What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a security-protected data path that runs on an existing unsecured network - like the public Internet. VPNs may be used to cost-effectively and securely communicate between corporate sites or between remote users and a corporate network.

How does it work?

VPN gateways are used to encrypt data entering the VPN, and decrypt data leaving the VPN. Since the VPN ensures confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity, sensitive corporate data can travel more safely over a public network like the Internet.

A common use of VPNs is to allow remote users to access corporate network resources. A remote user first establishes a VPN connection between their device and their network's VPN gateway. Once the VPN is established, the remote user can securely access private network resources on their corporate network.

VPN security technologies include:

• IP Security (IPSEC)
• Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
• Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP)
• SOCKS
• Secure Shell (SSH)

About VPN

With Nokia mobile devices, users have various options for connecting to a secure corporate network. For instance, the Nokia S60 devices and Series 80 devices employ an HTML browser to connect remote mobile users to corporate SSL VPN services such as web-based email or the corporate address book. On some S60 devices and Series 80 devices, an IPSEC VPN client allows the mobile device to connect to the corporate network so that users can work while on the move.

What are the benefits of VPN Security?

VPN technology has reduced the cost of providing remote access because the public Internet can now be leveraged for more secure remote access reducing the need for enterprises to maintain dedicated modem pools or pay for expensive long distance calls when employees travel.

IPSEC VPN (Internet Protocol Security Virtual Private Network)

When using IPSEC VPN environments, the mobile devices require preinstalled VPN client software to authenticate and connect the devices to the VPN gateway. When the applications on the user's mobile device attempt to communicate, such as to fetch email, the network traffic from these requests is tunnelled through the VPN connection.

SSL VPN (Secure Socket Layer Virtual Private Network)

SSL VPN products have emerged more recently than IPSEC VPN. These products use SSL technology to enable secure remote access. Users do not need software VPN client. Instead, they quickly and easily connect to the SSL VPN gateway via a web browser - on any compatible device or computer. A number of corporate functions such as email and calendar access may then be accessed from this web interface. Most SSL VPN products also include port forwarding functionality that could, for example, be delivered via signed Java applets.

PPT (Point-to-point Tunneling Protocol)

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) is a protocol (set of communication rules) that allows corporations to extend their own corporate network through private "tunnels" over the public Internet. Effectively, a corporation uses a wide-area network as a single large local area network. A company no longer needs to lease its own lines for wide-area communication but can securely use the public networks. This kind of interconnection is known as a virtual private network (VPN).

SSH (Secure Shell)

Secure Shell (SSH), sometimes known as Secure Socket Shell, is a Unix-based command interface and protocol for securely getting access to a remote computer. It is widely used by network administrators to control Web and other kinds of servers remotely.