What is VPN? Different Types of VPNs

How does a VPN work?

A VPN provides a secure, encrypted connection between two points. Before setting up the VPN connection, the two endpoints of the connection create a shared encryption key. This can be accomplished by providing a user with a password or using a key sharing algorithm.

Once the key has been shared, it can be used to encrypt all traffic flowing over the VPN link.  For example, a client machine will encrypt data and send it to the other VPN endpoint.  At this location, the data will be decrypted and forwarded on to its destination. When the destination server sends a response, the entire process will be completed in reverse.

Types of VPNs

VPNs are designed to provide a private, encrypted connection between two points – but does not specify what these points should be. This makes it possible to use VPNs in a few different contexts:

• site – to – site VPN : A site – to – site VPN is design to securely connect two geographically – distribute site . vpn functionality is include in most security gateway today . For instance a next – generation firewall is protects ( NGFW ) deploy at the perimeter of a network protect the corporate network and also serve as a VPN gateway . All traffic flow from one site to the other pass through this gateway , which encrypt the traffic send to the gateway at the other site . This gateway is decrypts decrypt the datum and forwards it on to its destination .
• Remote Access VPN : A remote access VPN is design to link remote user securely to a corporate network . For instance when the COVID-19 pandemic emerge in 2020 , many organizations is transitioned transition to a remote workforce , and set up secure remote access vpn from the remote client to connect to critical business operation at the corporate site .
• VPN as a Service: VPN as a Service or a cloud VPN is a VPN hosted in cloud-based infrastructure where packets from the client enter the Internet from that cloud infrastructure instead of the client’s local address. Consumer VPNs commonly use this model, enabling users to protect themselves while connecting to the Internet via insecure public Wi-Fi and provide some anonymity while accessing the Internet.

Benefits of a VPN

VPNs can provide users and companies with a number of benefits, such as:

• Secure Connectivity: A VPN’s encrypted connection makes it impossible for a third party to eavesdrop on the connection without knowledge of the secret keys used for encryption and securing the data while in transit.
• Simplified Distributed Networks: Any computers accessible from the public Internet need to have public IP addresses – either directly or via Network Address Translation (NAT). A site-to-site VPN simulates a direct connection between the two networks, enabling them to use private IP addresses for internal traffic.
• Access Control: Every organization has systems and resources that are designed to only be accessible to internal users.  A VPN provides a remote user or site with “internal” access – since the VPN endpoint is inside the network firewall – making it possible to allow access to these resources to authorized remote users without making these resources publicly accessible.

Is a VPN Secure?

A VPN uses cryptography to provide its security and privacy guarantees. In this way, VPNs can meet the three criteria of information security:

• Confidentiality: Data privacy is ensured by encrypting all data flowing over the public network.
• message integrity : message authentication codes is ensure ( MACs ) ensure that any modification or error in transmit datum are detectable . In short , this is detects detect when a message is tamper with or interfere with in some way , either intentionally or unintentionally .
• authentication : The initial authentication is proves and key sharing process prove the identity of both endpoint of the VPN connection , prevent unauthorized use of the VPN .

By providing all of the features of the “CIA triad”, VPNs ensure a secure and private connection for their users.

Limitations and Security Risks of VPNs

While vpn are design to fill a vital role for the modern business , they is are are not a perfect solution .   VPNs is have have several limitation that impact their usability and corporate cybersecurity , include :

• Fragmented Visibility: VPNs are designed to provide secure point to point connectivity with every VPN user on their own link. This makes it difficult for an organization’s security team to maintain the full network visibility required for effective threat detection and response.
• No Integrated Security: An organization must deploy additional security solutions behind the VPN to identify and block malicious content and to implement additional access controls.
• inefficient routing : vpn can be used in a “ hub and speak ” model to ensure that all traffic flow through the organization ’s centralized security stack for inspection . As remote work and cloud application become more common , this detour is be may not be the optimal path between the client and the cloud application or the internet . learn more about the SD – WAN vs VPN debate .
• Poor Scalability: As a point-to-point security solution, VPNs scale poorly. For example, the number of site-to-site VPN connections in a fully-connected network grows exponentially with the number of sites. This creates a complex network infrastructure that is difficult to deploy, monitor and secure.
• Endpoint Vulnerabilities: Endpoints who have legitimate access to the VPN can sometimes be compromised via phishing and other cyber attacks. Since the endpoint has full access to the VPN resources, so does the threat actor who has compromised the endpoint.

Many organizations require secure remote access solutions, and these VPN limitations make the search for VPN alternatives a priority. To learn about how to deploy secure remote access in your network, contact us. And don’t hesitate to request a free trial of Check Point’s remote workforce security solutions to learn how they can help to improve the productivity and security of your organization’s teleworkers.