Firezone: Open-Source Remote Access Made Secure
▼ Summary
– Firezone is an open-source platform for managing secure remote access using a least-privileged model to grant only necessary user permissions.
– It is built to scale with traffic by adding gateways and uses the WireGuard protocol with enhanced security features like short-lived keys and firewall hole-punching.
– The platform simplifies management with a Policy Engine, eliminating the need for complex firewall rules or ACLs for access control and review.
– It addresses common security issues by blocking malicious DNS queries, scaling VPC access with gateways, and routing traffic through a static IP for approved services.
– Firezone enables secure access to private networks, databases, SaaS apps, and web apps without opening firewall ports and is available for free on GitHub.
Firezone provides a robust, open-source solution for organizations seeking to manage secure remote access efficiently. This platform stands apart from conventional VPNs by implementing a least-privileged access model, ensuring that individuals receive only the permissions necessary for their roles.
Designed with scalability in mind, Firezone allows you to expand gateway capacity as network traffic increases. It leverages the WireGuard protocol, known for its speed and security, and incorporates additional safeguards such as short-lived encryption keys and firewall hole-punching to minimize potential vulnerabilities. Administration is streamlined through a Policy Engine that eliminates the complexity of traditional firewall rules and access control lists, simplifying both oversight and auditing.
The platform addresses numerous common security challenges. It can prevent DNS queries to malicious domains, shielding your team from dangerous websites. Scaling access within a virtual private cloud is straightforward, supported by multiple gateways and optional Terraform configuration examples for deployment.
Firezone also enables routing specific traffic through a single static IP address, which proves invaluable when services mandate connections from authorized IPs. It secures database access for systems like Postgres, manages entry to public SaaS applications including HubSpot and GitHub, and facilitates connections to hosts via private IP addresses.
You can reach private networks, such as homelabs or VPCs, without exposing firewall ports. Additionally, it allows secure access to privately hosted web applications like GitLab or Metabase.
Firezone is freely available on GitHub.
(Source: HelpNet Security)
