Virtual Private Network

What is a VPN?
A technology that creates a network that is physically public, but virtually private.
VPNs typically require remote users of the network to be authenticated, and often secure data
with encryption technologies to prevent disclosure of private information to unauthorized parties.
Need of VPN?
Earlier there was
1. Private Network
A private network is designed to be used inside an organization. It allows access to shared
resources and at the same time provides privacy. Inside an organization, an internet can be
made out of private LANs and private WANs, which is totally isolated from the global
internet.
2. Hybrid Network
A hybrid network allows an organization to have its own private internet and at the same
time, access to the global internet. Most organization need to have privacy in intra-
organization data exchange, but, at the same time, they need to be connected to global
internet for data exchange with other organization.
What caused hybrid and private networks to be abondend?
 Both private and hybrid networks are costlier.
 To connect several lines an organization needs several leased lines, which means a high
monthly cost.
 One solution is to use global internet for both private and public use.
 A technology called VPN allows the organization to use the internet for both purposes.

How does a VPN work?

A remote access solution works by the remote user first establishing an internet
connection to an ISP in the normal way. The user activates the VPN client software to
create a tunnel over the internet and to connect to the central LAN’s VPN gateway. The
VPN client software then passes its authorization to the VPN gateway. The VPN gateway
checks that the user is authorized to connect and then ensures the encryption key from the
remote client is valid.
All VPN data is encrypted using the key before being transmitted over the internet using
a tunneling protocol. It is decrypted at the other end by the VPN gateway, which has an
identical set of keys to decrypt the data. Data sent from the central LAN to the remote
user is encrypted by the VPN gateway before transmission and decrypted by the remote
user’s VPN client software.
Types of VPN’s
 Remote-Access VPN
 Site-to-Site VPN (Intranet-based)
 Site-to-Site VPN (Extranet-based)

1. Remote-Access VPN

 A remote access VPN is for home or travelling users who need to access their central
LAN from a remote location.
 They dial their ISP and connect over the internet to the LAN.
 This is made possible by installing a client software program on the remote user’s laptop
or PC that deals with the encryption and decryption of the VPN traffic between itself and
the VPN gateway on the central LAN.
 2. Site-to-Site VPN

 Site-to-site(Intranet-based) - If a company has one or more remote locations that they

wish to join in a single private network, they can create an intranet VPN to connect LAN
to LAN.

 Site-to-site (Extranet-based)- When a company has a close relationship with another
company (for example, a partner, supplier or customer), they can build an extranet VPN
that connects LAN to LAN, and that allows all of the various companies to work in a
shared environment.

All 3 types of VPN

Advantages of VPN (Virtual Private Network)

 • Security: The VPN should protect data while it’s travelling on the public network. If
intruders attempt to capture data, they should be unable to read or use it.
• Reliability: Employees and remote offices should be able to connect to VPN. The
virtual network should provide the same quality of connection for each user even when it
is handling the maximum number of simultaneous connections.
• Cost Savings: Its operational cost is less as it transfers the support burden to the service
providers.
• It reduces the long-distance telephone charges.
• It cut technical support.
• It eliminates the need for expensive private or leased lines.
• Its management is straightforward.
• Scalability: growth is the flexible, i.e., we can easily add new locations to the VPN.
• It is efficient with broadband technology.
• By using VPN, the equipment cost is also reduced.

Disadvantages of VPN (Virtual Private Network)

• For VPN network to establish, we require an in-depth understanding of the public

network security issues.
• VPNs need to accommodate complicated protocols other than IP.
• There is a shortage of standardization. The product from different vendors may or may
not work well together.
• The reliability and performance of an Internet-based private network depend on
uncontrollable external factors, which is not under an organization’s direct control.