Introduction

A VPN uses a combination of tunneling, encryption, authentication and access control technologies together to carry data across an untrusted public network.  In essence a temporary, secure connection over a public network, usually the Internet.

Point to Point Leased Line or VPN?

Traditional inter-company links utilise telecommunications links, whether they be simple dial-ups or high speed leased lines.  When the offices are geographically local this is a highly cost effective solution.  However once the offices spread out throughout a country or even internationally then the costs of the links can grow exponentially.  This is because most telecommunications links are priced depending on the distance traveled.

Most Internet Service Providers have a local point of presence to the extent that virtually all corners of the Globe have access to the Internet.  Essentially this means that wherever you are in the World you will always be able to access the Internet for a reasonable charge.  So if all of your offices can gain local access to the Internet wherever you are then why not use this infrastructure to communicate to other offices and save a fortune on long distance telecommunications charges?  The answer is simple.  Because the Internet is a public network your information in its raw form is available for all other users to see.  

How can you use low cost Internet access to connect to your head office and make your information secure?

The answer is to use Virtual Private Networking.  Using special hardware or software two geographically remote locations can negotiate a link across the Internet (virtual).  Then by using a combination of passwords known only to the two sites the information is encrypted and encapsulated so that it is completely useless to an unauthorised party (private).  This technology is so good that even a hostile party with a super computer would need a billion years to extract the information.  The final stage is for the two VPN devices to setup a connection as if they were both on the same physical network.  Click here to see a diagram of a typical VPN.

But isn't the hardware necessary to set up a VPN very expensive?

The hardware for operating VPN’s has become very affordable.  In the simplest of forms, an entry level VPN router and a business aDSL connection to the Internet means your Teleworkers can have secure access to your head office using only a dial up account to the Internet from anywhere in the World!

To find out how you can benefit from the ESP experience call 0118 916 9300 now or send an e-mail to sales@esp.co.uk
 

Back