Private Networks (VPN)
A VPN is commonly described as a virtual private network that allows two or more private networks to be connected over a publicly accessed network. The key thing with VPNs is that existing public infrastructure can now be used without having to have expensive privately leased lines. Security and encryption features are good enough to provide the same amount of security for VPNs as for private networks.
Privacy in a VPN is maintained through security procedures and tunnelling protocols. The protocols create a tunnel effect by encrypting & decrypting data at both ends. Data that is not appropriately encrypted is prevented from entering the tunnel. A higher level of security can be added by encrypting not only the data but also the originating and receiving network addresses.
Our expertise is based on using the VPN industry standard IPSEC which means our VPNs can be used cross platform. The open source platforms we use are intrinsically suited to VPNs;
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FreeBSD: natively supported by the o/s
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NetBSD: natively supported by the o/s
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OpenBSD: natively supported by the o/s
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Linux: FreeS/WAN - http://www.freeswan.org/
The Microsoft Windows platform also supports the IPSEC standard. In many smaller cases full scale VPNs are not necessary. The ideology behind VPNs can be employed to generate secure connections between nodes. We use narrowly focused technology like OpenSSH (for remote access), mod_dav over SSL (for file transfer) and stunnel (for tunnelling arbitrary protocols) depending on the task in hand. We employ these ideas on a daily basis. The use of public networks allows a VPN to have any distance between its nodes, allowing great flexibility of the network, while retaining security. Our experience of security extends right into the heart of the VPN arena. We are available for consultancy and set up of all types of VPNs.
