The advent of SSL VPN ushers in a new era in remote computing. Where older remote-access technologies were expensive, complicated to use, and often deployed to only limited user populations, SSL VPN delivers remote access to the masses at a much lower cost than its forerunners, and in a much simpler format. It transforms remote access from a convenience enjoyed by a select few to a mainstream business option available to everyone.
An exciting new technology, SSL VPN leverages web browsers to provide access to enterprise applications, systems, files, and other resources from essentially any Internet-connected web browser, abandoning the long-standing model of requiring specialized client software to enable remote access.
SSL VPN offers several significant benefits over previous generations of remote access tools. Typically:
It is much easier to use.
It is much easier to implement and maintain.
It offers access from many more locations and devices.
It is much less expensive to maintain.
It can serve as an integral component of a business-continuity strategy.
As of the publishing of this book, several key analyst firms have issued reports on the SSL VPN market; while they may differ in the rankings of the vendors in the space, they are all in agreement that SSL VPN is gaining rapid acceptance into corporate infrastructures. Annual SSL VPN related revenue, which exploded in 2002-2003, continues to grow at a healthy pace.
In this book, SSL VPN is discussed in detail from both a business and technical standpoint. Readers will gain understanding of what SSL VPN is, how it works, and why it may be of great benefit to their own organizations. Best practices surrounding deploying an SSL VPN, ensuring that an SSL VPN implementation is secure, as well as addressing human factors are also covered.
Chapter 1 introduces the key concepts behind SSL VPN. We look at how it fits into familiar network schemas, and consider how it works and what advantages it offers over tradition IPSec VPNs.
Then, in Chapter 2, we consider the business case for SSL VPN solutions. We see how to measure SSL VPN return on investment, and what practical benefits SSL VPN technology can offer an organization.
Chapter 3 peeks under the bonnet of SSL VPN to see how the technology works, and how you can rely on private communications over an open network like the Internet.
Chapter 4 takes a more detailed look at SSL VPN security, showing you how to make sure you choose SSL VPN tools and configurations that do not fall foul of glitches or security loopholes.
Chapter 5 looks at how to plan your SSL VPN installation by showing where it fits into your current network infrastructure, while Chapter 6 looks at the human angle—how to educate your users so that they do not become security holes themselves!
Worried that an SSL VPN will not work with your existing applications? In Chapter 7 we look at the methods that exist for integrating SSL VPN with your legacy applications.
Finally in Chapter 8 we look to the future of SSL VPN, and consider where the trends are likely to lead in the coming years.
In this book you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meanings.
Code words in text are shown as follows: "NOCACHE does not prevent caching in AutoComplete stores, in history records, and other areas."
New terms and important words are introduced in a bold-type font. Words that you see on the screen—in menus or dialog boxes, for example—appear in the text as follows: Are you still there?
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