VPN gives extremely secure connections between private networks linked through the Internet.
It allows remote computers to act as though they were on the same secure, local network.
Advantages
- Allows you to be at home and access your company's computers in the same way as if you were sitting at work.
- Almost impossible for someone to tap or interfer with data in the VPN tunnel.
- If you have VPN client software on a laptop, you can connect to your company from anywhere in the world.
Disadvantages
- Setup is more complicated than less secure methods.
- Even though VPN works across different manufacturers' equipment, it is best to have all the VPN devices originating from only one certified manufacturer.
- The company whose network you connect to may require you to follow the company's own policies on your home computers ( ! )
VPN goes between a computer and a network (client-to-server), or a LAN and a network using two routers (server-to-server).
Each end of the connection is an VPN "endpoint", the connection between them is a "VPN tunnel".
When one end is a client, it means that computer is running VPN client software such as NETGEAR's ProSafe VPN Client.
Following images illustrate the two types of VPN:
