VPN and Remote Work Environment Setup Guide: Enabling Secure Telework

Network Requirements in the Telework Era

Remote work, which spread rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a standard work style for many organizations. However, accessing internal networks from outside the office — whether from home or a cafe — significantly increases security risks. Many companies based in Shinagawa's office buildings have been transitioning their networks from office-only configurations to telework-ready environments. Building the right network infrastructure is essential to achieving a secure and productive remote work setup.

VPN Types: Site-to-Site VPN and Remote Access VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted virtual tunnel over the internet. Site-to-Site VPN provides a permanent connection between offices, securing communication between headquarters and branch locations. Remote Access VPN allows individual employees to securely connect to the corporate network from home or other locations, making it the most common solution for telework environments. The two main protocols — IPsec VPN and SSL VPN — serve different use cases. SSL VPN can often be accessed through a web browser without requiring dedicated client software, lowering the barrier to adoption.

The Zero-Trust Network Approach

Traditional VPNs operate on the assumption that the internal network is inherently safe. Zero-trust networking, by contrast, follows the principle of trusting nothing and verifying every access request. It enforces granular user authentication, device verification, and access control, granting access only to the minimum required resources. As cloud service adoption grows, routing all traffic through a headquarters VPN can create bottlenecks, which is why zero-trust architectures are gaining significant attention in modern network design.

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) for Secure Telework

VDI creates virtual desktop environments on centralized servers, which users access remotely from their devices. Since all data remains on the server, the risk of data leakage from lost or stolen devices is minimized. An increasing number of companies in Shinagawa are adopting VDI for departments that handle sensitive information. While initial deployment costs are relatively high, VDI streamlines device management and centralizes security administration, offering cost reduction benefits over the medium to long term.

Key Security Measures for Telework Environments

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an essential security measure for telework environments. Combining passwords with smartphone authentication apps or hardware tokens significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Deploy EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions on all devices to detect and respond to malware intrusions. Logging and monitoring access to internal systems is also critical for early detection of suspicious activity.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Telework Environment

Start by auditing your current network environment. Next, define the scope of remote work operations and the number of users, then select the optimal architecture — whether VPN-based, zero-trust, or a hybrid approach. Follow this with security policy development, equipment deployment and configuration, and employee training before launching operations. Post-deployment, regular vulnerability assessments and policy reviews are essential. Oflight Inc. has supported numerous companies in Shinagawa in building their telework environments and offers tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. If you are considering setting up or upgrading your remote work infrastructure, please contact us today.