A Virtual Private Network (VPN), extends a private network across a public network allowing users to transmit and receive data over shared or public networks as if their computer equipment were physically linked. Increases in functionality, security, and private network administration are all advantages of a VPN. It is frequently used by distant employees and gives access to resources that are not available on the public network. Although not a fundamental component of a VPN connection, encryption is frequently used.
By using dedicated circuits or tunneling protocols across current networks, a VPN may be formed by creating a virtual point-to-point connection. Some of the advantages of a wide area network can be obtained with a VPN accessible over the public Internet (WAN). The private network’s resources can be accessed remotely from the user’s perspective.
For information about VPN, please view guidance on this topic from the following resources:
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)