What is VPN?

Virtual Private Network (VPN) utilizes public internet to establish a secure private channel with another network. It is a technology combined with tunneling, encryption, authentication and access control. VPNs are widely used by enterprises to create wide area networks (WANs) that span large geographic areas, to provide site-to-site connections to branch offices and to allow mobile users to dial up their company LANs.


VPN’s functions and advantages

Using a VPN client, users can access resources on their private network from anywhere,
anytime via the Internet.

Encryption and decryption ensures that there is a secure communication path.

It also simplifies network management, allows control of resources and its sharing in the network.

It is cost saving by eliminating the need of a lease lie. Even from different sites, VPN makes them
look like they are under the same Local Area Network. This will also save cost on long distance calls
when Voice of IP is used.


Figure: Virtual Private Network (VPN)