Inside Network Perimeter Security, Second Edition

Chapter 7. Virtual Private Networks

In today's interconnected world, the need to move information from site to site is becoming common. Whether this move is from one end of town to the other or across the globe, the basic challenge is the same: How can we securely transport our data? For many years, this transportation was accomplished with expensive proprietary links that were leased from communication vendors so that companies had a “private” segment for such communications. The longer the distance, the more these connections cost, making wide area networks (WANs) a luxury that many firms could not afford. At the same time, many firms could not afford to go without them. As broadband Internet connections became staples for many firms, the concept ...