Our quick primer will help you assess the three main types of VPNs
as applied to Remote Access outsourcing, Site-to-Site connectivity, and
Extranet connectivity.
Remote-Access VPN - Employees who need to access
corporate headquarters remotely can dial into an Internet or network
service provider's POP (point of presence), establish a tunnel through
the corporate firewall, and authenticate themselves to gain access to
the corporate network. Many employees need to be able to access
business critical information even when they are not in the office.
Using a VPN for remote access enables users to transmit and receive corporate
information over the Internet, from the most basic files to crucial
data. Cost savings are realized by eliminating the need to make a
traditional long distance call or maintain a local business metered
line. Further savings come from reducing the operational costs
associated with supporting remote users, modem pools and remote-access
servers, and by eliminating the need for separate telephone lines for
dial access.
Site-to-Site VPN - As with remote-access VPNs, a
site-to-site VPN connects branch offices to corporate headquarters
through tunnels that transport traffic over the Internet or via a
provider's backbone. Every location in your organization can have
access to the information it needs.
A VPN for site-to-site
connectivity reduces communications costs by allowing branch offices
with multiple access data links to move traffic over the existing (and
lower priced) Internet access connection.
Extranet VPN - A VPN-based extranet uses VPN access
control and authentication services to deny or grant customers, trading
partners and business associates access to specific corporate
information. The outsider would get to the corporate firewall by
tunneling across the Internet or a service provider's network. The
ability to get behind the firewall is controlled by the VPN access
control services.
By managing levels of access to an extranet,
your company can give select customers privileges they did not have
before. This can improve customer satisfaction by giving them easier
access to important information while simultaneously reducing required
employee involvement.
Which virtual private network will work
best for your organization? Discuss the VPN options with one of our
network specialists. Call 585-760-1010 (Toll-free: 877-780-1161) or Ask Entre online.
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