Vendor access monitoring in most organizations stops at the VPN log. It tells you who connected, but fails to explain what they did next. Without activity data, investigating an incident relies on assumptions rather than facts.
Network Visibility Requirements
- Real-time and retrospective tracking of accessed systems.
- Protocol-level analysis of all communications.
- Data transfer volume and directionality logs.
- Detailed records of file copies and commands executed.
VPN vs. ZTNA: A Shift in Principle
Traditional VPN
Opens a wide network segment. Once connected, a supplier can potentially reach far more systems than required.
Modern ZTNA
Grants access exclusively to the specific service or application authorized. Nothing beyond that is reachable.
The Risk of Shadow Access (4G/5G Routers)
IT teams often face “shadow” access points installed by vendors for convenience. These unauthorized 4G/5G routers bypass security policies and monitoring entirely. In stable OT (Operational Technology) environments, this is a severe risk.
How to Detect Unauthorized Hardware
Network Detection and Response (NDR) solutions identify rogue hardware through:
- Device Discovery: Automatic classification of every new device on the segment.
- Behavioral Baselining: Alerting on new communication patterns or unknown destinations.
Conclusion
Building a verifiable audit trail ensures that when something goes wrong, the data is there to explain it. Moving to a passive monitoring approach allows IT teams to respond to incidents with factual certainty and fulfill compliance requirements through long-term data retention.
About GREYCORTEX
GREYCORTEX uses advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining methods to help organizations make their IT operations secure and reliable.
MENDEL, GREYCORTEX’s network traffic analysis solution, helps corporations, governments, and the critical infrastructure sector protect their futures by detecting cyber threats to sensitive data, networks, trade secrets, and reputations, which other network security products miss.
MENDEL is based on 10 years of extensive academic research and is designed using the same technology which was successful in four US-based NIST Challenges.
About Version 2 Limited
Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.
Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.