VPN

a virtual private network (vpn) creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the public internet it allows users to send and receive data as if their computing devices were directly connected to a private network, thereby providing enhanced security, privacy, and access to restricted resources vpn integrations integrating a vpn with cryptohub provides a robust framework for securing the cryptographic keys and certificates that underpin the vpn's security this ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of the data transmitted over the vpn vpn integrations handle several important tasks, including securing cryptographic keys protect the private keys used for vpn authentication and data encryption within a fips validated hardware boundary managing the key lifecycle automate the generation, rotation, and revocation of cryptographic keys used by vpn gateways and clients enforcing security policies define and enforce policies for cryptographic operations, ensuring that all vpn connections adhere to organizational security requirements authenticating vpn clients strengthen client authentication by storing client certificates and keys on a hardware token or a centralized key management server simplifying certificate management streamline the issuance, renewal, and revocation of digital certificates for vpn infrastructure and users centralizing audit and logging provide a unified audit trail of all cryptographic operations and key management activities related to the vpn enhancing performance offload cryptographic operations from the vpn gateway to a dedicated hsm, improving performance and reducing latency openvpn pkcs #11 integration options this section covers the differences between openvpn's server side (access server) and client side (connect) pkcs #11 integrations server side integration access server + cryptohub openvpn access server can integrate with {{futurex}} {{ch}} to protect the vpn infrastructure's most sensitive cryptographic material server private key – the key that proves the vpn server's identity certificate authority (ca) signing key (optional) – the key used to issue client certificates security benefit even if an attacker completely compromises the access server host system, they cannot extract or misuse the protected private keys the keys never leave the hsm, and all cryptographic operations occur within the secure boundary of the cryptohub device client side integration openvpn connect v3 3+ + cryptohub openvpn connect (the client application) can integrate with {{ch}} 's pkcs #11 file to protect individual user credentials client certificate private key – the key that authenticates the user to the vpn security benefit even if a user's laptop is compromised by malware, the attacker cannot extract the vpn credentials to use elsewhere the private key remains on the hardware token and requires physical possession plus pin entry key differences and independence characteristic access server + {{ch}} connect v3 3+ + {{ch}} what's protected access server's key server key and (optionally) ca signing key ca key client's key futurex private key deployment scope single deployment protecting centralized infrastructure per user deployment on individual devices primary threat server compromise exposing infrastructure keys endpoint compromise exposing user credentials connection impact transaprent to all connecting clients {{ch}} fxpkcs11 library must be present in the correct directory and linked on connect v3 3+ before the connection what is given to connect client application client ovpn file client p12 file (client private key + public key certificate bundle) client ovpn file futurex pkcs #11 module fxpkcs11 dll (windows) libfxpkcs11 dylib (mac) common use cases server side only (most common) implementation access server integrated with {{ch}} via pkcs #11 client authentication openvpn connect with ovpn file and client p12 file ideal for organizations that need to meet compliance requirements for protecting infrastructure keys (pci dss, fips 140 2, etc ), but have acceptable risk tolerance for standard client authentication client side only implementation standard access server with cryptohub backed client keys via pkcs #11 client authentication openvpn connect with ovpn file and cryptohub pkcs #11 library (windows fxpkcs11 dll or mac libfxpkcs11 dylib) ideal for organizations that require hardware backed client authentication (e g , high security environments, zero trust architectures) but have acceptable risk tolerance for standard server key management defense in depth (maximum security) implementation access server integrated with cryptohub and cryptohub backed client keys accessible via pkcs #11 client authentication openvpn connect with ovpn file and cryptohub pkcs #11 library (windows fxpkcs11 dll or mac libfxpkcs11 dylib ) ideal for organizations with the highest security requirements where both server and client private keys must be hardware protected (defense, finance, critical infrastructure) integrations the following guide helps you leverage the full capabilities of your vpn infrastructure, providing step by step instructions and best practices for seamless integration with vpn systems docid\ nroiy4agwtddvbzlkbezz docid\ zivwj9qwitr9rhjg5xrrj