Site-to-site VPNs establish secure, encrypted connections between two networks over the internet, typically used to link corporate networks with remote sites or a service provider's network. However, while these VPNs secure data transmission, they introduce specific risks.
Theprimary riskassociated with a site-to-site VPN with a service provider is theloss of visibility into user behavior. Here's why:
* Limited Monitoring:Since the traffic is encrypted and routed through the VPN tunnel, the organization may lose visibility over user activities within the service provider's network.
* Blind Spots in Traffic Analysis:Security monitoring tools (like IDS/IPS) that rely on inspecting unencrypted data may be ineffective once data enters the VPN tunnel.
* User Behavior Analytics (UBA) Issues:It becomes challenging to track insider threats or compromised accounts due to the encapsulation and encryption of network traffic.
* Vendor Dependency:The organization might depend on the service provider's security measures to detect malicious activity, which may not align with the organization's security standards.
Other options analysis:
* A. Loss of data integrity:VPNs generally ensure data integrity using protocols like IPsec, which validates packet integrity.
* C. Data exfiltration:While data exfiltration can occur, it is typically a consequence of compromised credentials or insider threats, not a direct result of VPN usage.
* D. Denial of service (DoS) attacks:While VPN endpoints can be targeted in a DoS attack, it is not the primaryrisk specific to VPN use with a service provider.
CCOA Official Review Manual, 1st Edition References:
* Chapter 4: Network Security Operations:Discusses risks related to VPNs, including reduced visibility.
* Chapter 7: Security Monitoring and Incident Detection:Highlights the importance of maintaining visibility even when using encrypted connections.
* Chapter 8: Incident Response and Recovery:Addresses challenges related to VPN monitoring during incidents.