From home or on the road, your business partners, branch offices and telecommuting workers can connect easily to your corporate network with a secure, managed VPN, or virtual private network.

Configure one or several VPNs over the public network or Internet to create secure virtual tunnels. VPN encryption ensures that others cannot intercept your company data in transit. Implement your managed VPN list of solutions to eliminate public network security concerns.

A managed VPN directory of services include:

1. A broadband connection, including the physical and data link layer.

2. The VPN, which tunnels traffic over the network from the service provider.

3. Security services, which include firewall protecting internal addresses. This allows access to resources, authenticates users and controls access to your router ports. The security service generally includes monitoring and prevents network intrusions, while also providing vulnerability assessment checks.

4. IP communication is provided for voice, multimedia, and collaboration from inside and outside the network.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider using a host or a managed VPN provider

There are many benefits associated with using a managed virtual private network provider. It ensures government compliance and around-the-clock support and monitoring for remote user access. VPN services provide companies and remote users with peace of mind, without the need to configure software, hire additional employees or tax IT budgets further with new equipment.

I recommend: AccessAnywhere is designed for small- to medium-sized businesses. It delivers flexible, secure VPN services. You can try it for free. Positive Networks offers a managed VPN and endpoint security, and provides 24/7 support. It offers demos and a webinar through the website.

Use your router, firewall or hardware appliance to configure your own managed VPN

Your managed VPN information can be configured through an existing router, firewall or appliance to provide intelligent threat defense and secure communication. This can also stop attacks before they affect your company network. Managed VPN hardware devices provide special features, allowing you to configure, change, maintain, monitor, and deploy a small, medium or large number of user VPN connectivity.

I recommend: Cisco firewalls and security routers are designed to keep networks secure. They can lower deployment and operation costs while delivering multi-layer security to any size network. SonicWALL offers a VPN appliance tailored to your company's needs. Both Cisco and SonicWALL offer scalable solutions with a user-friendly web interface and helpful wizards.

Hire the experts to implement and deploy your managed VPN solution

Find managed VPN experts to create and deploy an easy to use managed VPN solution. Be sure your experts specialize in security and VPN implementation. The VPN solution should be scalable, include a web interface, support, documentation and training.

I recommend: Miles Consulting is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner that offers a wide range of Cisco services, including VPN setup and configuration. Progent offers comprehensive VPN and firewall consulting services. They'll help you create your security strategy, select the appropriate products, deploy the VPN, integrate it with your hardware and software, and provide support and staff training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take appropriate action to secure not only your managed VPN, but other vulnerable IT resources. Use software designed specifically to protect your network against hackers, viruses and spyware.