SDP vs VPN: What is Software Defined Perimeter?

Perimeters were once defined based on the on-prem servers and physical offices, but cloud computing is more popular than ever and the conve...

Perimeters were once defined based on the on-prem servers and physical offices, but cloud computing is more popular than ever and the conventional perimeters are now gone. That’s why software-defined perimeter (SDP) brings a modern approach to the issue, making the cloud and remote work safer.

How do SDP solutions work? Is SDP different than other cybersecurity frameworks, especially from traditional VPN services? You can find all the answers below.

What is Software Defined Perimeter (SDP)?

A software-defined perimeter (SDP) is a modern cybersecurity framework that protects hybrid work environments and software-based services. This approach masks the internet-based infrastructures of companies to prevent cyber attacks when providing remote access and using software tools.

SDP defines the network perimeter based on the software and not the hardware where only the on-prem services and data centers can be protected. Since SDP is a dynamic perimeter, it creates one-to-one connections between the end-users and each software they use.

Traditional cyber security frameworks verify users on the application level, meaning that a group of roles is set up and all the people have the same access level. Instead, SDP sets up personal perimeters based on specific permissions.

SDP perimeters are not created physically in data centers, but virtually by the cloud; making the network perimeter invisible to cyberattacks such as DDoS or ransomware.

SDP solutions prove to be more cost-efficient and practical as they allow companies to protect the connection between users and the resources, not the physical networks.

Additionally, the SDP framework is much more agile and easy to implement as it doesn’t rely on hardware and can be created anywhere, anytime. That’s why this framework is used by companies with a hybrid work model. One-to-one secure connections mean edge-to-edge security regardless of the location where access to resources is requested.

SDP vs VPN Difference and Comparison

You might be wondering whether the two are different and how the SPD vs. VPN comparison stands. Software-defined perimeter is a different and probably a more modern approach than traditional VPN solutions.

VPNs verify the users only when accessing the network as a whole whereas SDP verifies for access layers and personal permissions. Thanks to this approach, networks are protected better against internal breaches.

Plus, SDP is the ground base for the Zero Trust security model where every user needs to be verified before every operation, making it a much safer option for secure remote access. ITProPortal states that SDP vendors more than tripled during the pandemic, providing the model’s reliability for the remote work.

Another difference between the two is the ability to verify devices. Traditional VPNs focus on verifying the users but SDP can also verify the devices that users are connected to; giving a hard time to cybercriminals.

VPNs secure the physical perimeter of a data center, and users are free to access anything they want when once accepted into the network. However, the SDP framework ensures that every user is monitored constantly even if they are trusted. This difference allows for a dynamic security approach.

In essence, VPNs are not practical and agile enough anymore as cloud-based computing rises, but SDP fixes that by creating individual permissions and one-to-one connections.

Key Takeaways:

A software-defined perimeter is a modern approach for cybersecurity that masks the internet-based infrastructure of companies to protect it against attackers.

This approach ditches the traditional hardware-based perimeters to be more dynamic and sets the perimeter based on the software.

If you want to secure remote access, practice constant verification for internal breaches, and eliminate the risk of a compromised network, choose SDP over traditional VPNs.