Intro #
When working remotely, accessing shared folders, printers, and other internal resources can be difficult because these services are typically restricted to devices connected within a company’s private network. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) solves this problem by creating a secure connection between the remote user and the office network, allowing employees to access internal resources safely and conveniently from virtually anywhere.
What is it #
A VPN allows users to securely access a private network via the Internet. Once connected to the VPN, all local shared resources can be accessed as though the user is in the office in person. A VPN also provides protection for the traveling employee since all data is encrypted before transmission when using the VPN. Therefore, there is no need to worry about insecure public WIFI when on the road.
How does it work #
First, a VPN server must be configured. Once that is done, users should be able to connect to this VPN server when they are out of the office. They need to use a VPN client to make a connection to this VPN server. Once a VPN connection has been successfully made, the users’ computers are now considered part of the private network as though they are in the office in person.
Types of VPN #
The example above describes a remote access VPN, which enables employees to work securely from anywhere as if they were physically connected to the office network. Today, remote workers typically connect to the VPN server using available Internet access, such as home broadband, mobile networks, or public WiFi hotspots. In the past, before WiFi became widely available, employees often relied on dial-up connections, using a modem to connect to another modem attached to the company’s VPN server.
Another common type is the site-to-site VPN. In this setup, a “site” refers to a private network located in a specific geographical location, such as a company branch office. When two or more branch offices are located far apart, physically connecting them with dedicated cables would be costly and impractical. Instead, each branch uses its own Internet connection, while a site-to-site VPN securely links the networks together over the Internet. This creates a unified private network that can securely span multiple cities, countries, or even continents.
