Virtual Private Networks (VPN)

 

Virtual Private Networks (VPN)

 

A virtual private network (VPN) allows the creation of private networks across the Internet, enabling privacy and tunneling of non-TCP/IP protocols.

VPNs are used to give remote users and disjointed networks connectivity over a public medium like the Internet instead of using more expensive permanent means.

What is a VPN?

VPN is a generictermthatdescribesanycombinationoftechnologiesthatcanbeusedtosecure

a connection through an otherwise unsecured or untrusted network.

 

Types of VPNs

 

Types of VPNs are named based upon the role they play in a business. There are three different categories of VPNs:

Remote access VPNs

Remote access VPNs allow remote users like telecommuters to securely access the corporate network wherever and whenever they need to.

Site-to-site VPNs

Site-to-site VPNs, or intranet VPNs, allow a company to connect its remote sites to the corporate backbone securely over a public medium like the Internet instead of requiring more expensive WAN connections like Frame Relay.

Extranet VPNs

Extranet VPNs allow an organization’s suppliers, partners, and customers to be connected to the corporate network in a limited way for business-to-business (B2B) communications.