Software developers are forced to use VPN solutions to access corporate resources. Developers generally do not like VPN solutions. So much that 'Software Developer VPN Alternative' and 'VPN alternatives' have been trending topics on Reddit, Google, and many other community forums which developers use. Users' behaviors change as new technology evolves. Horses are no longer a popular transportation method. It's time VPN are replaced by new tools that provide the security, flexibility, and ease of use developers need.
What is a VPN?
VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network and secures communication and privacy while connected to the Internet. It creates an encrypted tunnel for your data to ensure sensitive data is transmitted. It prevents malicious users from eavesdropping on the traffic and allows employees to work remotely.
Why does a software developer need a VPN?
Software developers need security and privacy as general requirements. But while a consumer might use a VPN to appear in a different location to access streaming services or local content, the software developer primarily uses a VPN to access corporate resources such as email, applications, databases, and more in a corporate data center cloud environment.
What are the challenges software developers find when using a VPN?
- VPNs require a login step and typically cannot auto-login when a computer is turned on or rebooted. Adding an additional startup step for developers before they can be productive.
- Developers can't connect to two or more VPNs at the same time due to IP routing limitations such as subnet collisions.
- Since VPNs route all traffic through a centralized location, scaling VPN solutions is a challenge. Either pay a hosted solution a high recurring fee or purchase and maintain your own VPN hardware.
- Don't let developers sit idle while IT and DevOps are adding the developers' IP address to the Access Control List.
- Split tunnel VPNs direct some traffic to private IP addresses while directly the rest through a public IP address. The device's IP address will change at a coffee shop even when connected to a VPN. This creates a false sense of security as developers are not using a VPN 100% of the time.
What is a VPN alternative for software developers?
Software developers do not want to be limited by their VPN. Companies also want to unburden developers and increase productivity. To do so, software developers should adopt Remote.It's Connectivity as Code solution. With a simple line of code, developers can enable cloud or data center resources.
Benefits of using Remote.It for software development
- Devices remain on a private network. No public IP address is needed.
- Connect to devices that were inaccessible before like devices on CGNAT networks without a public IP address.
- Devices are not exposed on the public Internet. No port forwarding is required.
- Connect to multiple cloud environments at the same time including local Git repositories, Azure, Google, and AWS.
- Improves security by removing over-privileged access found with IP/subnet-based VPN solutions. Implement a least privileged access model with granular sharing permissions by service and protocol. Devices are not scannable by malicious bots since no ports are open.
- Invite users via email address without managing IP addresses, access control lists, and IAM roles.
- Scales without any hardware requirements
- Build remote access into your application or device
- Extensive APIs allow for embedding all Remote.It functions in your application or device
- Stop worrying about vpn subnet collisions
Learn more about how Remote.It supports developers
