Small Business VPN Primer: Set Up Your Office Network for Telecommuting

There comes a time in most businesses when circumstances dictate that one or more users work on from habitation either full- or set off-fourth dimension. In other cases, it may simply cost convenient for business sector owners and employees to be able to use company resources from rest home or (unfortunately) while on vacation.

The best way to provide such far admittance is with a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN enables a computer that is located outside the corporate network to connect to that network as if it were inside the building, allowing admittance to inside resources much American Samoa file shares, applications, and printers. Some types of VPN require the outside PC to utilisation a client to access the web, while other VPNs use SSL (Burglarproof Sockets Layer) and can function without the motive for a node to be installed. And some VPN setups can provide some of these connection methods.

In very small operations, much American Samoa an berth where only a single someone needs to connect to a unity company reckoner from home, a full VPN may non be necessary. Instead, a remote desktop access app like GoToMyPC or LogMeIn can connect the off-website substance abuser to one company computer. If business needs require multiple remote connections, however, victimization a full VPN whitethorn be a finer mind.

IPSec VPNs

Stage setting up access to an IPSec VPN from an Android smartphone.

An IPSec VPN provides secure remote access through a guest application along the remote control system and a VPN terminator that resides on the company network. In many cases, the VPN termination device is also the firewall that protects the organized network from the Internet, but it can also live a rack-solo twist. This device is configured to set aside VPN connections that meet certain security criteria, so much en masse refer and watchword (alias a "Shared out Secret"). If the client is not configured to just match the VPN device settings, it won't tie.

If a client does couple the settings specified by the VPN device, then the guest can successfully make the initial connection, but it still must authenticate itself to the network before information technology can access anything. This is generally a username and word that is configured on the VPN device itself, or on the network with Microsoft Active Directory. In either case, IPSec VPNs require two forms of authentication before a remote system is permitted to access the corporate network. And in just about cases, the remote client VPN settings rear atomic number 4 distributed through a specific file that can be imported into the client. Following that, the user tooshie touch base to the VPN and type their username and password to gain access.

Some operating systems come with IPSec VPN clients already installed. Mac OS X has the ability to connect to Cisco and other IPSec VPN devices already present, for instance. Windows systems generally rely happening third-political party VPN software to furnish this religious service. Numerous mobile devices also have support for generic IPSec connectivity.

PPTP VPNs

PPTP (Point-to-steer tunneling protocol) VPNs throw been around since Microsoft first enforced the protocol in Windows 95. Yet, it has fallen out of favor in Holocene times because of security system issues with the communications protocol itself. Some VPN devices notwithstandin support PPTP connections, as do all Windows versions since Windows 95. Mac OS X and some smartphones too support PPTP connectivity.

While PPTP Crataegus laevigata calm be some and your VPN termination device Crataegus oxycantha support the protocol, it's better to expect to either IPSec operating theatre SSL VPNs (see below), since they're more guaranteed.

SSL VPNs

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) VPNs came into fashion because they're generally known as "clientless" VPNs. This means that the remote computer doesn't need to have a client preinstalled to connect to the corporate network. In most cases, an SSL VPN burrow is created when a remote user opens a Web browser and connects to a predefined URL, so much as https://vpn.mycompany.com. Billet that if you do non have DNS service from your provider, this Uniform resource locator Crataegus laevigata plainly be an IP address.

The remote user is then prompted for a username and password. Once attested, the user Crataegus laevigata be arrogated to a Webpage that has an icon to connect to the VPN. Clicking along the icon will download a small applet from the SSL VPN device that runs on the user's computing device and acts as the VPN client. This means that users don't need to preinstall the client as they do with IPSec VPNs, and they won't need to redownload the applet when they access the SSL VPN in the future.

In some cases, this client is lasting, and can be run without connecting to the SSL VPN URL, but other implementations may require the web browser to function.

This mannikin of VPN permits full network connectivity, as IPSec does, but it may be easier to deploy to remote users since you don't motivation a "fat" IPSec client operating theatre IPSec connection information. Then again, it also lacks the junior certification present in IPSec, which may make up a concern.

Comparing VPN Options

QuickVPN is a proprietorship VPN option.

When shopping for a VPN, you Crataegus laevigata find that some products offer several types of VPN connectivity options in a single gimmick. You Crataegus laevigata also find that some vendors have their own VPN type, such as QuickVPN, that is incongruous with past VPN standards. While these solutions may work, they can be difficult to keep later happening, and they're often non A compatible with arsenic many diverse client devices, so much as different versions of Microcomputer and mobile OSs. If you're concerned in victimisation one of these proprietary VPN solutions, make sure that it supports all the in operation systems you programme on using.

Some devices offer both IPSec and SSL VPN options, while others are rigorously SSL OR purely IPSec. If your business's budget permits, you'Ra fortunate buying a twist that provides both, as this will allow a larger change of remote device types to connect to the network. If all you're worried about is PCs and Mac computers, and so releas with just SSL or just IPSec is fine, provided that the vendor supports all the OS versions you run.

In any cases, this VPN device may be had for under $200, but disbursement a little more on a Thomas More capable root will likely benefit you in the long run, and potentially reduce the potential for future breakdown that can take out your network.

Execution

One of the most big inside information in setting up a VPN is to ensure that your Net connection has a static IP address. Many another business-course of study cable television and DSL connections use dynamic addressing, which means that the IP call of your Internet connective changes once in a while. When that IP address changes, your remote users won't know what the new address is, and thus won't be able to tie in. Most business organization-year telegraph and DSL providers induce options for a unchanging IP address; this will ensure that your remote users will always be able-bodied to connect to your network. Constitute sure to request this option from your provider before you move out any boost with your VPN plans. Simultaneously, make sure that you have adequate upstream bandwidth to support remote users. If you have a lento upload speed, IT will significantly impact the network speed seen away remote users.

You may find that your chosen device also functions As a firewall. If you already have a firewall, you rear still use this device, but you may feature a few extra issues to deal with. For representativ, if you have a single static IP address on a business-class Cyberspace association, the VPN twist will bear to exist connected buns the existing firewall and the frame-up becomes far more than complex. However, if your chosen VPN device's firewall is sufficiently capable, you may find IT better to use that firewall instead–this would save you the hassle of connecting your VPN behind your existing firewall.

Setting up the VPN itself is quite vender-specific, but most devices have a Web-settled user interface that allows for setup of some the firewall and VPN functions, and may even have a wizard-type easy apparatus method acting.

Formerly your VPN is effective, your remote users should beryllium healthy to securely connect to your inside network and use all the resources that are usable as if they were unmoving in your offices, symmetric though they may constitute thousands of miles outside.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/476945/small_business_vpn_primer_set_up_your_office_network_for_telecommuting.html

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