What is VPN?

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What is VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it functions as provider of secured connections between private networks linked through the Internet. It enables remote computers to work as if they are just linked on a local area network. VPN allows a user to connect to their office network from the comfort of their homes. It is as if a user is sitting right in his office.

Moreover, since VPN provides extremely secured connections, it is virtually impossible for someone to interfere with the data flowing in the VPN tunnel. Since VPN uses the internet to link to other computers, it means you can access your company’s computers anywhere in the world. However, setting up VPN is more complicated than that of using a less secured techniques. Moreover, user may have to follow company policies to be able to connect to the office network.

Before the end of the year 1990, computer networks are connected using leased lines or dial-up phone lines, which are expensive. Thousands of dollars are spent by companies just to get their computers connected to a network. The longer the distance the more expensive is the cost of interconnecting the network computers.

Virtual Private Network has made a huge decrease to the cost of interconnecting computers within an organization. Due to VPN, expensive leased lines can now be avoided. Dial-up phone lines and T1 connections are now needless for users can exchange private data securely with VPN.

Virtual Private Network has changed the way many businesses operate. Businesses are not thinking of the local or regional markets today. Instead, companies are thinking of global markets to gain more exposure and to earn more profits. Present firms are now internationally operating and they have facilities or offices situated all across the globe.

This change in trend on how businesses operate needs VPN to facilitate secure communications between offices across the globe. The Internet has changed everything especially to the business sector. It is true that the internet may not be as reliable as WAN. However, business needs to reduce operating expenses and that may mean finding alternatives for the expensive WAN.

Intranet is now not enough to accommodate the expanding global businesses. To be able to connect their remote and distant employees they need to use VPN. VPN uses a public network, which is the Internet to connect remote computers together. The network uses virtual connections routed through the internet instead of using the expensive leased lines. The connection is routed from the company’s private network to the remote users or computers.

A company setup for a well-designed VPN will benefit greatly. Aside from extending geographic connectivity, it also improves security. Extended geographic connectivity will mean improved productivity. It helps not just reduce operational costs for using WAN, but it also helps reduce transportation cost for remote employees. Reduced operational and transportation costs will mean faster return on investment on the part of the company. Moreover, VPN makes a network topology simple therefore making network management an easier task.

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