Bridge the gap with a VPN – Part 2

As I mentioned in last weeks' column, VPN's (virtual private networks) help you leverage technology resources across the enterprise.

The great thing about VPN technology is that it can be implemented by the smaller office/home office as well as large networks.

For the smaller businesses, many local retail stores have routers that you can use to setup a small VPN in a day. With devices from Linksys (Cisco) and Netgear, it is easier than ever to connect sites together through VPN tunnels while utilizing broadband Internet connections.

These devices are relatively inexpensive at around $150 each and come with many other great features such as Internet filtering and a firewall. There is one caveat to using these devices, some times it can be tricky to understand the security methods of the device. It's worth your time to consult a knowledgeable networking expert. No matter how easy it is to setup, there can always be a flawed installation that doesn't take full advantage of the security features (and opens up your not-so-private network).

For some larger businesses to take advantage of a VPN there are solutions such as a managed VPN or MPLS VPN(multi-protocol label switching).

I will key in on MPLS VPN this week because it seems to be the latest buzzword in the technology world.

In a nutshell (and I do mean in an extremely small, summarized nutshell), MPLS is used to collapse several sites into a single network within a data/network provider. In other words, your data traffic is isolated within a single providers' network.

MPLS was created to simplify and give flexibility to routing specific traffic within the network providers' (ISP, Internet service provider) infrastructure. The end result is better prioritizing of your data traffic and a possible decrease in latency.

There are many advantages to using a MPLS VPN. In some cases the data service may cost less, the network is managed by the data provider, and traffic that passes through the VPN can be classed and prioritized. This means you could run a myriad of services over the VPN (Terminal Services/Remote Desktop, VoIP/IPT) and dedicate certain speeds (bandwidth) to that traffic. Your data provider can give you the scoop on all of these features.

OK, so I have loaded you up with all sorts of acronyms and technical jargon this week. What's next?

Make sure you take my advice and speak to your local technology professional (or friendly computer person). And keep this in mind, the point of establishing a VPN is to extend your network resources across multiple locations, securely. Spreading your resources across all of your locations, even if it is the office and home, will increase the use of your technology assets and give you a quicker return on investment.