme.mdx b/website/src/app/blog/secure-access/readme.mdx new file mode 100644 index 000000000..33a0f9123 --- /dev/null +++ b/website/src/app/blog/secure-access/readme.mdx @@ -0,0 +1,142 @@ +The number of employees working remotely is accelerating, so secure remote +access should be a large part of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy. +Secure remote access lets remote and hybrid employees work from anywhere in the +world, on any device, without compromising your organization’s network, data, +and system security. + +In this blog post, we’ll explain what remote access is (even if employees are +working onsite), why it matters to business leaders and employees alike, and +lots more. + +#### Secure remote access + +Secure remote access, in a zero-trust world, is a set of solutions, platforms, +and policies designed to prevent unauthorized network access and limit the +potential harm if a malicious individual gets unauthorized access to an +organization’s network and/or data. Every organization’s approach to secure +remote access differs based on their needs, but most include a combination of +strategies — that taken together — reduce their attack surface and prevent +malicious actors from gaining access to their network. + +It’s also useful to keep in mind that secure remote access and +[remote desktop](https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterprisedesktop/definition/remote-desktop/) +(RDP) are entirely different concepts. [Firezone](https://www.firezone.dev/) +provides secure remote access. + +#### Benefits of secure remote access + +There are many benefits of using a secure remote access solution, including: + +**Universal access:** With a secure remote access solution in place, authorized +users can access a company network, resources, and shared services on any +supported device. This means employees who are traveling, at home, or working +from the coffee shop down the street always have access to the resources they +need to do their job. + +**Device protection:** Employees at most organizations use lots of different +devices — whether it’s email or meetings on a smartphone, writing code on a +desktop, or reviewing PR’s on a laptop. An effective remote access solution can +help protect all their devices by securing how they connect to these company +networks and resources. + +**Security awareness:** The shift to remote has given organizations an +opportunity to review & modernize their security systems and processes, but +unlike in an office, those changes may be less obvious. Remote access solutions +are often visible, and can help raise awareness about cybersecurity — reminding +users that the systems and information they’re accessing may be sensitive. + +**Safer browsing:** Not only are employees working remotely, but more of their +daily workflows include accessing third party services over the internet. Secure +remote access systems can also help protect employees from common cybersecurity +threats like malware and phishing attacks. + +#### Benefits of remote work + +Remote work (made possible by secure remote access, which helps employees get +their work done safely) benefits everyone: + +**Save money:** Securing remote access benefits employees and employers alike, +with cost savings across the board for supporting remote employees according to +a Global Workplace Analytics (GWA) +[report](https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/resources/costs-benefits). This +report indicates that compared to onsite employees, remote employees save +thousands per year, and employers save around $10,000 for each remote employee. + +**Increase productivity:** Perhaps unintuitively, there are lots of surprising +productivity improvements related to remote work (working from home). According +to an aggregated +[report](https://www.apollotechnical.com/working-from-home-productivity-statistics/) +by Apollo Technical, remote workers are generally 13% - 77% more productive than +their in-office counterparts. + +**Improve morale:** More than half (55%) of remote employees would prefer to +work from home at least three days per week, which means remote work is here to +stay according to +[PwC’s US Remote Work Survey](https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/business-transformation/library/covid-19-us-remote-work-survey.html). +Remote work lets employees avoid long and stressful commutes, take better care +of their families, and exercise more frequently — resulting in improved mental +health, +[less stress](https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/exploring-the-impact-of-remote-work-on-mental-health-and-the-workplace/), +and better +[work-life balance](https://resources.owllabs.com/blog/remote-work-life-balance). + +#### Secure remote access at work + +One of the most popular ways to get secure remote access today, is to add +authentication to existing access solutions (like a VPN). Other solutions +include +[zero trust network access](https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/zero-trust-network-access-ztna-/) +(ZTNA), using an identity provider (IdP) with +[multi-factor authentication](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/multi-factor-authentication-mfa) +(MFA), and +[software-defined firewalls](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/understanding-firewalls-home-and-small-office-use). +The important thing to note is that VPNs (or at least VPN protocols), and ZTNA +are not mutually exclusive solutions. Organizations can get secure remote access +using a business [VPN](https://www.firezone.dev/) that adheres to zero trust +architecture. Secure remote access and ZTNA come together in +[Firezone](https://www.firezone.dev/) to give your organization better security, +reliability, and control. + +#### Get started with secure remote access + +If you’re like most companies, and statistically you are, then you’ve probably +set up an OpenVPN or WireGuard® server that your employees are connecting to +with their personal devices (e.g. mobile, laptop, tablets, and more). While +there’s no single process that works for everyone, and some of these may be part +of your compliance audit, here are a few steps to get started with secure remote +access: + +- Do a [security audit](https://www.auditboard.com/blog/what-is-security-audit/) +- Settle on a + [security policy](https://www.varonis.com/blog/what-is-a-security-policy), and + security processes +- Restrict sensitive resource access to only those who need it (ZTNA) +- Train employees on cybersecurity best practices (we recommend + [NINJIO](https://ninjio.com/)) +- Use a secure remote access solution like [Firezone](https://www.firezone.dev/) +- Repeat these steps on a regular basis + +#### Challenges of secure remote access + +You’ve got lots of choices when it comes to secure remote access, but that also +means each solution likely comes with its own set of challenges, including: + +- Reliable clients on a wide range of platforms like Windows, MacOS, etc. +- Ensuring devices are secure, and clients are correctly configured +- Managing user roles, access policies, and permissions +- Keeping users up to date +- Logging traffic to help detect and prevent unauthorized access or breaches + +When you do choose a secure remote access provider, keeping things like security +features, reputation, compatibility, scalability, and cost can help you make the +best choice for your business. + +Solutions like [Firezone](https://www.firezone.dev/) take all the guesswork out +of secure remote access, and provide a great experience for your employees. + +#### Get started now + +Replace your current VPN with a modern remote access solution that combines the +best of WireGuard® and ZTNA. +[Request early access to the beta](https://www.firezone.dev/product/early-access), +and get started with up to 10 free users.