Virtual private networks (VPNs) create a tunnel between a private network and a public network, allowing users on the public network to send and receive data as if they were directly connected to the private network. VPNs have long been a popular choice for consumers seeking more privacy in their everyday Internet browsing, but the use of VPNs in the business sector has exploded in recent years. This is especially true since March 2020, when VPN usage skyrocketed by 41% in a single month, according to industry research. With our distributed workforce growing exponentially over that time, the need for secure remote access to data, applications and services became a more urgent. What are VPN protocols?VPN protocols determine exactly how data is routed through a connection. These protocols have different specifications based on the benefits and desired circumstances; for example, some VPN protocols prioritize data throughput speed while others focus on masking or encrypting data packets for privacy and security. 5 Common VPN ProtocolsThere are two main approaches to VPN functionality: 1) two protocols are used (one protocol to move the data through the tunnel and one protocol to secure that traffic); or 2) one protocol is used for both data transfer and data security. Here are five common VPN protocols and their primary benefits. 1) PPTP TL;DR: fast data speeds, wide support, many security issues 2) L2TP/IPSec TL;DR: widely used, good speeds, easily blocked due to reliance of UDP on single port 3) OpenVPN TL;DR: open source, strongest encryption, slower speeds 4) SSTP TL;DR: good security, difficult to block and detect, great support for native and third party clients 5) IKEv2 TL;DR: fast, mobile friendly, network switching capabilities, open source options, great support for native and third party clients The Purpose-Built VPN ProtocolSeveral years ago, NetMotion engineers determined that while standard security protocols meet the needs of mobile users, there simply wasn’t a delivery protocol reliable enough for the variable and unpredictable conditions of wireless environments. So in developing NetMotion Mobility, we built our own. There are two main components of the Mobility VPN: The Mobility server and the Mobility client. These components communicate using a proprietary, secure, guaranteed delivery protocol called IMP (Internet Mobility Protocol) and RT-IMP, a version of IMP optimized for real-time traffic such as voice and video. Both IMP and RT-IMP run over UDP and on wireless networks, they provide TCP-like reliability with the performance advantages of UDP. The Mobility client and server use a transparent, transport level, proxy architecture to isolate all tunneled IP flows from changes in the underlying physical wireless network. This ensures that the TCP connections for tunneled applications remain connected across network roams and other disruptions in network connectivity. Mobility uses industry-standard encryption and authentication protocols as well as FIPS 140-2 validated and NSA Suite B compliant cryptographic libraries. If your workforce relies on mobile devices and wireless networks to get the job done, there is not a better option than NetMotion’s purpose-built mobile VPN—from a technical standpoint or end-user perspective. Continue Reading
Computer Networks Interview Questions and Answers on “Virtual Private Networks”. 1. A ___________ is an extension of an enterprise’s private intranet across a public network such as the internet, creating a secure private connection. a) VNP b) VPN c) VSN d) VSPN A site-to-site virtual private network (VPN) is a connection between two or more networks, such as a corporate network and a branch office network. Many organizations use site-to-site VPNs to leverage an internet connection for private traffic as an alternative to using private MPLS circuits. Site-to-site VPNs are frequently used by companies with multiple offices in different geographic locations that need to access and use the corporate network on an ongoing basis. With a site-to-site VPN, a company can securely connect its corporate network with its remote offices to communicate and share resources with them as a single network.
Site-to-site VPNs and remote access VPNs may sound similar, but they serve entirely different purposes.
Why Site-to-Site VPNs Are No Longer Enough Companies have traditionally used site-to-site VPNs to connect their corporate network and remote branch offices in a hub-and-spoke topology. This approach works when a company has an in-house data center, highly sensitive applications or minimal bandwidth requirements. However, now that most companies have moved their applications and data to the cloud and have large mobile workforces, it no longer makes sense for users to have to go through an in-house data center to get to the cloud when they can instead go to the cloud directly. Consequently, companies need to set up network topology with access to the cloud or data center applications. This is driving organizations to set up network architectures that do not depend on bringing all traffic back to headquarters. SASE: A Modern Solution for Connecting Remote Offices A more recent cybersecurity model called a secure access service edge (SASE; pronounced “sassy”), delivers the networking and network security services companies need directly through a cloud infrastructure. Moreover, SASE offers multiple security capabilities, such as advanced threat prevention, credential theft prevention, web filtering, sandboxing, DNS security, data loss prevention (DLP) and others from one cloud-delivered platform. This allows companies to easily connect their remote offices; securely route traffic to public or private clouds, software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications or the internet; and manage and control access. Benefits Some of the benefits of using a SASE are that it allows companies to:
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