---
title: "The Latest Threat To Your Organizational Email Security: VPN Attacks | DuoCircle"
description: "With the rampaging virus and a restriction on movement, most staff have started to work from home."
image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png"
canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/blog/email-security/the-latest-threat-to-your-organizational-email-security-vpn-attacks/"
---

Quick Answer

VPN servers became a primary attack vector during the pandemic-era shift to remote work. Two structural problems make them vulnerable. (1) Outdated VPN appliances: traffic was light pre-pandemic, so security teams deprioritized patching. When usage spiked, unpatched servers were exposed to a much larger attack surface than they were ever sized for. (2) Lack of segmentation: VPNs historically grant flat access to employees and vendors alike, so once an attacker is in, lateral movement is unrestricted. Even fully patched VPNs still suffer this, because the issue is in access control, not the binary. CISA's joint advisory after the SolarWinds incident flagged exactly this combination. Fixes: aggressive patch cadence on VPN servers, MFA on every VPN account, network segmentation behind the VPN, behavior-based monitoring for anomalous user activity, and migration toward zero-trust access models.

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![Email Security](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/07/sendgrid-alternative-3728.jpg) 

With the rampaging virus and a restriction on movement, most staff have started to work from home. While this change has led to a successful fight against the virus, it has given **IT Security** teams a lot to work on. _A widespread workforce and spread-out security protocols have led to systems and networks becoming increasingly vulnerable_ to cyber threats like **spear-phishing**, [BEC](/email-hosting/how-organizations-can-defend-themselves-against-bec-scams-during-the-holiday-season/), etc. Moreover, most enterprises moving to the cloud created an open field for both the victim and the perpetrator.

[![email security services](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/07/dkim-validation.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/07/dkim-validation.jpg)

_The staggering increase in VPN usage during the peak period of the pandemic_ is evident from the above table. While such a usage of a legacy technology should not be surprising, it is also an indicator of a domain that provides ample opportunity for exploitation.

## What Makes VPNs Vulnerable?

VPN or Virtual Private Network is among the technologies that have been around for some time now. It is no longer a new-fangled concept that would require additional skill and knowledge, and most IT Security executives handle it for their respective organizations today. There are two reasons why [VPNs are vulnerable](/phishing-protection/vpns-under-attack-as-a-result-of-the-increase-in-remote-work/) to cyber threats that are slowly emerging from the horizon.

### Outdated VPNs

_One of the biggest banes in the world of technology is obsolescence_. Outdated VPNs are a significant **threat to the security** of any organization. One reason is that VPNs were only used by travellers and those who wanted to access their office resources off-hours. It led to a small VPN traffic, which was minuscule compared to the overall traffic. _IT Security teams often placed VPN servers way below in the pecking order. Hence, no one patched them on time_. The slowness of the entire process also led to it being kept as the last item to be done. This is why choosing and maintaining a modern [VPN service](https://www.vpnunlimited.com/) has become critical, as it is now a core component of everyday network security rather than an occasional remote-access tool.

The sudden rise in the usage of the VPN server led to complications. Suddenly, the security teams had to scramble for countless reasons, including [email security](/), [phishing protection](/email/phishing-protection), and **ransomware protection**. It all left too little time to focus on the VPN server. Malicious actors took advantage of this time to test their ware and penetrate the information systems. Moreover, _these VPN servers being old and primarily outdated_, the probability of them standing the test of modern-day cyber threats was minimal.

The solution to this is to close down the possibility of [zero-day vulnerabilities](https://www.phishprotection.com/content/zero-day-attacks/) by patching every VPN server and updating firewalls. At the same time, there would still be small gaps that malicious actors can exploit, but they can still avert more enormous catastrophes.

### VPN Is An Ideal Portal To Intrude

VPNs have always been an ideal access point for cyber adversaries. T\_hey have been exploiting vulnerabilities and gaps to enter networks and cause havoc\_. There is a reason behind this too. VPNs have [never been segmented](https://www.strongdm.com/blog/network-segmentation-security). That is, it has always been open for both employees and vendors. Entry and access mechanisms have been lax, and intruders have always taken advantage of this vulnerability. _Even fully patched VPNs would be unable to resolve this matter since entry and access are done at the enterprise level_.

_The sole solution to this issue is to monitor traffic and restrict entry and usage_. Continuous monitoring reveals vital information like volume of information transfer, user login, etc. Behavioral analytics is critical to weed out the drawbacks and create a **protective barrier** by forming an entry mechanism. One of the early [vulnerabilities that VPNs](https://www.securelink.com/blog/vpn-problems/) used to face was weak monitoring. It has now been eradicated with the increased usage of the VPN servers, and constant vigil has been institutionalized. _Greater emphasis is being given to policing the VPN servers, and that has been paying dividends_.

## The Early Warning

The [CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency](https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/news/252499817/Hackers-targeting-VPN-vulnerabilities-in-ongoing-attacks)) had pointed to an impending disaster after the [SolarWinds VPN attack](https://thehackernews.com/2021/04/hackers-exploit-vpn-flaw-to-deploy.html). It said in a statement that long-term actions had taken place and data had been compromised. In a joint advisory, malicious actors took advantage of the old threats that were still present. Both private and public enterprises were unable to revamp their systems thoroughly, and legacy software and hardware posed a challenge in the **fight against cybercrime**.

## What Went Wrong With Organizations

Much has been said about the vulnerabilities. However, the primary reason for it has been the sheer slowness of the entire process.

> _Patching and upgrading VPNs is a time-consuming affair, which directly impacts the organization’s productivity._

It is one of the reasons why it has been delayed. These are mission-critical software, which, if lost, would be disastrous for the organization. Hence creating backups, including [MX backups](/email/email-backup-mx), was critical to the continuity of the business.

[![Anti-phishing services](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/07/spf-permerror-4123.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2021/07/spf-permerror-4123.jpg)

Also, routine **vulnerability scans** were a non-starter in many organizations, which aggravated the situation. In the same vein, it also needs to be said that with changing mechanisms, it was increasingly difficult for security teams to counter every attempt even with the best of efforts. Some solution to **protect VPN networks** was required similar to [anti-phishing services](/email/phishing-protection) to fight against **phishing attacks**.

## Final Words

VPN vulnerabilities are a current concern since a more significant chunk of employees are accessing it remotely due to the pandemic. With this, _[email security](/) has become a concern for many organizations_. Due to less usage in the past, the VPN servers haven’t undergone major **security patching** and face a barrage of cyberattacks. Cyber adversaries have been able to locate vulnerabilities and exploit them, causing major disruptions. _Organizations have to patch their VPN servers with the latest security updates and implement stricter entry and access mechanisms to overcome this challenge_.

So when using a VPN it is important that you choose top quality and reliable brands as they offer better security and protect your data. [**NordVPN 3 year offer**](https://www.vpnbrains.com/blog/nordvpn-3-year-deal/) is currently available even though the prices may be on the higher side but the services offered are worth it.

![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) 

Brad Slavin 

General Manager

General Manager at DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across the email security portfolio.

## Secure your email infrastructure

Protect, authenticate, and deliver. Contact our team to find the right solution.

[Contact Sales](/contact/) [Explore Products](/products/) 

## Related Articles

[  Email Security 8m  BIMI in 2026: What the Certificate Authority Does, and What Your DMARC Tool Does  May 5, 2026 ](/blog/bimi-2026-what-the-ca-does-what-your-dmarc-tool-does/)[  Email Security 8m  Designing A Custom Dkim Architecture For High-Volume Email Senders  Apr 28, 2026 ](/blog/designing-custom-dkim-architecture-for-high-volume-email-senders/)[  Email Security 12m  DMARC, SPF, and DKIM in 2026: Why Email Authentication Is Now a Regulatory Requirement, Not Just a Best Practice  Apr 29, 2026 ](/blog/dmarc-spf-dkim-2026-email-authentication-regulatory-requirement-best-practice/)[  Email Security 5m  Email Monitoring Tools: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Email Ecosystem  May 7, 2026 ](/blog/email-monitoring-tools-guide-protecting-your-email-ecosystem-security/)

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