| The question of exactly how to explain or | | | | expensive and difficult to expand, not to |
| define a VPN is one that is often up for | | | | mention difficult for the client to have |
| discussion amongst today's network consumers | | | | control over. |
| and communications providers. If we look at | | | | |
| the literal definition of the words virtual | | | | With the advent of the internet, connections |
| private network, it can help to understand | | | | no longer needed to be physical. As long as |
| what is, and what is not, a VPN . | | | | each computer has access to the internet, |
| | | | information can be shared using local ISP |
| Using Webster's dictionary definitions of the | | | | circuits, across the internet, and to the |
| component words, a VPN should have the | | | | recipient in much the same way that it was |
| following attributes: | | | | when the computers were physically connected. |
| | | | This is why the way VPN works is considered a |
| Virtual - defined as "being such practically | | | | "virtual" network; the entire connection is |
| or in effect, although not in actual fact or | | | | not hard-wired. |
| name." Therefore, the first part of the | | | | |
| answer to our question "what is a VPN" is | | | | The aspects of VPN explained in this article |
| that it is something that acts like a | | | | so far have not yet discussed an ever present |
| hard-wired network, but is actually not. | | | | concern in today's world - security. In an |
| | | | old WAN arrangement, the security of data |
| Private - defined as "of, belonging to, or | | | | transmission could rely entirely on the |
| concerning a particular person or group; not | | | | provider's guarantees. Today, however, a VPN |
| common or general." So, a VPN should be one | | | | keeps information private by means of |
| where the consumer has exclusive use of the | | | | encryption on both the sending and receiving |
| network links. (Note, this is different from | | | | end. There are a variety of encryption |
| a Secure Network, which may be a private or | | | | protocols, depending on what a company's |
| public network.) | | | | needs are, who they need to communicate with |
| | | | (and therefore be compatible with), etc. The |
| Network - defined as "a system of computers | | | | data is not only encrypted, but it is |
| interconnected by telephone wires or other | | | | encapsulated, meaning it is sent in its own |
| means in order to share information." This is | | | | private "tunnel" or connection across the |
| the goal of a VPN or any other type of | | | | internet. No one can see the data, and even |
| network. | | | | if they could, they can't decipher or change |
| | | | it. In this way, information can be sent |
| VPN explained in this manner is a network | | | | across the internet without being susceptible |
| technology which gives the owner the ability | | | | to interception or corruption by those who |
| to share information with others on the | | | | are outside of the VPN. |
| network by means of a private, exclusive link | | | | |
| that is created by a method other than | | | | In order to create a virtual private network, |
| hard-wires or leased lines; usually via the | | | | you would need to decide who needs to share |
| internet. Before the internet, computers in | | | | information, in what directions, and how |
| different offices, cities or even countries | | | | often. Next you would need to prepare a |
| could only talk to each other like people | | | | listing of the hardware and software systems |
| could - through telephone wires. As the needs | | | | you are currently using at each location. You |
| for this type of communication grew, | | | | might very well need to make changes so that |
| telephone lines became replaced by higher | | | | the computers can talk to each other easily. |
| volume wires, like T3 circuits, but the | | | | You'll also want to consider just how |
| concept was the same. For computer A to talk | | | | important it is that your data remains |
| to computer B, there had to be a physical | | | | secure, as this will have an impact on what |
| wire connection. For security reasons, you | | | | type of protocol you select. Preparing this |
| would want to make sure that only your 2 | | | | information will have you educated for the |
| computers used that line, so you would | | | | discussions you will need to have with |
| contract with a vendor to "lease" that | | | | potential vendors. |
| circuit. However, this type of network was | | | | |