- Google rolled out BeyondCorp Remote Access initially designed for internal use to help reduce the burden on corporate VPN service providers.
- The tech giant designed BeyondCorp Remote Access in a way to provide a secure connection between employees and corporate websites without using a virtual private network (VPN).
- The newly rolled out BeyondCorp Remote Access is a variation of the commercial version of Google’s BeyondCorp released in 2017, here's how it will be helpful for corporate networks.
Google rolled out BeyondCorp Remote Access for zero-trust corporate networks which aims to help employees connect securely with their corporate network web apps without having to use a corporate VPN. Google initially developed a zero-trust network for internal use back in 2011. Google developed a zero-trust network to move authorization controls from Google’s perimeters to individual users working from untrusted networks. This helped Google employees, contractors and authorized users to work from home or hotels etc. without using firewalls or VPNs.
Sunil Potti, vice president, and general manager of Google Cloud published a blog post on Monday saying that BeyondCorp Remote Access services system will help to reduce the burden on corporate VPNs as the world has recorded surged usage of corporate VPNs after most of the employees are working from home due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Potti explained that this VPN alternate is designed to help employees access relevant corporate web apps from any device. It allows corporate networks to form policies to grant access to some specific person based on explicit criteria. Potti explained this by providing a scenario in which HR recruiters working remotely will only be given access to the corporate’s document administration system. The employees must have updated laptops with antiphishing authorization to use the BeyondCorp Remote Access security system.
The zero-trust network approach used in the BeyondCorp Remote Access system works in a way that it considers every user and device untrusted unless they meet certain security requirements. It does not generate a connection between employees and corporate networks, instead, it works to generate connections running via device components. It applies the security requirements of a corporate network to the person trying to access the corporate web app before granting access.
Google rolled out a commercial version of BeyondCorp back in 2017 and the BeyondCorp Remote Access rollout seems to be the latest variation of that version. BeyondCorp Remote Access system aims explicitly on corporate web apps that require corporate VPNs to grant the employees access to it. According to Potti, the company will expand this cloud service to every app and resource a person wants to access while working from home.
Potti said that BeyondCorp Remote Access will help the corporate networks in days instead of a normal VPN which may take months to do the process. Google has joined hands with Deloitte Cyber Services to release BeyondCorp Remote Access.
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