Remote Access | Virtual Private Network Resource

Benefits of Using Virtual Private Networks for Your Business

June 20, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Deploying Virtual Private Networks With Micros...

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Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, can equip your business with the technology it needs to get ahead. VPNs provide long-distance, secured network connections for your organization and allow your business to provide secured networks for your client base. For businesses, Virtual Private Networks help out by creating savings on cost and network scalability. Clients also benefit, as VPNs are easy to use.

Savings on Cost

Implementing this new technology reduces cost in a few ways. First, VPNs reduce long-distance telephone charges. They replace long-distance dialup networks and remote access servers used by business travelers to access their company on the road by intranet. VPNs also eliminate the need for expensive leased lines. Before this technology, businesses had to rent network capacity. Now, VPNs use public infrastructure like the internet to make connections and access virtual networks by using less expensive local leased lines or broadband connections. Finally, using VPN technology lowers support costs as your business can outsource needed support from third-party service providers.

Network Scalability

Without using Virtual Private Networks, the cost of building private networks for an organization increases exponentially as the business expands. VPNs solve this problem. Internet-based VPNs use public lines and network capability that is already out there. This can be especially beneficial for use with remote or international locations.

VPNs also work well with WiFi local area networking. Of course, you must have the appropriate networking hardware or software support to make VPNs work with your business. It’s a step you’ll want to take, though, as the benefits of Virtual Private Networks certainly make your business stronger.

Filed Under: Networks, Security Tagged With: Remote access, Virtual private network, Wi-Fi

How to Turn the VPN on Your iPhone On and Off

March 24, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Once the iPhone has been set with all the configurations and information for a virtual private network, you will be able to use it as you would a regular desktop or laptop computer. You will be able to connect to the system, check email, access files and use the software on the computer that is located in your office or in the company. Here is a look at how to turn your virtual private network on and off using your iPhone and the numerous things that you can do once you are on a virtual private network.

There is a switch in the virtual private networking section. This switch will have an option of either on or off. When you want to connect to the virtual private network switch it on, when you want to disconnect switch to off. Sometimes switching the connection on the first time will not work. Try to switch it on and off a few times before you start to take a look at the information and account info that you have in the iPhone.

Once the phone is connected to a virtual private network there will be a tiny little blue screen at the top of your iPhone. This will say VPN and indicate that you are connected to the VPN. It will also have a tiny little timer that will show you how long you have been connected to the VPN. If you are connected to the VPN you can check emails, remote access the other computers and even enter the website of the company that is attached to the servers.

Filed Under: Networks, Software Tagged With: IPhone, Remote access, Virtual private network

What is a VPN, are there different types and what is each type of VPN?

December 8, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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A VPN is a”Virtual Private Network”. It is a user to Local Area Connection (LAN) connecting a company (employee) for example to network and then to the internet.

The most commonly used type of VPN is (1) Remote-Access which is a dial-up network. This is most often used by a business connecting many of its employees to the network. Now, if a business is fairly large, they may elect to set up through an Enterprise Service Provider (ESP) which will allow remote users to connect to the network thru loaded software on each PC.

The next type of VPN is a Site To Site VPN. With this type of Virtual Private Network, equipment that is specifically dedicated to a business with a pretty strong encryption is implemented so remote sites can say, over the internet, can connect to each other’s PC. Two different Site To Site VPN’s exist. The first is a “Intranet”based network with is used when a business has as little as one remote location or numerous remote locations where they can join into a single Private Network. This type also allows for a “Local Area Network” (LAN) to connect to another LAN. The second option of a Site To Site network is the “Extranet” based network. Say that you’re business goes into a partnership with another company or is bought out by a larger company; Your business needs to share important information or data to the other business in a speedy and secure manner. This is where an Extranet will work for you. A VPN is created to connect various Local Area Networks together with-in an environment shared by the various LAN’s.

One advantage of a VPN is that your information or date can be encrypted or secure so that only those on your network can see or have access. Otherwise, pushing it through the internet without this layer of security, would not only be dangerous but most likely hazardous to your business.

Filed Under: Networks, Private Networks Tagged With: Data, Encryption, IPsec, Local area network, Networks, Remote access, Security, Virtual private network

What is a VPN?

December 3, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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A Virtual Private Network uses the internet, a public network, to connect people together using the internet. Computer users most likely connect to a remote site instead of using a leased internet line, but people who use a virtual connect through the internet via a route from a company’s network. This is done by using a virtual connection instead of a dedicated connection to the internet.

This type of internet usage, like desktop sharing, is how distant computer users can work together. Now if you have a Virtual Private Network that is designed fairly well, you or your business can experience greater productivity, security, telecommuter support let alone lower the time and cost of commuting to a work place.

Using a VPN, the features should include: Network management, Policy management, Reliability, and of course Security.
If you break down a VPN, the first of two is a “remote access”or also named a virtual private dial up network. This is for a user to LAN (Local Access Network). This means it’s a connection used by a company’s employees who connect to the private network from different locations remotely.

The second option of using a VPN, is a Enterprise Service Provider (ESP). With an ESP, a Network Access Server is created which would provide users in remote locations, software for their computers to dial in as telecommuters through a toll-free number and connect to the Network Access Server and use the VPN software to access the company network.

Here’s an idea of how a company might need a VPN for remote access of the internet: Say you work for a fairly good size corporate company and there are hundreds of employees in different locations. Using a remote access virtual private network gives secure, connections which can be also encrypted between the private network and the different remote users through a service provider that most likely would or could be a third party provider.

Filed Under: Networks, Private Networks Tagged With: Access Providers, FAQs Help and Tutorials, Local area network, Network Access Server, Networking, Remote access, Security, Virtual private network

Types of VPN Services

October 10, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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VPN, or virtual private network services act as a secure connection over an insecure connection called the internet. VPN is a secure layer of software which has the capability of absorbing some insecure contents. VPN services are of two types:

The remote access VPN and site to site VPN. Both of these services can be used in banking services in order to provide secure and safe transaction facilities to their customers. It’s site to site VPN gives you a secure connection between two or more locations across the open internet. By using site to site VPNs services banks can be more secure and safe. Transferring amounts can cost a lot to banks by site to site but, the virtual private network services can reduce this amount. Now, one can use cheaper means for example, domestic network or broadband which is the hiring expensive plan or sites for transferring your money with security.

The next type is remote access VPN service. It is also known as dial up or VPDN and used by the bankers and staff members of banks who are located at remote places. They can get in touch with the bank and can perform their transactions with the same level of satisfaction and safety. By using a VPN service you can connect to an office network via any means such as dial up connection or any ISDN lines from anywhere in the world and no one can track your activities. These are highly secured and reliable services and most banks are using them in order to make their process more authenticated and transparent.

In VPN services, especially in banking, advanced encryption and security techniques are being used to ensure security to a great extent. It facilitates work and permits the computers and other hardware to establish a secure and reliable connection over an insecure connection. The internet is very insecure and banks cannot afford to lose private information due to any fault in their system because of insecure internet connection. Virtual private network, VPN, will overcome this limitation and provide more secure and stable connection at low prices.

Filed Under: Networks, Private Networks Tagged With: FAQs Help and Tutorials, IPsec, Networking, Open Source, Products, Remote access, Security, Virtual private network

Virtual Private Network

October 6, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? First off, it is “virtual”, but not in the sense that it represents something that is actually not there (ie. virtual reality gaming experiences). It is virtual in the sense that this network brings all of the structure and capabilities of a larger and more complicated network to an individual that is not located in the same space as the network’s central facility. In other words, the virtual network brings everything right to you without you actually being there. An example of this would be a head office that is connected to various regional offices and remote users by a telecommunications system (something like the internet or your telephone lines). It is “private” in the sense that this VPN connects computers, servers and mainframes and their shared technology with secure access to a level of an organization’s network. The VPN’s purpose is to avoid the overwhelming costs associated with a system that is made up of lines of communication that are owned by another organization. By operating this way, the VPN provides secure network usage without any of the high costs of setting up hard-line or wireless structures. By using a system such as this, all the remote users or regional offices have direct and secure communications with the central facility and can use all of the accompanying software, connections and hardware, but are maintaining their remote status. Therefore the connectivity is assured and secure, while at the same time the company or organization does not have to spend lots of money hard wiring a system for networking and sharing information, but has all the benefits of such a system.

The VPN did not exist until the late 1990′s. This was because they were not “needed” yet. Most companies and organizations were perfectly content with their hardwired and local networks. Once the industry realized that their regional offices and remote units could “have it all” and not be located at the central office, VPN soared in usage and popularity. Virtual Private Networks are are still very popular today.

Filed Under: Networks, Private Networks Tagged With: FAQs Help and Tutorials, Local area network, Networking, Remote access, Security, Telecommunication, Virtual private network, Virtual reality

Virtual Private Networks … Some Highpoints

October 5, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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About the end of the 1990s the industry began to realize that their networks that were then connected by incredibly expensive leased or owned lines or dial-up phone lines, could be securely connected across shared public lines and by the internet. All that was needed was a finely developed and implemented encryption and routing system so things would stay secure.

Why would VPNs be desirable?

They vastly reduce network costs because they do not have a need for the leased communications lines that network locally or to the internet. The users can also exchange private data securely and make use of their own network’s secure systems. VPN technologies have many options for usage and various protocols. They are adaptable to a great number of technologies and marketing influences. They are not easily defined because they are so incredibly flexible in make-up and usage.

What can VPNs do?

An easier question to answer would be,”What can’t they do?”. VPN technologies can use vastly different protocols to tunnel data traffic. They can be totally adjusted as to the tunnel’s termination point. Their connectivity is adjustable to site-to-site or remote access. They can provide various levels of security inside and outside of the same network, while at the same time remaining adjustable as to which layer, (2 or 3), the circuit connectivity can be set at. They can provide fully secure encrypted mechanisms and mechanisms that run right along side with little or no security. In short, the number of protocols is almost without limit.

VPNs continually support changing sets of network nodes that fluctuate arbitrarily. VPNs are highly sophisticated networks, but since they are so flexible, they often are seen simply as tunnels running basic routing protocols. With provider-provided VPNs (PPVPNs), we have a different concept completely. Here they continually support multiple VPNs that operate at the same time over the same network by the same service provider, while being “hidden” from each other.

Filed Under: Networks, Private Networks Tagged With: Business and Economy, Internet Protocol, IPsec, Mac OS X, Networking, Remote access, Security, Virtual private network

Virtual Private Network-How it works

September 11, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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In this era of globalization, companies are now introducing world wide services. They not only deal with local and regional services, but with international services. What these companies need, in order to render their services properly, is a way to maintain reliable, fast, and secure communication among their offices no matter where it is located.

A solution to this is WAN or wide area network by which a company is able to expand its private network beyond its immediate geographical region by using leased lines such as ISDN (integrated digital network) or OC3 (optical carrier-3). The problem of WAN is its cost. WAN is quite expensive and the cost usually increases with the increasing distance among the offices. As an alternative to WAN, companies are now using a recent technology called VPN, or virtual private network. VPN is basically a private network which exploits internet or another public network instead of the leased lines. By using a virtual connection, VPN connects the distant employee to the company’s private network. By using virtual private network colleagues around the world can work together.

There are some certain features including security, scalability, reliability, network management, and policy management which are needed to be well-designed in a VPN. Mainly, there are two types of virtual private networks. One is virtual private dial-up network, which is also called remote access. It is a user-to-LAN connection used by a company to connect the remote employees to the company’s private network. The companies who need a larger network use ESP, or enterprise service provider. ESP provides the distant clients with desktop user software for their computers and builds up network access servers, or NAS. Suppose a company has hundreds of sales people around the world who need to communicate with the company’s private network for sales purpose, they can use ESP for remote access. Another type of VPN is site-to-site VPN, which can be of two types: Internet-based & External-based. Virtual private networks give the opportunity of encrypted and secure connections between the distant users and the company’s private network by means of a third-party service provider.

Filed Under: Networks, Private Networks Tagged With: Company, Local area network, Networking, Remote access, Security, Services, Virtual private network, Wide area network