IPSec vs SSL: the Practical Use of Virtual Private Networks

Virtual private networks entered our lives a long time ago and we suppose they will exist for a long time in the future. This technology is used everywhere in the offices and gradually becoming popular among ordinary internet users. You can secure the data you transfer with the help of VPN no matter what device you’re using.

The most popular technology is IPSec VPN. There’s much information about it that was mostly created for technically skilled experts. There’s one more called SSL VPN that is popular as well. Go to this website to find out more about these protocols. Before describing any of them, let’s consider what a VPN is. It is a technology uniting devices into a trusted network over the network you cannot trust.

For example, a public wifi network cannot be trusted anyhow. You don’t have to use a separate cable to connect two offices of one corporation in different cities. VPN is much cheaper and it’s easy to configure.

IPSec VPN

IPSec can be used only for a limited number of trusted computers or laptops or any other devices. You should install and configure the client on every device of the virtual network and check its work from time to time. You cannot let any extra devices connect to this very network, or you may lose the data.

Read More: This Super-Secure Android Smartphone costs $14,000

Before you decide to use VPN in the office, you should calculate its maintenance. Some hidden expenses may appear such as paying for the client, using it on more than five devices and so on. There should be a person that can come to help with any problems at any time during the working day.

There are a few very important issues with IPSec VPN:

• A few clients are compatible with all the devices you’re using in the office;
• Difficulties with opening ports for accessing other networks.

You won’t have such problems when using SSL VPN.

SSL VPN

Let’s imagine you’re on a business trip and you don’t have your corporate laptop or tab with you.

However, you need to receive and send emails, keep in touch with colleagues, use information that is spread only inside the office, etc. You can use any device at the hotel when you arrive and connect to the public wifi. How to secure the data transfer in this or similar case?

SSL successfully solves this problem, and the level of security will be sufficient to work with secret information:

• You only need a browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, etc.);
• In the Internet browser, type the address SSL VPN;
• Then automatically downloaded and run Java applet or an ActiveX component that offers to authenticate.

After authentication automatically applies appropriate security policies:

• It will be scanned for malicious code;
• It will create a closed environment information processing – all data transferred will be deleted from the computer after the session.