A
VPN is a private network that uses a public network (usually the Internet)
to connect remote sites or users together. Instead of using a dedicated,
real-world connection such as leased line from an ISP, a VPN uses "virtual"
connections routed through the Internet from the company's private network
to the remote site or employee.
These
private networks can be created many ways. Your situation may call for
a large scale site-to-site private network that uses an "integrated security
appliance" such as a Cisco PIX, or a smaller Client/Server solution.
An example
of a company that would benefit from a VPN solution would be a large firm
with many sales people in the field. VPN provides a secure, encrypted
connection between a company's private network and remote users through
an Internet service provider.
- Extend geographic
connectivity
- Provide broadband
networking compatibility
- Improve security
- Reduce operational
costs versus traditional WAN
- Reduce transit
time and transportation costs for remote users
- Improve productivity
- Provide global
networking opportunities
- Provide telecommuters
support
- Provide faster
ROI (return on investment) than traditional WAN
- Example of
a VPN :
- A remote employee
wants to connect into the corporate network and access their company's
internal web.
- The remote user
dials into their local ISP and logs into the ISP's network as usual.
- When connectivity
to the corporate network is desired, the user initiates a tunnel request
to the destination Security server on the corporate network. The Security
server authenticates the user and creates the other end of tunnel.
- The user then
sends data through the tunnel which is encrypted by the VPN software
before being sent over the ISP connection.
- The destination
Security server receives the encrypted data and decrypts. The Security
server then forwards the decrypted data packets onto the corporate
network. Any information sent back to the Remote user is also encrypted
before being sent over the Internet.
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