Visibility is the missing piece in many enterprise security stacks. You can have enterprise VPNs that encrypt data in transit yet still be blind to what happens after traffic enters your cloud. vRealize Infrastructure Navigator fills that gap by mapping application dependencies and revealing internal connections inside VMware virtual environments. Pairing that visibility with strong VPN controls gives you both protection and actionable insight.
This guide explains what vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) does how it complements VPNs and vRealize Automation and how to use both to strengthen security operational uptime and compliance.
Why visibility matters more than perimeter walls
Enterprises invest heavily in encryption firewalls and VPNs to secure data on the wire. That is necessary but not sufficient. Once encrypted traffic reaches your virtual infrastructure you need to answer questions such as:
• Which application received the connection?
• Which backend services did that app call?
• Is this behavior normal for this user or VM?
Without answers you face slower incident response compliance gaps and unknown lateral movement. VIN provides an application level map so these questions have clear answers.
What vRealize Infrastructure Navigator actually does
At its core VIN performs agentless discovery and dependency mapping inside vSphere environments. It observes inter process and inter VM interactions then builds a visual dependency graph that shows:
• Services running on each VM
• Which services talk to one another
• Ports protocols and flow direction
• Transitive dependencies such as app to database to cache
Because VIN integrates with vCenter it produces maps in near real time without modifying application code. That makes it ideal for fast moving hybrid and private cloud environments.
How VIN complements VPNs
VPNs secure the transport layer. VIN secures the application layer.
When a user or remote service connects via VPN you may know the endpoint identity and encryption status but not the downstream interactions. VIN gives you:
• Application context so you can say which app a VPN session touched
• Dependency visibility to find exposed services inside the tunnel
• Lateral movement detection to spot suspicious east west traffic
Together they let you enforce least privilege with confidence and reduce mean time to detection and response for compromised sessions.
Where vRealize Automation fits into the picture
vRealize Automation automates infrastructure provisioning and lifecycle management. VIN tells you how those automated deployments behave once running.
Use cases when VIN and vRealize Automation (vRA) are combined:
• Validate automated blueprints by inspecting real runtime dependencies.
• Apply governance policies in vRA based on VIN discovered exposure.
• Automate quarantine or microsegmentation workflows when VIN surfaces risky connections.
This pairing brings visibility and control into the CI CD pipeline closing the gap between deployment and runtime security.
Business outcomes you can expect
Adopting VIN alongside enterprise VPN and automation tooling produces measurable outcomes:
Faster incident resolution:Dependency maps cut triage time. Teams find the source and blast radius in minutes.
Better access controls:Enforce VPN policies tied to application context not just IP addresses.
Reduced exposure:Identify shadow services and unnecessary east west paths that increase risk.
Simpler audits:Produce clear dependency evidence for PCI HIPAA and similar audits.
Operational efficiency:Combine VIN insights with vRA automation to remediate or scale safely.
Practical steps to deploy VIN for VPN observability
Follow a clear phased approach to get value quickly without disruption.
1.Discovery
Install VIN and integrate with vCenter. Run discovery during a low traffic window. Export baseline maps and store for comparison.
2. Map and label
Enrich graphs by tagging VMs and services with environment owner business unit and sensitivity level. This makes hunting and reporting far simpler.
3. Align VPN logs
Correlate VPN session logs with VIN maps. For example tie a user session to a VM and then inspect that VM’s outgoing dependencies.
4.Policy and automation
Use vRA or existing automation tools to take action on VIN findings. Typical actions include isolating a VM triggering additional logging or applying microsegmentation rules via NSX.
5.Monitor and iterate
Set thresholds and alerts for new or unusual dependencies. Revisit service catalogs and automation blueprints when new patterns emerge.
Common scenarios and how VIN helps
Scenario A: Unknown database calls after a VPN session
VIN lets you trace from the frontend VM to the exact database instance and port. You can quickly determine if the call is expected or malicious.
Scenario B: Shadow services left by failed automation
Automated deployments sometimes leave orphaned services. VIN detects these and lets you incorporate cleanup steps into vRA blueprints.
Scenario C: Compliance evidence for auditors
VIN maps combined with VPN access logs create an auditable chain showing who accessed what and which internal services were involved.
Best practices to get the most from VIN
Keep discovery continuous not one time. Environments change.
- Tag aggressively so maps are meaningful to non infrastructure teams.
- Integrate with SIEM for correlation and enrichment.
- Use automation to convert VIN findings into policy changes.
- Train teams to read dependency graphs and interpret risk.
Limitations and how to mitigate them
VIN is powerful but not a silver bullet. It focuses on application dependency mapping inside VMware virtual infrastructure. It does not replace full packet inspection or endpoint monitoring. Mitigate gaps by:
• Combining VIN insights with endpoint telemetry and SIEM.
• Using NSX or firewall rules for enforcement based on VIN discoveries.
• Extending discovery to non VMware workloads with complementary tools.
Measuring success
Track these KPIs to demonstrate value:
• Mean time to resolution for incidents involving VPN sessions.
• Number of shadow services identified and removed.
• Percentage of automation blueprints validated against runtime maps.
• Time to produce compliance evidence for audits.
Improvement in these metrics shows VIN is not just a tool but a business enabler.
Implementation checklist for IT and security teams
- Install VIN and integrate with vCenter.
- Run initial discovery and snapshot baseline.
- Tag VMs and services with owners and sensitivity.
- Correlate VPN logs and session metadata.
- Automate common remediation via vRA or scripts.
- Feed VIN output to SIEM and ticketing.
- Schedule monthly review with SecOps and platform teams.
Final thoughts
Security needs both strong transport and clear sightlines inside the cloud. vRealize Infrastructure Navigator provides the internal application context that transforms encrypted VPN tunnels from blind trust zones into well understood channels. Paired with vRealize Automation and network enforcement tools VIN helps you move from reactive to proactive security and operations.
If your goal is to reduce risk speed incident response and make audits painless start by mapping your environment then use those maps to drive policy and automation. That combination is how modern enterprises operationalize resilience.
Check Also:https://coruzants.com/blog/corporate-software-inspector/
FAQs
What is VMware vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?
VMware vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) is a tool that automatically maps application dependencies across virtual machines, giving IT teams real-time visibility into how apps communicate inside VMware environments.
How does vRealize Infrastructure Navigator help with VPN visibility?
VIN complements VPNs by revealing what happens inside your infrastructure after encrypted traffic enters. It shows which applications and services communicate, helping detect risks and optimize VPN performance.
Is vRealize Infrastructure Navigator part of the vRealize Suite?
Yes, VIN is integrated into the VMware vRealize Suite. It works alongside vRealize Automation, vRealize Operations, and other VMware tools to deliver complete automation, monitoring, and visibility.
Can vRealize Infrastructure Navigator improve network security?
Absolutely. By mapping internal dependencies, VIN helps identify shadow services, unnecessary connections, and unusual traffic patterns that may indicate potential security threats.
How do I integrate vRealize Infrastructure Navigator with VPNs?
Integrate VIN through vCenter, then correlate VPN access logs with VIN’s application maps. This combined view helps IT teams understand which apps are accessed through VPNs and monitor traffic more effectively.
