As more employees work at home and become mobile, corporations need to allow easy access to their networks and services. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which create connections between servers or a workstation and a server using public switched facilities, offer a cost-effective, flexible solution.
In essence, the user accesses the network using a cable modem or DSL or wireless device. The VPN defines a tunnel between the user’s workstation and the server, and the connection operates as a dedicated circuit for the session. The VPN sending system encrypts and encapsulates the protocol used by the network, and the receiving device reassembles and decrypts the data. VPN product support most popular protocols, including Internet protocol, but each product varies in the number and types of protocols supported.
Protecting the Data
VPNs, by definition, operate across public switched lines. That means the data must be protected. Several products implement versions of the Data Encryption Standard, DES. In its basic form, DES uses a single key for encryption and decryption (called symmetric encryption).
Other products implement asymmetric encryption, using two keys. Under this approach, the sending system creates a unique key, called a private key. The system encrypts this key using a public key; the receiving device decrypts the private key, and both systems use the private key for subsequent data transmissions.
Keys can be any size, but most range from 40-bits to 128-bits. DES uses a 56-bit key, but vendors favor larger keys because they are harder to break. Popular types of encryption include:
Configuring the Link
Establishing VPNs is not simple. Network managers must plan for each workstation’s IP address. They also must protect workstations with firewalls, regardless of their location, and they need to publish and enforce comprehensive, strong security policies to ensure that users follow the best procedures.
Further, any change in employees or workstations requires changing the network. Managers should therefore carefully consider such features as intrusion detection, auditing, reporting, and policy management for each product.
The vendors will simplify this process in the future. For now, however, most vendors only support their equipment, and the centralized controls remain limited. VPN security requires a commitment, and managers should determine if the cost savings justify the on-going expense of operating a secure VPN.
Gerald Williams serves as director of quality assurance for Dolphin Inc., a software development company. He previously served with National Software Testing Labs, Datapro Research, and Datapro’s PC Communications Reference Service. This article first appeared in CrossNodes, an internet.com site.
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence: Driving Greater Equality
FEATURE | By James Maguire,
December 16, 2020
AI vs. Machine Learning vs. Deep Learning
FEATURE | By Cynthia Harvey,
December 11, 2020
Huawei’s AI Update: Things Are Moving Faster Than We Think
FEATURE | By Rob Enderle,
December 04, 2020
Keeping Machine Learning Algorithms Honest in the ‘Ethics-First’ Era
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By Guest Author,
November 18, 2020
Key Trends in Chatbots and RPA
FEATURE | By Guest Author,
November 10, 2020
FEATURE | By Samuel Greengard,
November 05, 2020
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By Guest Author,
November 02, 2020
How Intel’s Work With Autonomous Cars Could Redefine General Purpose AI
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By Rob Enderle,
October 29, 2020
Dell Technologies World: Weaving Together Human And Machine Interaction For AI And Robotics
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By Rob Enderle,
October 23, 2020
The Super Moderator, or How IBM Project Debater Could Save Social Media
FEATURE | By Rob Enderle,
October 16, 2020
FEATURE | By Cynthia Harvey,
October 07, 2020
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By Guest Author,
October 05, 2020
CIOs Discuss the Promise of AI and Data Science
FEATURE | By Guest Author,
September 25, 2020
Microsoft Is Building An AI Product That Could Predict The Future
FEATURE | By Rob Enderle,
September 25, 2020
Top 10 Machine Learning Companies 2021
FEATURE | By Cynthia Harvey,
September 22, 2020
NVIDIA and ARM: Massively Changing The AI Landscape
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By Rob Enderle,
September 18, 2020
Continuous Intelligence: Expert Discussion [Video and Podcast]
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By James Maguire,
September 14, 2020
Artificial Intelligence: Governance and Ethics [Video]
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | By James Maguire,
September 13, 2020
IBM Watson At The US Open: Showcasing The Power Of A Mature Enterprise-Class AI
FEATURE | By Rob Enderle,
September 11, 2020
Artificial Intelligence: Perception vs. Reality
FEATURE | By James Maguire,
September 09, 2020
Datamation is the leading industry resource for B2B data professionals and technology buyers. Datamation's focus is on providing insight into the latest trends and innovation in AI, data security, big data, and more, along with in-depth product recommendations and comparisons. More than 1.7M users gain insight and guidance from Datamation every year.
Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on Datamation and our other data and technology-focused platforms.
Advertise with Us
Property of TechnologyAdvice.
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this
site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives
compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products
appear on this site including, for example, the order in which
they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies
or all types of products available in the marketplace.