VPN and remote work: the line of defense against modern attacks

Remote work is no longer an option, but part of the routine for thousands of companies worldwide. This transformation has brought gains in flexibility and productivity, but has also opened up space for a type of vulnerability that is growing silently: corporate access from outside the company walls. According to IBM's X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024 report, more than 36% of the breaches analyzed originated from compromised credentials, many of which were exploited in remote connections without adequate layers of protection. This number reveals a critical point: it is not only the sophistication of the attacks that is worrying, but the fact that the entry point is often the employee themselves, connected from home, a café, or on the go. It is in this context that VPNs remain relevant. Far from being an outdated technology, they act as the first barrier to protect corporate access, creating an encrypted tunnel that protects data in transit and makes interceptions difficult. However, no organization can rely on it in isolation, as cybersecurity involves multi-layered strategies. In this article, we will show why remote work has become a new digital battleground, how VPNs differ in their corporate version, and how they should evolve within a broader cybersecurity architecture.

Cybersecurity October 9, 2025 13 min read By: Skyone

1. Introduction: Why VPNs Remain Indispensable in 2025

Remote work is no longer an option, but part of the routine for thousands of companies worldwide. This transformation has brought gains in flexibility and productivity , but it has also opened up space for a type of vulnerability that is growing silently : corporate access from outside the company walls.

According to IBM's X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024 report , more than 36% of the breaches analyzed originated from compromised credentials , many of which were exploited in remote connections without adequate layers of protection. This number reveals a critical point: it is not only the sophistication of the attacks that is worrying, but the fact that the entry point is often the employee themselves, connected from home, a café, or in transit.

It is in this context that VPNs remain relevant. Far from being an outdated technology, they act as the first barrier to shield corporate access, creating an encrypted tunnel that protects data in transit and hinders interceptions. Even so, no organization can rely on it in isolation, as cybersecurity involves multi-layered strategies .

In this article, we will show why remote work has become a new digital battleground, how VPNs differ in their corporate version , and how they should evolve within a broader cybersecurity architecture.

Let's go?

2. Remote environments: a new digital battleground

The logic of the traditional corporate perimeter, exclusively within a physical office, no longer exists. Today, employees connect from home, mobile phones, cafes, airports, or public networks, and each of these accesses represents a new attack edge . Thus, the challenge lies not only in protecting servers and applications, but in ensuring that the weakest link (the endpoint ) does not become an entry point for the entire organization.

According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024 , 74% of the breaches analyzed involved the human factor phishing campaigns , or failures in devices without adequate protection.

In this scenario, some threats stand out:

Highly targeted phishing attacks using corporate credentials, exploiting distractions in home environments;
Malware that hijacks open sessions , using vulnerabilities in compromised devices to access internal systems;
endpoints or endpoints without active EDR , which allow lateral movement of attackers after the first attack.

These factors demonstrate that the discussion about cybersecurity in remote work cannot be limited to firewalls and antivirus software. The risk surface is dynamic , and to address it, companies need to rethink how they secure remote access.

This is where corporate VPNs become key players : not as an isolated solution, but as the first invisible barrier that rebuilds a trusted perimeter and prepares the ground for additional layers of protection—as we will see below.

3. Corporate VPN: The invisible barrier against attacks

If the remote environment has increased vulnerabilities, a corporate VPN plays the role of rebuilding a trusted perimeter in a scenario where the network no longer has fixed boundaries. Its function is not only to encrypt data in transit, but also to ensure that remote access occurs under policies defined by the company , reducing the risk of unauthorized activity.

Confusion between corporate VPN and personal VPN is still frequent. While commercial versions are designed to provide anonymity in browsing, corporate VPNs address requirements that go far beyond that. Among them are:

Integration with corporate directories (AD/Azure AD), centralizing authentication and facilitating identity management;
Secure split tunneling , allowing only corporate traffic to pass through the tunnel;
Granular access policies , controlling which applications each group can use;
logs and traceability are essential for auditing and regulatory compliance.

In practice, this means that a corporate VPN not only protects information against interception, but also helps maintain visibility and governance over corporate access at a distributed scale .

At Skyone , we expand this vision with the Cloud Connect feature , which eliminates the reliance on passwords and replaces traditional authentication with digital certificates. This ensures not only encryption and advanced governance, but also the ability to revoke access in real time , strengthening resilience against compromised credentials.

But despite its relevance, a corporate VPN is not an isolated feature . It is the first link in a broader strategy that needs to be complemented by other approaches. It is this evolutionary that we will explore in the next section.

4. Beyond VPN: Zero Trust and MFA as indispensable layers

A corporate VPN is essential, but on its own it doesn't address the complexities of today's remote work. While previously it was enough to create a secure tunnel between the user and the system, today it's necessary to assume that no connection should be considered trustworthy by default.

This is the principle behind the Zero Trust : each access is verified in real time, considering identity, device, location, and even user behavior. In practice, it replaces the "access granted after initial authentication" logic with a continuous validation model . This significantly reduces the chances of compromised credentials or hijacked sessions turning into a successful attack.

On the other hand, multifactor authentication (MFA) is one of the most concrete pieces of this puzzle. It ensures that even if an attacker obtains the login and password, they cannot proceed without a second authentication factor , whether biometric, token , and/or a temporary code. It's a simple feature to implement, but crucial in preventing stolen credentials from becoming catastrophic breaches.

When combined, VPN, Zero Trust , and MFA create a more resilient remote access architecture . VPN protects traffic in transit; Zero Trust ensures that each request is validated; and MFA blocks the misuse of credentials. The result is an environment where mobility and security can coexist.

At Skyone , this vision is already a reality. Our Autosky platform Zero Trust principles in corporate cloud environments, controlling access based on identity and context. In parallel, our Skyone SOC continuously monitors connection patterns, identifying deviations that may signal intrusion attempts.

Moving beyond VPN doesn't mean replacing it, but connecting it to a multi-layered strategy. This combination is what separates companies that only "put out fires" from those that continuously build resilience .

And for this model to work in practice, technology alone is not enough : it is necessary to establish well-defined access policies and permanent visibility into who accesses what. That's exactly what we'll see next!

5. Policies and visibility: transforming remote access into a security strategy

As we argue, cybersecurity maturity depends not only on the technology in use, but also on how it is applied and monitored daily . This is why well-defined access policies and centralized visibility are so important: they ensure that rules don't just remain on paper, but function as a living system of digital governance.

Among the policies that make the biggest difference in distributed environments, we can mention:

Least privilege and role segmentation : limits permissions, reducing the reach of an attack in case of compromised credentials;
Contextual access criteria : considers variables such as device, location, and time to allow or block connections;
Layer separation : separates sensitive data and legacy systems under corporate VPN; SaaS applications accessed via MFA, SSO, or CASB;
Actionable audit : when records not only store logs , but also allow for rapid investigation and response to incidents;
Real-time revocation : the ability to terminate sessions and cut off access as soon as suspicious activity is detected.

These policies only become effective when accompanied by continuous visibility . Monitoring connection patterns, identifying anomalies, and correlating events in real time is what transforms control into prevention.

This is where solutions like Skyone SOC and Threat Analysis , functioning as a digital observation tower capable of spotting subtle movements that might otherwise go unnoticed in a distributed environment.

By integrating clear policies with active monitoring, companies stop operating in the dark and begin treating remote work not as a vulnerability, but as a strategic front for protection and continuity.

To make all this more practical, we've compiled a checklist with essential measures for secure remote teams. Check it out!

6. Checklist Fast for secure remote teams

Ensuring security in remote work isn't just about choosing the right tools, but about structuring consistent practices that reduce daily risks. To facilitate this process, we've compiled a checklist outlining the measures that form the basis of any protection strategy:

Implement a robust corporate VPN : configure advanced encryption, integrate it with the corporate directory (AD/Azure AD), and apply segmented access policies;
Require MFA on all critical accesses : protect sensitive applications and systems with multi-factor authentication;
Apply the principle of least privilege : grant each user only the access strictly necessary for their role;
Segment the corporate network : isolate critical areas and prevent an intrusion into one endpoint from compromising the entire infrastructure;
Protect endpoints with active EDR : install and maintain detection and response solutions to monitor remote devices in real time;
Keep systems up to date : apply security patches
Monitor connections centrally : use SOC and Threat Analytics to identify anomalies and act before they become incidents;
Regularly train your teams against phishing : raise user awareness about digital fraud and strengthen the front line of defense.

This checklist serves as a structured starting point. It covers everything from access and device protection to the human factor , which remains one of the most exploited vectors in attacks.

But remember: it's not the end point. Without additional layers of Zero Trust , continuous monitoring, and digital governance, remote security will remain exposed. It is this evolution , from well-done basics to a multi-layered architecture, that will differentiate your company, truly preparing it for the future.

If you want to understand how to apply this checklist to your organization's reality and move towards a multi-layered security model, our Skyone experts are ready to talk! Together, we can design a strategy that balances productivity, mobility, and data protection in any work scenario for your business. Talk to us now!

7. Conclusion: the future of remote work is multi-layered

Currently, remote work is central to how companies operate, collaborate, and compete. This shift has expanded boundaries but also dissolved the traditional security perimeter. The challenge now is not to prevent remote work, but to transform it into a trusted extension of the corporate environment .

Therefore, true resilience will not come from a single tool or barrier, but from the ability to orchestrate multiple layers , from least privilege to continuous monitoring. Companies that manage to align these elements will not only reduce risks but also create a solid foundation to grow confidently in an increasingly distributed .

In other words, security should not be a brake, but an enabler . When well-designed, it opens up space for mobility, collaboration, and innovation without compromising data and operational protection.

If you want to delve deeper into this reflection and understand how cybersecurity can cease to be just a defense mechanism and become a strategic business differentiator, continue following the content on this important pillar here on our blog !

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about VPN, cybersecurity, and remote work

Remote work security raises recurring questions, some technical, others strategic. Below, we've compiled direct answers to the most frequently raised points by managers and IT teams who need to balance productivity and protection in distributed environments.

1) How can I tell if my VPN has been compromised?

Common signs include connections from unusual locations, non-standard network traffic, and login from different regions. Additionally, authentication failures or logs may indicate compromise. Therefore, the VPN should be integrated with a SOC or SIEM, which allows for monitoring anomalies and responding quickly to incidents.

2) Does a VPN protect against internal data leaks?

Not entirely. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel that protects data in transit, but it doesn't prevent an authorized user from improperly copying or sharing sensitive information. To mitigate this risk, it's essential to combine VPN with least privilege policies, access auditing, and continuous monitoring.

3) Can I allow direct access to SaaS without a VPN?

Yes, provided there is strong identity control. Modern SaaS applications can be securely accessed through MFA, SSO, and CASB solutions, eliminating the need for a VPN. However, legacy systems and sensitive data still require protection via a corporate VPN. The choice depends on the type of application and the criticality of the information involved.

4) What is CASB and when do I need it besides a VPN?

CASB ( Cloud Access Security Broker ) is a control layer between users and cloud applications. It provides visibility, security policies, and protection against improper data sharing in SaaS services. It is necessary when an organization heavily adopts cloud tools and needs to ensure governance, something that VPN alone cannot solve.

5) What is the difference between VPN, ZTNA, and SASE?

These three acronyms represent different stages of maturity in remote access security. Although they often appear in the same conversation, they have complementary functions:

VPN: Creates an encrypted tunnel between the user and the corporate network, protecting traffic in transit;
ZTNA ( Zero Trust Network Access ): applies continuous validation of identity, device, and context, assuming that no connection is trusted by default;
SASE ( Secure Access Service Edge ): combines networking and security in a single distributed cloud layer, uniting VPN, ZTNA, CASB, firewall , and other resources in an integrated model.

In short, while VPN is the foundation for secure remote access, ZTNA and SASE represent more advanced stages of a multi-layered architecture.