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Virtual Private Networks

A VPN can be thought of as a private network you deploy on top of a shared infrastructure that employs the same security, management, and throughput policies you apply to your private network. You currently have three main VPN solutions to choose from:

• Access VPN Used to provide remote access to an enterprise customer's intranet or extranet over a shared infrastructure. Access VPNs use analog, dial, ISDN, digital subscriber line (DSL), mobile IP, and cable technologies to securely connect mobile users, telecommuters, and branch offices.

• Site-to-site VPN Used to link enterprise customer headquarters, remote offices, and branch offices to an internal network over a shared infrastructure using dedicated connections. Intranet VPNs differ from extranet VPNs in that they are designed to allow access only to the enterprise customer's employees instead of access to everyone.

• Extranet VPN Used to link outside customers, suppliers, partners, or communities of interest to an enterprise customer's network over a shared infrastructure using dedicated connections. Extranet VPNs differ from intranet VPNs in that they allow access to users outside the enterprise.

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