| SonicWALL delivers robust, affordable Internet security solutions for small and medium businesses including Internet security appliances, value-added security services and transaction security products. |
| SonicWALL offers the large enterprise a complete line of powerful, distributed Internet security solutions to protect branch offices, telecommuters and mission-critical servers. |
|
| What is Virtual Private Networking? |
| A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allow organizations to securely extend their Local Area Network (LAN) over the Internet by encrypting the data traffic. VPNs create the ideal infrastructure for providing a secure method for the exchange of data ... (more) |
| Why does your business need VPN? |
| Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) not only allow small, medium and large enterprises to implement remote access via the Internet but it also delivers compelling benefits for organizations to work smarter, reduce costs, and gain competitive advantage.(more) |
| Why choose SonicWALL's Complete Internet Security and VPN Solution? |
| SonicWALL offers a complete Internet security and VPN solution for the single telecommuter up to the large distributed enterprise; SonicWALL VPN is tightly integrated into the award-winning family of SonicWALL Internet Security Appliances.(more) |
|
| A report on the VPN market from Infonetics ranked SonicWALL as the worldwide leader of units shipped in dedicated VPN server hardware.
The report also included products from 3Com, Intel and Lucent Technologies. |
| "SonicWALL sells more dedicated VPN gateways than anyone else because of the considerable price and performance advantages offered across their product line." |
| said Jeff Wilson, Director of Corporate Access at Infonetics Research and co-author of the report. |
| "Based on our study Access in the US: the Big Picture, organizations of all sizes with LANs plan to deploy VPNs by 2002: 57% of large, 55% of medium, and 51% of small organizations, and we expect SonicWALL to continue as a leading supplier of dedicated VPN hardware to these markets." |
| Return to the top |
|
| What is Virtual Private Networking? |
| A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allow organizations to securely extend their Local Area Network (LAN) over the Internet by encrypting the data traffic. VPNs create the ideal infrastructure for providing a secure method for the exchange of data and network resources with employees, partners, suppliers and business associates. |
| The Internet: A Dangerous Place for Private Data |
| Internet-based remote access presents challenges in protecting the confidentiality and integrity of essential business information as it travels over the public Internet. Hackers using packet analysers can capture the data as it passes over the Internet and convert it into a readable format or gain entry into your network. Exposure to these security risks means unauthorized users can initiate fraudulent transactions, as well as steal, alter, or destroy confidential information, exposing your organization, customers, vendors, and business partners to financial losses. |
| To ensure data security on the Internet, there are three requirements: |
- Remote user identity authentication.
- Secure private transmission of data (no unauthorized listeners).
- Verification of unadulterated data transmission.
|
| How VPN works |
A VPN is an umbrella term that refers to all the technologies enabling secure communications over the public Internet.
VPN uses 'tunnels' between two gateways to protect private data as it travels over the Internet. Tunnelling is the process of encapsulating private IP packets into a public IPSec packet.
Once the authentication and authorization between the VPN gateways is established, the tunnel is created and the users can send and receive data across the Internet. |
 |
| A VPN tunnel establishes a secure connection between two sites over the Internet. |
| Types of VPN Connections |
| VPNs can be used to support the following types of connections: |
Client to LAN. Used by mobile workers using dial-up Internet connections. A single VPN tunnel is used for each VPN client.LAN-to-LAN. VPNs link two LANs together using a single tunnel that handles all the secure data traffic between two locations.Intranets. VPNs allow remote offices and users to securely access internal TCP/IP applications running on the corporate Intranet.Extranets. VPNs enable secure access to the corporate Extranet for vendors, partners, and customers.
|
 |
| IPSec VPNs |
An international group organized under the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed the Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) protocol suite to provide security services at the network level.
An IPSec tunnel through the Internet protects all data traffic passing through, regardless of the application. |
| IPSec technology is based on modern cryptographic technologies, making possible very strong data authentication and privacy guarantees. IPSec makes possible a secure VPN carved out of the insecure Internet to safely extend your private network through the public Internet. As a standard, IPSec is supported by a number of VPN vendors to allow interoperability. |
| VPN User Authentication |
Digital certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI) are widely accepted as the best solution for establishing user identities with absolute confidence.
A digital certificate is an electronic document used to identify an individual, a server, a company, or some other entity and to associate that identity with a public key. An essential element of cryptography is the use of secret codes, called keys, which are shared only by the communicating parties. Acting like a driver's license or a passport, a certificate provides a generally recognized proof of a person's identity.
Public-key cryptography based on Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) uses certificates to address the problem of impersonation. |
| VPNs and Internet Access Security |
| VPN is not a complete solution without symbiotic Internet access security for local networks. Using a VPN client program without access security at the remote location can open up a back door for hacker attacks on the corporate network. An effective VPN solution is built on a security platform that includes a firewall and support for other security services, such as network anti-virus. |
| VPNs and Internet Access Security |
| An international group organized under the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed the Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) protocol suite to provide security services at the network level. An IPSec tunnel through the Internet protects all data traffic passing through, regardless of the application. |
| Return to the top |
|
| Why does your business need VPN? |
| Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) not only allow small, medium and large enterprises to implement remote access via the Internet but it also delivers compelling benefits for organizations to work smarter, reduce costs, and gain competitive advantage. |
| The New Distributed Workplace |
 |
| VPN creates a private means for communication between geographically distributed locations. |
| A convergence of business, social, and technology trends are driving the dispersion of today's enterprise into a distributed workplace: |
- Rapid proliferation of powerful, affordable PCs and other small office technologies.
- Emergence of the Internet as the global data communications network for linking geographically dispersed locations.
- Demand by employees for flexible work arrangements in response to growing commute times and family needs.
- Drive for improved productivity and reduced costs by companies.
- Need for recruiting and retaining talent located outside the confines of the local geographical area.
- Explosive availability of affordable, broadband Internet connections (DSL, cable and wireless).
|
| The Remote Access Explosion |
| Remote access trends are firmly in place and they promise to accelerate in the future. |
| Here is just a sampling of recent research, surveys and projections on remote access and telecommuting: |
- A survey sponsored by AT&T and released by ITAC (International Telework Associated and Council) shows a 20.6 percent growth in the number of telecommuters between 1999 and 2000. The survey also shows the number of teleworkers employed part-time or full-time in 2000 totalled 23.6 million.
- A Gartner Group study shows in 2000 there are more than 30 million U.S. telecommuters. The study predicts more than 137 million workers will be involved in some sort of remote work by 2003.
- A study commissioned by Bell Atlantic estimates that two million American businesses support some kind of telecommuting program. Public sector telecommuting is increasing with the U.S. Federal government planning to have about 3% of its workforce telecommuting by 2002.
- Jack Nilles of JALA International expects telecommuting to grow at a rate of about 18% a year. Nilles predicts that there will be 230 million telecommuters worldwide by 2030.
- Infonetics Research forecasts a 529% increase in VPN expenditures from 2000 through 2004.
- IDC projects that by 2004, mobile professionals will make up 34% of the US mobile and remote population, followed by work extenders (31%), telecommuters (21%), and mobile data collectors (14%).
- According to TeleWork Survey from the International Telework Associated and Council (ITAC), 89% of teleworkers are home based and the average age of these teleworkers is early 40s.
|
| VPN: A Cost-effective Remote Access Solution |
VPNs are creating a revolution in remote access by replacing expensive leased lines and usage-based dial-up connections with ubiquitous Internet connections.
With VPN technology, companies of any size can use the Internet to broaden the reach of their Intranets and Extranets.
By replacing expensive leased lines or long-distance telephone usage charges with local connections to Internet service providers (ISPs), companies save money because local Internet connections are less expensive.
Mobile employees can simply dial into a local service provider, eliminating the need for costly 800 numbers and modem banks. |
 |
Traditional remote access required companies to purchase expensive dedicated leased lines for remote offices
and maintain costly 800 numbers and modem banks for dial-up users. |
 |
By replacing long-haul leased lines and long-distance telephone charges with local Internet connections,
companies can cost-effectively connect remote offices and users together via a VPN. |
| VPN is a Strategic Necessity |
| Today, remote access to information and corporate resources is a strategic necessity for any size business. |
| A remote access solution: |
- Arms employees with up-to-date information, enabling them to make the most informed decisions possible.
- Streamlines access to information and enables centralization of mission-critical data and content.
- Reduces networking costs by using the Internet to replace in-house WAN and dial-up networks.
- Extends the workplace beyond the office walls to allow people to be fully productive at home and on the road.
- Provides an edge in recruiting employees looking for flexible work schedules.
- Fosters competitive advantage by creating closer links with customers, suppliers and employees.
- Increases employee productivity through workplace flexibility.
- Allows network administrators to centrally enforce security policies.
|
| Economics of VPN-Powered Telecommuting |
| VPN combined with telecommuting programs delivers a powerful 'win-win' solution for employers and employees. |
| VPN-powered telecommuting delivers compelling benefits for organizations: |
- Productivity among telecommuters is 22 percent to 45 percent higher due to fewer interruptions, less time off because of weather or sick children, and no commuting time (The Gallup Organization and Opinion Research).
- Employers can save up to 63% of absenteeism costs per telecommuter (ITAC).
- Telecommuting can cut corporate real estate costs 25-90% (PC World).
- Telecommuting can reduce manager to staff ratios from 1-4 to 1-40 (Fort Lauderdale Sentinel).
- Companies can save up to $8,000 annually in office space for each telecommuter.
- US employers could save $441 billion in reduced absenteeism and recruiting costs, and increased productivity from telecommuting.
|
| Return to the top |
|
| Why choose SonicWALL's Complete Internet Security and VPN Solution? |
SonicWALL offers a complete Internet security and VPN solution for the single telecommuter up to the large distributed enterprise; SonicWALL VPN is tightly integrated into the award-winning family of SonicWALL Internet Security Appliances.
These high-performance security platforms provide an integrated security for remote sites with a state-of-the-art ICSA-certified firewall, VPN and support for an expanding array of SonicWALL Security Applications, such as network anti-virus and content filtering, to provide a complete security solution. |
| SonicWALL VPN |
SonicWALL VPN provides an easy, affordable, and secure means for organizations to connect offices, telecommuters, mobile workers and partners together via the Internet.
SonicWALL VPN, based on the IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) industry standard, secures your data communications over the Internet. |
SonicWALL VPN is compatible with other VPN gateways based on the IPSec standard, including Check Point Firewall-1, Cisco PIX, Nortel Contivity and Axent Raptor.
It's easy to set up our VPN using SonicWALL's easy-to-use Web management interface, and seamlessly supports Microsoft Windows networking (Windows 95/98/NT/2000) for viewing local and remote resources. |
| To help you choose the right SonicWALL Internet Security Appliance to meet your VPN needs, please contact Flexsys. |
