The Pros and Cons of Using a Virtual Private Network

Many companies that have a series of branch offices or a staff that works remotely deploy what is known as a virtual private network or VPN.  The primary purpose of a VPN is to allow business partners to communicate over a secure network from a remote location via IPsec or Internet Protocol Security.  By using a VPN companies view this as one of the safest ways to link users together that are distributed across multiple locations.

Not only are VPNs used to communicate securely over a public network such as the Internet VPNs are also deployed for virtualized services such as customer service call centers and other business services that companies typically outsource on a routine basis.  Although other new technologies have emerged during the past few years, it has been found by many IT experts that a virtual private network offers more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to secure communications.

VPN Pros and Cons

If your business is considering using a virtual private network here are some of the pros and cons associated with deploying this type of communications technology.

VPN Security and Design

• Pro – Virtual private networks offer a much higher level of secure communication when compared to other remote methods of communication.  This is due to the advanced technologies that are used to protect the network from unauthorized access.
• Con – The design and security implementation for a virtual private network can be complex.  This means that it requires a professional with a high level of understanding for the best type of VPN configuration and some of the security issues that can occur when using a VPN.

VPN Cost

• Pro – When it comes to operating a virtual private network within an organization the costs are significantly lower than other types of configurations.  This is mainly due to the absence of variables for different types of communications over the VPN and the opportunity to communicate securely at low cost in other parts of the world.
• Con – Reliability can become a factor depending upon the service provider that you choose.  If the VPN utilizes the Internet it is important to work with a provider that can guarantee minimal downtime.

VPN Scalability

• Pro – Virtual private networks are very flexible in terms of growing with the company and adding new users to the network.  This type of infrastructure allows for scalability without having to add new components to accommodate the growth.
• Con – If it happens to be necessary to create additional infrastructure the solutions can become incompatible and cause technical issues if you use a different product vendor than you used for the current infrastructure.  On the other side of the coin and depending upon the product vendor you use, working with the same vendor can sometimes increase the cost of deploying additional infrastructure.

• VPNs and Mobile Workers

Pro – Virtual private networks offer more flexibility for business partners to communicate over a secure connection.  A VPN will also create more ease of communication with remote workers and enable them to check in at the office without sacrificing security.

Con – The use of mobile devices to initiate connectivity to the virtual private network can cause security issues especially if the connection is wireless. For this reason, an added solution is sometimes needed to tighten up security when logging on to the VPN with a mobile device.

Despite the pros and cons of virtual private networks they still offer a viable solution for secure communications between distributed users.  However, it is important to use IT professionals that are highly skilled in VPNs to ensure that you get a secure solution for your business that is free of technical issues and problems. This is just one more solution that Thrive Networks has to offer! Please contact us here to learn more!