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

Support for More Diverse Computers


The current and future support of SSL VPNs of remote access from various platforms and computing devices is discussed in the following sections.

Macintosh

Quite clearly, those SSL VPNs that do not yet support access from Macintosh computers are likely to add such support. (Many SSL VPNs today offer limited access capabilities from Macintosh machines. The level of access is likely to increase as newer SSL VPN versions are released.)

Linux and Other Variants of UNIX

As was the case with Macintosh computers, SSL VPN support for remote access from machines running Linux and other flavors of UNIX is currently limited. It is reasonable to expect that such support will be expanded in the future.

Handheld Devices

The ability to access important systems and information from anywhere has grown dramatically with the development and delivery of Internet-enabled handled devices.

Internet-enabled Personal Data Assistants (PDAs) and other handheld devices continue to proliferate...