A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is used to create an encrypted connection enabling users to exchange data across shared or public networks acting as clients connected to a private network. The benefit of using a VPN is to ensure the appropriate level of security for connected systems when the underlying network infrastructure alone cannot provide it. The most common types of VPNs are remote-access VPNs and site-to-site VPNs. VPNs can be defined between specific endpoints such as IP-Phones and computers, and servers in separate data centers when security requirements for their exchanges exceed what the enterprise network can deliver.
Increasingly, enterprises use VPNs to secure data and voice exchange. Grandstream GWN7800 Routers support several VPN types, enabling installers to create encrypted and tunneled connections across shared or public networks, and allowing users to exchange data securely. These VPN types are:
- OpenVPN: Client/Server
- IPSec: Client/Server
- L2TP: Client
- PPTP: Client
VPN security models mean that client authentication forbids any unauthorized user from accessing the VPN network. Additionally, encryption and confidentiality within the network prevent any “man-in-middle” attacks and eavesdropping on network traffic. Lastly, VPNs provide data integrity that maintains the consistency and trustworthiness of any packets transferred throughout the exchange. Before users may access a secure VPN tunnel, they must be authenticated. Client/server tunnels use passwords or digital certificates. It is possible to permanently store the certification key, which allows the tunnel to be established automatically for ease of use.
