31.1.09

SSL VPN

A virtual private network, or VPN as it is commonly known, is a network that uses a public telecommunication infrastructure to provide faraway offices or individual users with secure access to the network of their organization. A virtual private network can be compared with a system of owned or leased lines. These leased lines can be used by one organization only. A VPN is used to provide the organization with the same services but at a lower cost. A VPN can be described as one or more wide area network (WAN) links over a shared public network. A network service provider usually provides this link. Secure VPN technologies may be used to enhance the security of the private link. One such security measure is the use of SSL VPN for tunneling specific protocols,

Secure socket layer virtual private network or SSL VPN is a Virtual Private Network, which extends as connection over the public Internet, enabling far away users to access corporate resources securely. SSL is an application level transport protocol that transmits data over a standard TCP port. An SSL VPN can deliver access to a distant network. Any client who has a network connection can make use of SSL VPN without the need for any additional client software. Also, Internet users do not need to remember the names or IP addresses of machines on the network. All resources can be made available to users in the form of bookmarks.

SSL VPN has several other advantages. The most important one is that many remote users can access a network from anywhere in the world. It doesn?t need a dedicated laptop or remote VPN site to access the network. A secure extranet can be set up by the company for its business partners and customers. A SSL VPN can provide fine-grained application level filtering. Most SSL VPNs can traverse firewalls and NATs.

SSL uses a cryptographic system. It uses two keys to encrypt data - a public key and a private or secret key. Typically, everyone would know the public key but only the recipient of the message would be aware of the private key. The two most common web browsers, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, support SSL. Most Web sites use a SSL protocol to obtain confidential user information.

VPN provides detailed information on VPN, SSL VPN, VPN Client, VPN Software and more. VPN is affiliated with Secure Remote Access.

29.1.09

VPN Client

VPN is an abbreviation for Virtual Private Network. Private network is a network for select users that has a firewall enabled to prevent intrusion from the Internet. Even though such networks tend to be safe from intrusion, it causes a problem for users. It becomes difficult to get past the firewall, if someone wants to access email or their own files. Therefore, a specific kind of software or electronic hardware is used. This is called a VPN or virtual private network that can help users access their email or files from private networks, without difficulty. VPN is a private communications network. It is usually used within a company, or by many different companies or organizations, communicating over a public network. VPN message traffic is carried on a public networking infrastructure (Internet) using standard protocols.

VPN clients are used in three scenarios. It is used to support remote access to an intranet. It is used to support connections between multiple intranets within the same organization. It is also used to join the networks between two organizations, forming an extranet. Experts in VPN technology warn against connecting the client computer to the Internet directly. Connecting the computer directly when there is only one Internet connection bypasses the firewall. This destroys the security and access-sharing capabilities that the firewall provides. Spreading the firewall to accommodate the VPN traffic will help retain the fire walling security provided by it. It will also permit the other systems on the local network to access the Internet. The Internet can be accessed even if the VPN networks connection is not active.

If a firewall is used in an environment of many thousand users, it is considered safer to make the VPN client users to go through that firewall. This is done for security reasons. This approach is better than providing the clients with modems. Clients having modems can dial out on their own when they need to use the VPN and this will totally defeat the purpose of a firewall.

VPN provides detailed information on VPN, SSL VPN, VPN Client, VPN Software and more. VPN is affiliated with Secure Remote Access.

27.1.09

Benefits of VoIP Why You Must Switch To VoIP Now

Many people have heard of VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol, but not many know about the benefits of VoIP. In short, VoIP is a technology that transmits audio files as data over the Internet to another computer or a VoIP phone or a standard landline telephone, depending on what you use. As it uses the Internet as the medium, call charges can be minimised.


By not knowing these benefits, people are not aware of the advantages that VoIP has to offer and hence are not making the switch as they should. Below is a list of some of the benefits of VoIP:


Cheaper Calls


Who would not jump at the opportunity of reducing their local and especially long distance calls? Different service providers would offer different packages. Some might offer free unlimited long distance calls, while some might offer calls for a small fee.


Whether it is for your business or residential use, VoIP is undoubtedly cheaper than the standard landline telephones. Families can talk to each other longer, and businesses can increase their productivity.


Additional Features At No Charge


Features that are normally offered for a fee are often free of charge with VoIP services. Features such as Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Call Transfer, etc. are offered at no additional cost with VoIP. For business purposes, features such as email and web utilities, just to name a few, are also offered free of charge. Long gone are the days where you have to pay for these extras.


Choosing Own Area Code


Another great benefit of VoIP is the ability to choose your own phone numbers and area codes. This means that, should you want to maintain your existing number, you can always transfer your number to the new VoIP service or you may decide to choose a new one based on the area code.


The latter is beneficial if you have family members and friends who are staying in a different area code from you. All you have to do is to change your number to the same area code as theirs. This way, whenever they call you, they will be charged for local calls. They will thank you for this additional savings on their phone bills.


Great For Business


Business owners are now switching to VoIP as we speak. With all the features and benefits discussed above, they can reduce their business costs and phone bills, hence increasing their productivity. With VoIP, employees are able to stay in touch with their employers, colleagues and especially their customers.


This further saves a lot of money if you have mobile employees who travel extensively like sales people in your business. They can stay connected at all times and never again miss an important call. All they have to do is to plug in and accept the calls no matter where they are in the world.


On top of that, VoIP is a blessing if you have a call center for your business. This way, you are able to outsource your work inexpensively to agents in the countries that your business operates in.


Now that you are aware of the many benefits of VoIP, as well as the flexibility and freedom that VoIP offers, you know that they are far more advantageous compared to the standard landline telephones.


Unfortunately, many people will keep on paying the high monthly phone bills when they could have easily made the switch to VoIP and save on their next month’s charges with a single decision.


Juzaily Ramli is the owner of a site that discusses not only the benefits of VoIP, but also business VoIP, amongst other things. VoIP will revolutionize the way we communicate. Discover the VoIP revolution and how it can benefit you and your business today: http://www.voip-revolution-info-site.com

Five Tips for Selecting a VoIP Provider

Choosing a VoIP provider can be a daunting task. There are several VoIP service providers from which to choose, making the decision a sometimes head-spinning adventure.
To find a provider that’s right for you, think about the following:
1. Price — What do you want to pay each month for your VoIP service? Most monthly fees range from $8 to $30. The lower the monthly fee, the less likely you are to get extra features. Sometimes, less expensive plans don’t allow users to call outside the service provider’s network.
2. Features — Is Caller ID important to you? Do you want voicemail? These features and others are not universally offered on all VoIP service plans, so make sure you know what options you want when deciding on a provider.
3. Emergency services/E911 options — Not all VoIP service providers currently meet federal standards for E911, the system used to automatically determine the location of someone who’s dialed 911. If your VoIP telephone is your primary phone, you may want to select a plan that supports 911 dialing. If you feel comfortable using your cell phone for emergencies, a VoIP provider’s E911 capabilities may not be important.
4. Technical support — Some VoIP service providers charge for technical support; others don’t. Most of the larger companies — Vonage and Time Warner, for instance — do not charge for technical support, some smaller companies do. Check with the VoIP service provider to find out if they charge for extra help.
5. Number portability — Do you want to keep your current landline telephone number? Some VoIP service providers will “port” your current number to your new VoIP telephone, while others will give you a new telephone number. If you like your current number, find a provider who’ll help you keep it.
Howard is the owner of http://www.voip-resource.com where you can get information about finding a VoIP service provider and other VoIP related news and articles.
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