If
you have more than one office, want to deploy home workers,
or have staff who need data communications whilst out
of the office, VPNs could be the key to drastically reducing
your data communications costs. Now your office systems
can be cost-effectively accessed from anywhere.
Vendor
Independent Communication Audits
Firewall,
Data Security & Encryption Advice
PPTP,
IPSec, L2TP, SSL expertise & installations
Network
routing config’ & optimisation
Access
Control Management
VPN
design & Installation services
Mobile
data VPN solutions
What
is VPN?
Virtual
Private networking allows companies
to link networks between different
offices and locations using the Internet.
Because the data is passed across
the internet VPNs are a very
cost effective alternative to other
wide area network (WAN) options such
as dedicated lines and dial-up connections
etc. Plus VPNs are easily expandable.
After all the Internet is already
“everywhere” so there’s no need to
install new lines or bear the cost
such changes bring when you need to
add a new location.
VPN
technology allows two local area networks (LANs) to
be connected to the Internet. One LAN then creates a
private data connection to the other LAN across the
Internet. Only you can use this private data connection.
It’s as if a small part of the Internet is being made
available as an extension of your own private network
(hence the name Virtual Private Network). This “little
bit of the Internet” is also secured As a result no-one
else on the Internet can look at the data you’re sending.
It’s as if the data is being transferred down a tube,
or tunnel, that no-one can see into. Infact the technology
used for VPNs is often referred to as “tunnelling protocols”.
Security
There
are different ways to implement a
VPN and some methods are more secure
than others. The choice comes down
to the sensitivity of the data you
are transmitting, and the costs of
deploying the various levels of security.
Whilst nothing can ever be totally
secure, VPN technology is nowhere
near the most risky part of a remote
network deployment (users who don’t
keep their passwords secure are a
much bigger risk). As a result most
people these days accept that VPNs
are more than “secure enough” for
routine use. At Interchange we have
been using and deploying VPN technology
for our staff and customer connections,
both in the UK, and abroad, for years.
As a result we can advise (based upon
first and second hand experience)
on the best security options for you,
given your budget and business needs.
VPN
Speed
The
speed of connection is really dependent
on three things. Firstly the speed
of the Internet connection you use
at each end of your VPN “tunnel”.
Secondly the speed of your Internet
Service Providers machines, and the
Internet between the two locations.
Thirdly the speed and quality of the
VPN equipment you use, and the way
these are routed. At Interchange Group
we can discuss these factors with
you, and make sure your VPN runs as
fast as possible, at a price you can
afford.
Uses
Given
the above, it should be no surprise
that VPNs are springing up in a
number of places, and for a number
of uses. Home workers are increasingly
using broadband Internet connections
and VPN to gain secure access to
corporate systems. It’s just like
being on your office network from
home! However, companies are also
using the technology to link their
offices abroad into corporate central
systems as it is usually much cheaper
than alternative WAN technologies.
It can also be used for desktop
conferencing to remove the need
for international (or even national)
travel. In addition, customers can
be given selective VPN access to
your systems to keep them in touch
with what you’re doing, and allow
you to support their IT systems
remotely. See our “IT solutions”
pages for more information on the
ways in which VPN can help what
you do.
Plus,
VPN is not just available between offices. The latest
dial-up, WiFi, GPRS and GSM Internet connectivity
means you can still enjoy the security of VPN access
to corporate systems even when you’re on the road,
or abroad.
No
more dedicated line costs
No
more long-distance or international dial-up
charges
Reduced
IT support – no more modem banks
Simple
network expansion – just buy an Internet connection
for each new site
Flexible
working support
Is
It Right For You?
Implementing
VPN between just two offices can save thousands
in communications costs each year!
VPN
is now accepted as a robust, and secure,
way to link computers, offices, homes,
mobile devices, and even your customers
together. The popularity of VPN is
based on one simple premise, that
it is much cheaper to use the Internet
for data communications than dedicated
data lines. The price/performance
ratio of VPN is normally far better
than leased lines or other WAN technology.
If you want to know how much you can
save, get in touch. Our experts can
undertake a communications audit and
show just how much time and money
you’re currently wasting before you
invest.
What’s
needed?
Actually,
very little. If you already have networks,
leased lines, and/or Internet connections
for the computers you want to connect
you’re most of the way there! Our
VPN technicians can configure and
install a VPN solution, in many cases
overnight, and have you saving money
the next working day without your
operational staff even noticing!
If
you wish we can also manage your VPN
infrastructure for you, remotely of
course. That way, the only thing you
have to think about is the money you’re
saving.
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2001 - 2010 Interchange Group Limited - All Rights Reserved
