Re: VPN service -- Quick Poll (VPN Alternatives)

["Gramke, Jim" <JGramke () CSBSJU EDU>]

For many years, we've been using citrix as our remote access tool.  Although from the beginning this happened mostly by 
accident, I like the solution because this way, applications and sensitive data aren't exposed to the home machine, 
which, from a security perspective is an unknown quantity.    

I've always been a little leary to allow any home machine the direct access to sensitive apps and data that VPN 
provides, not to mention exposing the school's network directly to these home machines.   Or are my fears unfounded, 
and I'm just missing something basic about the features and controls vpn's have?

Jim Gramke
College of St. Benedict | St. John's University

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Koontz [mailto:dkoontz () MBC EDU] 
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2012 6:56 PM
Subject: Re: VPN service -- Quick Poll (split tunneling?)

This topic is always a lively discussion!  ;-)   But I believe the
conversations of old may need to be re-examined with today's technology options in mind.

First disclosure, we only allow supervisor approved access to our VPN for our users, and only on institutionally owned 
machines.  A fall back for a pandemic or other emergency is in place where those rules change.

Like many of you, we ran Cisco VPN concentrators for years and forced our remote users through our limited bandwidth 
pipe whenever they needed a campus resource, and ALL traffic came through our pipe for security reasons.  Since we did 
not allow split tunneling, our remote office users could not even do simple things print to their local printers from 
our ERP system.

We have recently upgraded our systems to use the Palo Alto SSLVPN / Global Protect Client.  This is generally setup as 
a purely SSL VPN, but can also act as a Cisco Style IPSec VPN for site to site VPN Tunnels, or setups on iPads and the 
like.

So, we have moved away from not allowing split tunneling to embracing it
- with proper control and network access  limitations.  With Palo Alto we can determine which traffic we allow into our 
core, and all others are blocked.  And even the traffic that comes into our core must pass the IPS rules to ensure that 
the safe traffic safe.

It's always a delicant balance to enable users, yet protect our networks.  I believe modern technology can give you 
that balance, if properly configured.  Don't ask a 10 year old product to try to do this.


On 3/9/2012 3:25 PM, Kris Monroe wrote:
> For those that have answered yes, would you mind outlining whether you 
> allow split tunneling or not? I would also appreciate your rationale 
> one way or the other.
>
> I've always been taught that split tunneling is a really bad idea, but 
> this topic has recently come up in our remote access project.
>
> --
> Kris Monroe, CISSP, CISA, CISM
> Information Security Officer
> Office of Information Technology Services Job Hall
>
> Ithaca College
> 953 Danby Rd. | Ithaca, NY 14850
> 607.274.1997 | 607.274.1484 fax
> kmonroe () ithaca edu | ithaca.edu
> Follow us: facebook.com/ICInfosec | twitter.com/IC_infosec
>
> On 3/9/2012 9:18 AM, Zahid Mehmood wrote:
> > Hi All,
> >  
> > Quick Poll Please:
> >  
> > 1.      Is your campus using, or does it plan to use,  VPN access for remote users?
> > 2 .     What vendor(s) and protocols (SSL, IPSec, other) are you using?
> > 3.   How many concurrent remote users can your system support?
> > 4.   Do you offer any specialized/custom VPN services for departments, researchers, etc.?  
> > 5.   Is your VPN offering part of your DR plan/requirement?
> >  
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Zahid Mehmood
> > Network Software and IT Enablement Systems Columbia University 
> > Information Technology