1. VPN Service Providers, Let's Talk About Them…
For those of you who know little to nothing about VPN servers, don’t worry this article was
intended for you. We will go over the basics of VPN servers and go over the various different
VPN service providers. We have asked ourselves, what is a VPN? According to Google, a
Virtual Private Network (VPN) server is a network that uses a public telecommunication
infrastructure and their technology such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual
users with secure access to their organization’s network (Wikipedia). In
simpler terms, VPN provides internet access to those in remote areas,
possibly miles away from the provider. This is technically a type of
Wide Area Network (WAN). This allows for computer to computer
communications like the transferring of files, video conferencing, and
the receiving and responding to emails. The benefit of having VPN
service compared to dial-up or leased line connections is the
general cost effectiveness in relation to the security of the
network. Dial-up and leased lines can be expensive and require a
physical connection from computer to computer through the
telephone lines. For remote access users, this can be a real hassle, being as telephone lines aren’t
giving connectivity to the entire world.
So, what is a VPN service provider? In general, there are two varieties of VPN servers: Remote-
access as mentioned earlier and site-to-site servers. Remote access servers provide connectivity
to users that are isolated from the general network. For instance, companies will hire VPN
service providers to allow employees to connect to the business network while at home or out of
town. Site-to-site VPN servers provide connectivity between two already established networks.
This also comes in handy to the business world, in that it allows further networking between
allied companies, ensuring that communications are fast and efficient. There are other scenarios
where one might need these VPN servers. Scientists performing research in remote countries
require secure VPN servers in order to send their files back home where they are much less
likely to succumb to corruption. Another scenario would be anyone going on extended vacation
and needs a secure network to transfer files and telecommunicate.
A quick Google search using the keywords “VPN service providers,” or "what's a vpn" will open
up pages of companies available for providing VPN service. When I performed the search, seven
separate companies appeared organically on the first page alone; the results go back several
pages. A key factor to keep in mind is that a company’s reputation and guarantees are far more
important than how big they seem. When it comes to VPN servers other than those that are
extreme remote-access, small business VPN servers can provide just as excellent service. On the
other hand, remote access servers may need a larger network and staff of employees to ensure
you are provided with the ultimate connectivity. This may only apply to extreme cases. If
someone needs remote VPN access to a small village in Nepal, it would be much harder to
provide excellent connectivity rather that remote access for your home.