Optimised IT
Instead of simply dealing locally, many businesses now have to think about global markets. Many companies have branches or employees spread out across the country or around the world, and there is one thing that they all need – a way to maintain fast, secure and reliable communications wherever their offices are.
Until recently, this has meant the use of leased lines to maintain a wide area network (WAN). Leased lines provided a company with a way to expand its private network beyond its immediate area. A WAN had advantages over a public network like the Internet when it came to reliability, performance and security. But maintaining a WAN, particularly when using leased lines, can be expensive and often rises in cost as the distance between the offices increases.
Now, many companies are creating their own VPN (virtual private network) to accommodate the needs of remote employees and offices. Basically, a VPN is a private network that uses a public network (usually the Internet) to connect remote sites and users together. Instead of using a dedicated, real-world connection such as leased line, a VPN uses “virtual” connections routed through the Internet from the company’s private network to the remote site or employee.
A VPN can:
- Extend geographic connectivity
- Improve security
- Reduce operational costs versus traditional WAN
- Reduce transit time and transportation costs for remote users
- Improve productivity
- Simplify network topology
- Provide global networking opportunities
- Provide telecommuter support
- Provide broadband networking compatibility
- Provide faster ROI (return on investment) than traditional WAN
If you would like more information on VPNs, please contact us
