During an audit, a company's VPN is found to encrypt data but not validate traffic at the application layer. This indicates a need for improvement in ____________.

The discovery that a VPN encrypts data but lacks validation at the application layer suggests a need for improvement in application layer security. Validating traffic at this layer ensures that only authorized applications and services are allowed, enhancing overall security. Addressing this deficiency is crucial for preventing unauthorized access and potential exploits through application-layer vulnerabilities in the VPN infrastructure.__________________________________________________