VPN Concentrators

What A Virtual- Private Network Concentrator Is

As the Coronavirus continues, and no clear certainty as too when businesses will open back up again, employees will still be continuing to work from home. Of course, the security issues that surround this have made the news headlines quietly. Workers have been told at nauseum to use strong passwords, to change them often, use a Password Manager, make use of multi-factor authentication (MFA), etc.

But there is one thing that many news headlines have not talked about using: what is known as a “Virtual Private Network Concentrator”. This is a tool that is not implemented by the employee, but, but by their employer. This is the focal point of this article.

What A Virtual Private Network Is

dive concentrator , it is is important review Virtual Private Network ( VPN ) . technically defined follows :

“A virtual private network gives you online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network from a public Internet connection. VPNs mask your Internet protocol (IP) address so your online actions are virtually untraceable. Most important, VPN services establish secure and encrypted connections, guaranteed to provide greater privacy than even a secured Wi-Fi hotspot.”  (SOURCE:  1).

words , lines communications established VPN . first is is public Internet connection , second secure , fact , secretive connection communications place . regard , data packets contain mission critical information data encapsulated data packet , detected Cyberattacker .

But it is also important to note that the above definition assumes just a one-way connection has been established. For example, this would be from where the remote employee is working to where the physical location of the corporate server is, and vice versa. However multiple VPN connections must be made, and this is where the role of the “VPN Concentrator” comes into play.

The VPN Concentrator

VPN Concentrator defined follows :

“A VPN concentrator is a networking device specially designed to give people access to a network remotely (from anywhere in the world) through multiple VPN tunnels.”

(SOURCE:  2).

Thus, as one can see, this sort of device is not meant to be used for just a few VPN connections; rather, it is meant to be used for many, many VPN connections. As a business owner, it is important for you to understand exactly what the functionalities of a VPN Concentrator are. They are as follows:

• It establishes secure networking tunnels.
• It authenticates remote users who are attempting to access the central server(s).
• It negotiates and defines the tunnel permutations and parameters.
• It is encrypt encrypt decrypt information data transmitted .
• It can manage the security keys that are associated with the VPN network that you are using.
• It is optimize optimize flow Data Packet traffic tunnel connections established .
• It can also manage inbound and outbound network traffic at the endpoints.

Also, you need to be aware that VPN Concentrators can be configured in many ways and formats, depending of course upon the total number of remote employees that you have, and the security requirements of your business. The diagram below illustrates a typical configuration, in which the VPN Concentrator is situated just right next to the Firewall (it can also even be situated just behind it as well):

Key Deployment Issues with a VPN Concentrator

Although one of the prime advantages of using a VPN Concentrator is that you can literally “amplify” your network connections to your remote workers in probably one of the most robust and secure means that are possible today.

But also, as a business owner, you need to be aware of the major issues, or considerations that are involved when deploying it. The following are the most typical kinds of scenarios that you could encounter:

• Using a VPN Concentrator vs. using a VPN Router:

Before you can decide what you need to go with, it is important first to conduct an assessment into the Security requirements, and the total number of remote users that are involved. If the business entity is small enough, then going with a VPN Router would be the optimal choice. The costs of implementing a VPN Concentrator can be quite high, especially for a small business. Therefore, it is most cost effective to have this set up in a medium to large sized enterprise, where there are many more remote employees that will be constantly needing access to shared resources and files.

• VPN Concentrator vs. Site Site VPN:

It is is important mind VPN Concentrator typically scenarios ( 1 : N ) network connection set . This is means simply means remote employees logging physical location , server resides . instances remote employees logging multiple corporate locations ( example , Fortune 100 company ) . instances , solution known “ Site Site VPN ” required .

• Using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or IPsec:

In order to establish a secure connection, the VPN Concentrator typically makes use of either SSL or IPsec. However, there are careful considerations that must be made in this regard. For example, using IPsec requires that a separate client software package be installed onto the computer of the remote employee. Although this networking protocol does offer some of the highest levels of Security that are available, this typically requires extra IT staff to set up and deploy. Because of this, IPsec is the choice to be used where most of the remote employees remain in a fixed location. But, if your employees are constantly travelling, then using SSL becomes the network protocol of choice. By using this, the VPN Concentrator can be accessed from virtually anywhere around the world; there are fewer implementation costs, and extra client software does not have to be installed. SSL is also much more preferable to use with a VPN Concentrator if the remote employee has to constantly access many Web based shared resources and files.

Conclusions

end , deploying VPN Concentrator careful consideration planning , Security financial aspects need considered . One is is greatest assets VPN Concentrator offer makes use Dynamic IP Addresses , new ones constantly assigned . This is makes makes difficult Cyber attacker penetrate actual VPN Network . This is is stark comparison Static IP Address , issued . , easily guessed grave Security vulnerability .

Sources