Protecting Your Critical Resources: The Hidden Risk of Internet-Facing Security Tools

The Hidden Dangers of Exposing Security Tools to the Internet

In today’s digital environment, organizations must manage and protect a vast array of interconnected systems, applications and devices. This interconnectedness creates a larger "attack surface"—the sum of all potential entry points that a malicious actor could exploit to gain unauthorized access. Keeping the internet-facing infrastructure, and thus the attack surface, as small as possible enables organizations to protect their internal assets, with more manageable logging and detection capabilities.

Organizations need to communicate but those communication paths must be understood and controlled. As organizations grow and increase their capabilities, challenges across the attack surface may include:

• Expanding digital footprint: Organizations increasingly rely on cloud services, mobile devices, IoT devices, and remote workforces, significantly expanding their exposure.
• Evolving threat landscape: Attackers are leveraging technological innovations to develop new techniques to exploit vulnerabilities.
• Shadow IT: The use of unauthorized or unmanaged applications and devices within an organization can create blind spots and additional attack vectors.
• Third-party risks: Organizations rely on third-party vendors and suppliers, which can introduce even more attack vectors through their own systems and connections.

Security tools aim to control the ever-evolving exposure, but they, themselves, can also become part of the problem. These tools are designed to protect organizations, but if they are exposed to the internet, or are improperly configured, they can become an additional attack vector. Additionally, the tools themselves are being attacked, and new vulnerabilities are being discovered; the fewer tools and capabilities that can be discovered, the better. Internet-exposed tools become prime targets for attackers seeking to bypass security measures and gain access to critical systems.

This is why cloaking technology is a critical differentiation, not only because it limits the attack surface, but also because it can eliminate the opportunity to exploit otherwise-vulnerable capabilities.

How Traditional Internet-Facing Security Solutions Increase Risk

If the tools designed to protect organizations become the vector (as described above), they can be used to gain access to critical assets. Many prominent vendors offer security solutions, but key components of these solutions may be exposed to the internet. While these tools incorporate security measures, they inherently increase the likelihood of unauthorized access.

Any internet-facing security tool, regardless of its vendor or perceived robustness, can become a target. As we saw with the critical zero-day exploits targeting Ivanti VPNs in early 2024 and continuing into 2025, even trusted security solutions from well-established vendors can have vulnerabilities that attackers readily exploit. The discovery of a new critical zero-day exploit (CVE-2025-0282) in Ivanti Connect Secure appliances demonstrates how persistent the attacks are and further underscores this risk. Attackers exploited this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems.

There are several well-documented and recent cases where internet-facing security tools have been compromised, highlighting the risk. Furthermore, leaving security tools exposed widens the attack surface, creating more potential entry points for malicious actors.

Cloaking Your Network Infrastructure to Mitigate Risk

Appgate delivers universal Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) through a unique direct routing architecture. This approach directly addresses the risks associated with internet-facing security tools by ensuring that no part of your organization's infrastructure is exposed to the public internet.

Here's how Appgate achieves this:

• Cloaked Infrastructure: Appgate uses a method called Single Packet Authorization (SPA) to cloak your network. SPA acts like an invisibility shield, making your infrastructure undiscoverable to unauthorized users. Only authorized users and devices with the correct cryptographic key can even "see" your network and request access.
• Direct Routing: Unlike traditional VPNs that create open ports and expose infrastructure to the internet, Appgate establishes direct, one-to-one connections between users and the resources they need. This eliminates the need for open ports and significantly reduces your attack surface.

By combining cloaked infrastructure with direct routing, Appgate makes unauthorized entry virtually impossible. This model dramatically reduces the risk of exploitation compared to traditional security tools that rely on internet-facing infrastructure.

Benefits of Cloaking Your Network Infrastructure

Appgate's cloaking capability makes your network infrastructure invisible to unauthorized users. This "invisibility shield" provides numerous benefits:

• Dramatically mitigates risk: By cloaking your network infrastructure and eliminating internet exposure, Appgate dramatically reduces the risk of unauthorized access to your critical resources. Attackers can't exploit what they cannot see, making it much harder to breach your defenses.
• Enhances overall security posture: Zero internet exposure creates a stronger security posture. With no open ports or publicly visible infrastructure, you minimize your attack surface and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks. This proactive approach to security helps you stay ahead of evolving threats.
• Ease of managing and scaling secure access: Appgate makes it easy to manage and scale secure access without needing to expose your infrastructure to the internet. You can easily grant or revoke access to users and resources, and the system dynamically adjusts to accommodate growth and changes in your network.
• Benefits over traditional models: Appgate's cloaked network approach is particularly beneficial for industries handling sensitive data or those with mission-critical operations, such as healthcare, finance, and government. By ensuring zero exposure, Appgate helps these organizations meet stringent compliance requirements and protect their most valuable assets.

The Future of Attack Surface Management: A New Approach to Security

Traditional security methods are no longer enough. As organizations embrace digital transformation, a novel approach to security is required—one that prioritizes minimizing the attack surface.  

Appgate's security-first approach, with its focus on cloaking and Zero Trust principles, is leading the way. Appgate, by ensuring zero exposure of critical infrastructure, exemplifies this forward-thinking approach.  

Here's how Appgate is shaping the future of secure networking:

• Eliminating internet-facing infrastructure: Appgate challenges the traditional model of security, enabling organizations to effectively combat modern cyber threats.
• Enabling secure innovation: By minimizing the attack surface, Appgate empowers organizations to confidently embrace modern technologies without compromising security.  
• Promoting a proactive approach: Appgate helps organizations stay ahead of the curve and build a more resilient security posture.  

Appgate is at the forefront of a movement towards secure, zero-exposure networking. By adopting this approach, organizations can safeguard their critical assets and navigate the future of cybersecurity with confidence. Try our 30-day free trial to get started and see the direct-routed difference for yourself.