14-12-2012, 04:53 PM
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
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When the key to success in a rapidly
changing world is often the “bottom
line,” new technologies offering significant
cost savings are quick to be singled
out for closer scrutiny. Such is the case
with Virtual Private Network (VPN)
technology.
VPN technology enables a corporation to
use a public network, such as the
Internet, for communicating private data.
For companies with multiple locations,
telecommuters, mobile workers or the
need to exchange information with trading
partners, the VPN offers a viable alternative
to such traditional remote access
solutions as X.25, leased lines, Frame
Relay, 800 numbers and long distance
modem dial-in.
According to Forrester Research, Inc., as
reported in the February 1997 issue of
Portable Design, more than half of the
Fortune 1000 companies surveyed are
planning or committed to opening up
their intranets to remote and mobile users
via the Internet. Further, the same
study reports that having remote users
access the corporate Local Area Network
(LAN) via the Internet rather than by traditional
means will cut remote access
costs by as much as two-thirds.
Companies that implement a PC-to-LAN
VPN solution not only save on traditional
remote access costs, they also save
by leveraging their existing investment
in the Internet. By consolidating remote
access lines into Internet channels, companies
can reduce infrastructure complexity
and save on administrative and
managements costs.
Security
One of the most important issues regarding VPN technology is
how to assure the security of private data passing through a public
channel. Most VPN solutions on the market today offer security
for corporate communication needs. VPN security falls into
three categories: encryption, authentication and integrity.
Encryption is the function of scrambling data so that only the intended
receiver can read it.
Authentication is the process of verifying the sender to the receiver.
Integrity ensures that the data has not been tampered with during
transmission.
VPN, It’s Simply a Matter of Choosing
The Right Solution.
Generally speaking, most VPN solutions will reduce infrastructure
complexity and contribute to lower operation and
maintance costs. However, there are some VPN options that are
superior solutions for specific remote access needs, such as PCto-
LAN access. When selecting a VPN solution, regardless of
your remote access needs, you should consider the following:
• It should offer multi-protocol support for LAN access
• It should be optimized for VPN-functionality
• It should be easy to set up, configure and manage
• It should offer SNMP-compliant management capability
• It should be easy to upgrade
• It should offer a secure and reliable link to corporate
headquarters
• It should be backed by a comprehensive support program
IT managers need to review their network and user needs
carefully before selecting a VPN solution. To be successful,
companies must choose a migration path that is best suited to
their current and future remote access needs.