Virtual Private Network is a network within a network. This is very popular with businesses that have people working remotely. So in essence, we are looking at the network provided by the World Wide Web used in a new and creative way. The internet infrastructure can be used as the network for remote employees to access their corporate systems.
In the corporate setting, air-tight security is paramount in today’s environment. As this necessity is the mother of invention, the VPN (virtual private network) was created to serve as a network within the Internet connection. In short, you get more security options at your disposal. This way, nobody can intercept the data being transmitted from one point to another, and only a select few users with authentication can get into the corporate network.
While the Internet is a public network, it is indeed possible to sustain a VPN (virtual private network) within it.
Two components are needed to make this scenario work. First, there needs to be a corporate server setup which has the server VPN software installed (and a good router with a firewall). The second ingredient would be client VPN software installed on the computers of the remote employees. Once the client machine is on the internet, they would use the VPN client software to communicate to the corporate server VPN where authentication occurs. Once the server identifies the connecting client as a valid machine, access to the network is granted. From then on all information to/from the client to the server is traveling along this virtual private network and is protected by the additional layer of encryption and security provided.
Finally, there can be a cost savings if determining whether a leased line or VPN is for you. There is no fixed price for leased lines as this largely depends on geographical distance. This is the opposite of a virtual private network where gauging the price can be done more realistically.
VPN is definitely a viable option for businesses small and large that have remote employees, need site-to-site access with remote offices or secure dial-up connections.
However, we are just scratching the surface of this fascinating topic. This is not to be mistaken as expert advice – rather, it is an article written to help you get a jump on your research on this topic and help you learn the basics. During your evaluation of this technology, you should consider what type of implementation your looking to do; remote access, site-to-site, secure dial-up. We strongly recommend that you read up as well on firewalls, encryption, security, different types of servers and Internet protocol security protocol, or IPSEC.
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