VPN: Securely Connect People and Offices

VPN or virtual private network technology allows you to securely connect remote offices and remote users using cost-effective, third-party Internet access.

A VPN provides the highest possible level of security through encryption and authentication technologies that protect data traversing the VPN from unauthorized access.

You can take advantage of the easy-to-provision Internet infrastructure to quickly add new sites or users, dramatically increasing the reach of your networks without significantly expanding infrastructure.

VPN Technologies Offer Choices

Two VPN technologies, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and IP Security (IPsec), have become the primary solutions for connecting remote offices, remote users, and business partners, because they:

• Provide highly secure communications with access rights tailored to individual users
• Enhance productivity by extending corporate networks, applications, and collaboration tools
• Reduce communications costs while increasing flexibility

The two types of encrypted VPNs are:

• Site-to-Site IPsec VPN: This alternative to frame relay or leased-line WANs allows you to extend your network resources to branch offices, home offices, and business partner sites.
• Remote Access VPN: This type of VPN extends almost any data, voice, or video application to the remote desktop, emulating the main office desktop.

More Resources

• Cisco Secure Remote Access Solution At-a-Glance
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series SSL / IPsec VPN Edition Data Sheet
• Cisco Secure Remote Access VPN Licensing Overview
• Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client Data Sheet
• Cisco ASA 5500 Series SSL / IPsec VPN Edition Overview