Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Networks are networks which are created for securing the traffic over leased lines. The traffic that passes over the internet is always under threat with people sniffing around trying to steal packets. VPN’s make it almost impossible for hackers to intercept packets or access information. Tunneling technique is used in VPN’s where a tunnel or a bridge is made from the source to the destination.
There are 3 different types of VPN: Intranet, Extranet and Remote Access VPN. Intranet VPN is used in companies where a password protected network is created for the employees are used to connect with each other. Extranet VPN is used when a company expands its business to other places and requires a secure connection for communication. Remote Access VPN’s are used for long distance connectivity or even connectivity from a network inside its same network but through a wireless connection. This sort of connectivity is used in places where the employees are always on the move and it is also used for distance learning purposes.
Opinion
I think that VPN’s should be made a necessity everywhere because people are always sending important information over the internet such as their credit card information and other private details. The reason being that all this important data is sent over the internet in the form of packets and there people out there who are trying to get access to this data by either brute force techniques or just plain old hacking techniques. Creating VPN’s for every LAN would create a more secure and reliable network which would provide safety to the users.
It is expensive to create VPN‘s and it gets more expensive as the distance between the users increase but it is a onetime investment where many users can use this facility without being noticed by any hackers.
Annotated Bibliography
1. Tyson, Jeff How does VPN work?. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from Alliance Datacom Web site: http://www.alliancedatacom.com/how-vpn-works.asp
Explains why Virtual Private Network’s are used and the different types of VPN.
2. (2006, oct 12). Cisco Documentation. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from Virtual Private Networks Web site: http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/vpn.htm
Explains Virtual Private Networks and the tunneling process involved.
Deepak Sivakumar
http://www.linkedin.com/in/deepaksivakumar