As computer networking becomes more commonplace and we begin to take network connectivity for granted, users increasingly find the need to connect to private networks from remote locations. At one point, the only way to provide such connectivity was through private WAN circuits. In some cases, private WAN circuits may still be the best option, as they provide low latency and reliability; but they also have high monthly costs, and can be prohibitively expensive for many users.
Fortunately, they aren't the only option available to us. Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide us with a means of accessing a private network over a shared public network. The public network is, more often than not, the internet. Access to the private network is provided through an encrypted tunnel and, as a result, it is as if we have a point-to-point connection between the...