Remote Access

VPNs Connect Offices, Users, and Partners

Increased commercial pressures, trading competitiveness and improved/more efficient working methods are driving organisations to consider what place information technology has to play, whilst still delivering an exceptional customer service. Mobile solutions can address these opportunities and challenges if the right applications, devices and business processes are implemented; enabling communication, information access, and business transactions anywhere, anytime.

Ensuring the privacy and integrity of all information is vital to your business. As your company uses the flexibility and cost effectiveness of the Internet to extend its network to branch offices, telecommuters, customers, and partners, security is paramount. You need to create a manageable, cost-effective communications infrastructure that will improve productivity, enable new business applications, enhance business efficiency  and help you comply with information privacy regulations

With SSL and IPsec virtual private networks (VPNs), businesses can securely connect remote offices and remote users using cost-effective, third-party Internet access rather than expensive dedicated WAN links or long-distance remote dial links. Organisations can reduce WAN bandwidth costs while increasing connectivity speeds by using high-bandwidth Internet connectivity, such as DSL, Ethernet, and cable, and securing it with encrypted IPsec or SSL VPN tunnels.

VPNs provide the highest possible level of security through encryption and authentication technologies that protect data traversing the VPN from unauthorised access. Organisations can take advantage of the easy-to-provision Internet infrastructure to quickly add new sites or users, and can dramatically increase the reach of their networks without significantly expanding infrastructure.

VPNs Extend Security for Remote Users
SSL and IPsec VPNs have become the primary solution for connecting remote offices, remote users, and business partners, because they:

• Provide secure communications with access rights tailored to individual users, such as employees, contractors, or partners
• Enhance productivity by extending corporate network and applications
• Reduce communications costs and increases flexibility

Cisco Remote Access VPN Solutions let you provide secure, customisable access to corporate networks and applications by establishing an encrypted tunnel to your network whenever and wherever it's needed, securely and cost-effectively. The two types of encrypted VPNs are:

Site-to-Site IPsec VPN: This alternative to Frame Relay or leased-line WANs allows businesses to extend network resources to branch offices, home offices, and business partner sites.

Remote-Access VPN: This extends almost any data, voice, or video application to the remote desktop, emulating the main office desktop. Remote-access VPNs may be deployed using SSL VPN, IPsec or both, depending on deployment requirements.