Virtual Private Networks or VPNs - Introduction

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are a logical step forward with reliable office networks and permanent internet connections. A VPN allows you to link networks together to work as though they were a single network though an encrypted link over the internet. For example:

A home worker can connect to the office network across the internet, access company files, check their company email account, even print an urgent report to the high speed office printer for collection later. Two offices may be virtually joined using a VPN to a single network configuration, allowing staff in either office to access files from the other office, or access a shared customer database that will be always up to date, no matter which office it's accessed from. Additionally, home workers can also join this VPN to access files from either office.

To achieve a VPN, special software is required at each location. This software scambles the data before it's transmitted to other locations ensuring your data remains private and secure at all times. It is also possible to use hardware devices designed solely to do this job, the advantage of this is a simpler and more reliable VPN once it's properly setup. Finally, a key requirement of VPN is that at least one office must have a permanent internet connection with an IP address (e.g. 194.154.123.abc) that doesn't change.

- Our skills and experience

We've installed Virtual Private Networks in both configurations stated above, plus more complex arrangements linking more than two offices in a permanent VPN setup. We are able to advise whether a VPN would be viable for your business, and whether it would benefit your communications with other offices and remote workers. We are careful to make sure you are clear what the VPN technology can do for your business and to carefully consider the implementation of it to help ensure best reliability and ultimately your satisfaction.

- How a VPN can benefit your business

If your business had multiple locations, it provides a cost effective way to link them, and with a good connection speed, often a lot better than conventional methods of directly dialling up between locations using modems or ISDN.

VPN's provide a way for remote workers to securely access company data, and for the head office to provide files/information to that worker.