{"id":15364,"date":"2020-04-22T09:08:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T14:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firewalls.com\/blog\/?p=15364"},"modified":"2025-12-19T14:58:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T19:58:06","slug":"what-is-a-vpn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firewalls.com\/blog\/what-is-a-vpn\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a VPN?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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VPN: A Closer Look<\/h3>

VPN. If you hadn\u2019t heard these three letters together before March 2020, you\u2019ve surely heard them now. With businesses and their employees the world over exposed to work from home<\/a> scenarios \u2013 many for the first time \u2013 any conversation about secure remote access<\/a> involves the term. So what is a VPN? The very basic definition is \u2013 it\u2019s a virtual private network. But that phrase is just begging for further explanation. So gather \u2018round \u2013 virtually of course \u2013 as we unpack VPNs and why they\u2019re so important for telework<\/a>.<\/p>

Virtual<\/h3>

The virtual part of VPN means just that \u2013 it requires no physical connection. Instead, a virtual tunneling protocol establishes the connection. Gophers would be jealous of the number of these tunnels out there, but of course, they don\u2019t damage any golf courses or yards. The tunneling is achieved by a process known as encapsulation. Basically, while your remote user\u2019s data still does have to travel through the public internet to get to the other side (i.e. your network), the virtual tunnel covers it. That means, it\u2019s private.<\/p>

Private<\/h3>

So the tunnel itself offers privacy to a degree, but to achieve the full security benefits of a VPN, it must be encrypted. The public internet can see that a tunnel exists, but encryption \u2013 either via SSL (secure sockets layer) or IPSec (internet protocol security) prevents anyone from seeing what\u2019s inside. The user and the network the user connects to are the only ones who can decrypt it, with passwords (multifactor authentication<\/a> recommended) and certificates.<\/p>

Getting back to the types, while both SSL and IPSec provide the encryption needed to keep that virtual tunnel private, there are a couple key differences. SSL VPN allows secure remote access through a web browser \u2013 without requiring specialized client software \u2013 making it simple to deploy. Unlike SSL, IPSec VPN functions at the network layer, and it does typically require a separate hardware or software solution. We compared SonicWall\u2019s<\/a> VPN service offerings (one SSL and one IPSec) in a recent post<\/a>, and in a handy chart<\/a> that could offer some assistance as to which is best for your scenario.<\/p>

Oh and one more note on privacy, when a user connects via VPN, it also obscures the device\u2019s IP address. That means someone trying to track its location will only get the IP address of the network the user is connected to – a feature many non-business users find handy.<\/p>

Network<\/h3>

So in our quest to answer the question \u201cwhat is a VPN?\u201d we\u2019ve explored the virtual and private aspects, now let\u2019s examine the network component. Network in this case means a user\u2019s remote device is connected to your organization\u2019s network. Depending on the connection type, they may have access to all of it, or just specified apps, services, and files. Either way, the VPN connection allows users access to what they need to get work done \u2013 all while protected by your existing network security. A VPN in essence extends your network\u2019s reach to wherever your employees need to access it. And in the age of the teleworker, this secure remote access is a must.<\/p>

Is your VPN connection a little slow?<\/h3>

Check out our video for some tips on how to speed up your VPN connection:<\/p>