Virtual Private Network

A virtual private network (VPN) is a private network that securely connects corporate networks across the Internet to remote offices and users.

A VPN enables you to send data between two computers across a shared or public internetwork in a manner that emulates the properties of a point-to-point private link. A VPN provides user authentication, data encryption, and data integrity to ensure the security of the data while in transit across private networks and the Internet.

VPNs securely convey information across the Internet by connecting remote users, branch offices, and business partners into an extended corporate network. Many companies are replacing their existing telecommunications infrastructure with VPNs, by implementing secure IP tunnels across the Internet between corporate sites as well as to business partners and remote users.

Because security is a critical issue for companies worldwide, VPN connections provide a secure infrastructure that require systems to work together to mitigate the risk of malicious activity from both external and internal sources. Any connection from your network to the public Internet raises some of the following security concerns:

Infection by viruses
Intrusion by hackers
Accessibility of your data from a remote support site
Authorization of remote users to access your machine when a remote connection is opened

IBM^® VPN connections, along with the security features that are built into the DS6000™ storage unit, make it possible to access IBM service representatives who can assist you in resolving complex problems without the risks that are associated with a connection to an external network. For information about the IBM VPN implementation including technical details, access the following Web site:

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1114&uid=ssg1S1002693