1. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) By Donald Brown

2. What is a VPN? A network that uses the internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with a secure access to their organizations network. a VPN uses "virtual" connections routed through the Internet from the company's private network to the remote site or employee.

3. Benefits of a VPN Extend geographic connectivity Improve security Reduce operational costs versus traditional WAN Reduce transit time and transportation costs for remote users Improve productivity

4. Benefits (continued) Provide global networking opportunities Provide telecommuter support Provide broadband networking compatibility Provide faster ROI (return on investment) than traditional WAN

5. Types of VPN’s There are two common types of VPN Remote –Access, also-known-as Virtual Private Dial-up Network (VPDN) Site-to-Site VPN

6. Types of VPN’s Remote Access VPN User-to-LAN connection For users that need to connect to the network from various remote locations. Can be outsourced to ESP’s which setup NAS’s for remotes clients. Site-to-Site VPN Intranet-based: when a company has one or more locations that they wish to join to form a single private network. Extranet-based: When multiple companies bring their networks together to share info.

7. How does a VPN work? Information is encrypted and sent through a tunnel until its destination is reached, where it is decrypted so that it can be viewed.

8. How to set up a VPN VPN Setup