VPN FIREWALL

VPN or Virtual Private Networking allows you to connect to other Computers, or other Networks as if you were actually part of the Networks.

VPN works by creating a Secure Tunnel across an Unsecured Public Network, normally the Internet. Your computer acts as if it’s actually part of the Network, and it’s becoming quite popular especially now more people use Broadband Internet.

Many people who work from home dial into their Computers, Remote Desktop connection is used to dial into a specific Computer from outside using VPN Technology.

The Internet is split into Ports, and the Ports are used for different things. HTTP uses port 80 for example. VPN normally uses Ports 1723, 42, and 3389. These Ports would have to be left open on your Firewall, but if they are left open, then a Hacker could gain access to your compromised Network.

A VPN Router is therefore required to this Authenticates, when anyone trying to access the Network from outside on these ports with either a Username and Password, and/or by checking their IP address against a list of allowed Addresses.

VPN Routers normally have built in Firewalls to protect your Network from intruders, and this means that you won’t have to open Ports manually on your Firewall. You may however have to forward Ports to your VPN Router from your Modem.

VPN is useful for the following people:

• People that work from home are able to log onto their work Network and have access to all Network resources including shared Printers.
• People that work on site can dial into their Network by using a Mobile Phone.

Several well known manufacturers of IT equipment make VPN Firewall Routers that include Firewalls, and these are designed for both home use and office use.

The more professional VPN Routers enable the use of more Tunnels, support more connections at the same time, and are designed not to have to be reset as often. The home Devices are much less stable, and require resetting on quite a regular basis.

We remember once trying to save costs by installing a budget Netgear VPN Firewall, but it doubled our Workload! Go for the Professional Models, that NetGear or other Manufacturers produce.

You will probably have to forward Ports from your Ethernet Broadband Modem to the VPN Router to allow it to work correctly, you can research how to forward Ports in your Router/Modem’s Manual.

You connect to a VPN Network by entering the IP Address of the Remote Server (or VPN Router) the problem with IP Addresses is that they can change.

Even on some Broadband connections unless you pay extra for a Static IP address your IP address will change every time you connect to the internet. This makes logging onto your VPN difficult.

Dynamic DNS addresses can be used to solve this problem, you are given a Domain Name and this points to your IP address. Ok so far not so useful but the clever bit is the Program you run on your Computer to automatically Update your IP Address on the Dynamic DNS Address, whenever it changes. Some VPN Routers even have the setting to enter dynamic DNS Update information, this is known as DDNS, so look out for it. This cuts out the need to run DDNS Software on your Computer.

There are also Software alternatives that you can run on your server to enable VPN Connections, however a Hardware VPN Router is usually more Secure and Reliable. You don’t want your Server continually busy, because it’s dealing with incoming requests. A Hardware VPN Router will sort out the Traffic before it even reaches your Server.

If you are considering adding VPN capabilities to your Network in the future, then it’s worth investing in a VPN Firewall router now, rather than buying a Firewall and having to replace it with a VPN Router when the time comes.

Use a VPN Firewall Router if you want to allow people access to your Network from outside, for example your Employees whilst also Securing your Networks from Attacks.

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