Virtual Private Networks

What Makes a VPN?

A well-designed VPN can greatly benefit a company (see Figure 1). For example, it can:

Figure 1.

VPN architecture diagram

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  Extend geographic connectivity • Improve security • Reduce operational costs versus traditional WAN

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  Reduce transit time and transportation costs for remote users

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  Improve Productivity

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  Simplify Network Topology

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  Provide global networking opportunities

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  Provide telecommuter support

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  Provide broadband networking compatibility

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  Provide faster ROI (return on investment) than traditional WAN

Background

A VPN can transform the characteristics of a public non-secure network into those of a private secure network. VPNs reduce remote access costs by using public network resources. Compared to other solutions, including private networks, a VPN is inexpensive. VPNs are not new. In fact, they have been used in telephone networks for years and have become more prevalent since the development of the intelligent network (Web ProForum Tutorials, n.d.). Frame relay networks, which have been around for some time, are VPNs. Virtual private networks are only new to IP networks such as the Internet. Therefore, some authors use the terms Internet VPN and virtual private data network to distinguish the VPN described in this chapter from other VPNs. In this book, the term VPN refers to Internet VPN. The goal of a VPN is to provide a secure passage for users’ data over the non-secure Internet. It enables companies to use the Internet as the virtual backbone for their corporate networks by allowing them to create secure virtual links between their corporate office and branch or remote offices via the Internet. The cost benefits of VPN service have prompted corporations to move more of their data from private WANs to Internet- based VPNs.