Book Image

SSL VPN : Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access

Book Image

SSL VPN : Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access

Overview of this book

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide remote workers with secure access to their company network via the internet by encrypting all data sent between the company network and the user?s machine (the client). Before SSL VPN this typically required the client machine to have special software installed, or at least be specially configured for the purpose. Clientless SSL VPNs avoid the need for client machines to be specially configured. Any computer with a Web browser can access SSL VPN systems. This has several benefits: Low admin costs, no remote configuration Users can safely access the company network from any machine, be that a public workstation, a palmtop or mobile phone By pass ISP restrictions on custom VPNs by using standard technologies SSL VPN is usually provided by a hardware appliance that forms part of the company network. These appliances act as gateways, providing internal services such as file shares, email servers, and applications in a web based format encrypted using SSL. Existing players and new entrants, such as Nokia, Netilla, Symantec, Whale Communications, and NetScreen technologies, are rushing our SSL VPN products to meet growing demand. This book provides a detailed technical and business introduction to SSL VPN. It explains how SSL VPN devices work along with their benefits and pitfalls. As well as covering SSL VPN technologies, the book also looks at how to authenticate and educate users ? a vital element in ensuring that the security of remote locations is not compromised. The book also looks at strategies for making legacy applications accessible via the SSL VPN.
Table of Contents (14 chapters)
SSL VPN
Credits
About the Authors
Introduction
A Review of TCP, IP, and Ports

Department of Defense (DoD) Requirements


Erasing temporary information from access devices is not as simple as calling operating-system routines that delete the pertinent files. This is true for three reasons:

  • Today's operating systems offer features that help prevent accidental erasure of important data. Among these features are 'Trash Can' or 'Recycle Bin' capabilities that actually move deleted files to a special folder in which they are stored until the space they occupy is needed for storing other files. Because files can be restored from these special folders and operating systems facilitate such recovery, SSL VPNs should not rely on calling operating system Delete commands to remove sensitive information from access devices.

  • Even when a Trash Can/Recycle Bin is not used, operating systems typically do not fully erase files from disk when they are 'deleted'. Instead, they erase the references to the deleted files in the catalog of the disk's contents, so that the files are no longer...