A virtual private network or a VPN enables an individual to connect to any private network on the internet privately and securely.
VPN is being used widely around the world and reports say around 142 million people use VPNs in the U.S. only.
VPN forms an encrypted connection known as a VPN tunnel, and entire internet communication and traffic are passed via this secure tunnel.
The VPN or Virtual Private Network is mainly of two types:
1. Site to Site VPN:
The Site to Site VPN is a Router Router VPN usually used in big organizations.
Organizations and companies with branches or offices in different locations opt for Site to Site VPN so that the network of one unit can be connected to another location’s network. It is further divided into the categories of:
Extranet-based VPN: this is when companies opt for Site to Site VPN to connect to the office of some other company.
Intranet-based VPN: this is when different offices of the same organization are linked through Site to Site VPN.
Usually, the Site to Site VPN forms an imaginary link between the networks that have offices distant geographically and then connects them via the internet to ensure private and secure communication between them.
Moreover, in Site to Site VPN, one router is a VPN client, and another one acts as VPN Server. This is because it is a form of Router Router communication.
2. Remote Access VPN:
The Remote Access VPN allows an individual to connect with a private network and then use all resources and services remotely.
The link between the private network and the user occurs via the internet, ensuring that the connection is confidential. The Remote Access VPN is a good option for both business and home users.
Furthermore, if an employee of a company is out of town, he can use a VPN to connect with the private network of their company and can also access the files remotely on the private network.
Now let’s look at the types of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Protocols:
1. Internet Protocol Security (IPSec):
Internet Protocol Security, also called IPSec, is opted to secure the internet communication across an IP network.
The IPSec protects Internet Protocol communication by encrypting each data packet and verifying the session throughout the connection.
The IPSec operates in two modes;
1. Tunneling mode
2. Transport mode
The role of tunneling mode is to encrypt the entire data packet, whereas transport mode is responsible for encrypting the message in the designated data packet.
The IPSec can be utilized with other security protocols also to enhance the security system.
2. Point–to–Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
The Point-to-Point Tunneling creates a tunnel and restricts the data packet. This particular type of protocol is mainly for encrypting the data among the connections.
The PPTP protocol is considered to be the commonly used VPN protocol type and has been in form since the initial release of Windows. Point-to-Point Protocol can also be used on Linux and Mac along with Windows.
3. Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP):
This particular protocol is again a tunneling protocol that is usually used with other VPN security protocols such as IPSec to ensure a properly secured VPN connection.
The Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol forms a tunnel in between 2 connection points of L2TP.
Meanwhile, the IPSec protocol encrypts the data and ensures safe and secure communication between the tunnels.
4. SSL and TLS:
The Secure Sockets Layer and the Transport Layer Security, also known as SSL and TLS, forms a VPN connection where the Web browser mainly acts as a client and user access is restricted to particular applications rather than the whole network.
Moreover, online shopping platforms usually use TLS and SSL protocols. This is because it is simple to switch through web browsers, and usually, no action is required by the users as web browsers are connected with TLS and SSL.
The SSL mainly has ‘HTTPS in their initial URL rather than ‘HTTP.
5. Secure Shell (SSH):
Another kind of VPN protocol here is a Secure Shell or SSH that forms a VPN tunnel via data transfer. It makes sure that the tunnel is encrypted correctly.
Any SSH client creates the SSH connections, and data can be transmitted from a local port to a designated remote server via the encrypted tunnel.
6. OpenVPN:
An OpenVPN is, by its name, an open-source VPN that is typically used for generating Site-to-Site and Point-to-Point connections.
It utilized a traditional security protocol that is entirely based on TLS and SSL protocol.
These are some of the common VPN types and protocols that can help us understand what kind we should opt for.
