subject: Vpn What Is It? [print this page] With technology taking leaps and bounds on an almost daily basis, its hard to keep up with exactly whats on offer when it comes to streamlining your communication needs.
Here we uncover what VPN is, how it
works and what it can do for you and your business.
A virtual private network or VPN as its more widely known is a network which gives you the ability to share information with other users on a private, exclusive link through the internet. The reason it is so popular with business owners is that the security features, like encryptions, are used so that only authorised people can access the information stored on the VPN.
With the introduction of the internet, many companies are now able to deal with a global marketplace rather than just in their local area. These businesses need a way to conduct fast, safe and reliable communication. A VPN offers a convenient way to do this. The VPN technology doesnt use a traditional leased line; instead, it uses virtual connections routed through the internet from a private network of the company to a remote site or to an employees chosen location. The advantage of VPN is that it gives an organisation all the functionality of a leased line, but at a far lower cost.
VPN utilises the shared public infrastructure, but it maintains data security through specific procedures and tunnelling protocols like the Layer Two Tunnelling Protocol (L2TP). This protocol sends the information via a ""virtual tunnel" and encrypts, or scrambles the data before sending it and then decrypts it once its received at the other end. Security can be taken to the next level by encrypting both the senders and recipients network addresses.
To be able to set up a VPN, youll need to choose who can share information, in what directions (i.e. can only send, can only receive or both), and how often this can be done. After permissions have been allocated, youll need to develop a list of the hardware and software you are using at each location where the VPN will be connected. This step is important as some hardware and software will not allow VPN connected computers to talk to each other.
Ultimately, a VPN connection allows stakeholders to communicate with each other remotely, in a safe and secure environment at a far lower cost than traditional methods. This technology has allowed many businesses to spread their service offer from around the corner, to across the globe, but invariably this solution isnt right for every business. The best way to discover its suitability for your business is to look at your future growth plans (in terms of staff, locations and service offer) and talk to the experts.
