Virtual private network tools 'can improve security' - Network Accessories

Virtual private network tools 'can improve security' - Network Accessories Virtual private network equipment can reduce the risk of data loss and external attacks when working on open networks, it has been claimed.

According to Cisco, there are "significant" risks to organisations when employees use their own consumer devices in the workplace, if the necessary precautions are not taken.

The firm explained that on most public Wi-Fi networks, information sent to and from a mobile device is unencrypted.

"Anyone with a laptop and easily obtained sniffer software can access all the data moving over the wireless network," Cisco noted.

"Users may also connect to rogue Wi-Fi access points that can monitor the content of all transmissions."

The firm said this can be a huge problem if employees are doing business research or moving sensitive documents.

Any unpatched vulnerabilities or other security holes can also be exploited by others on the same local network, it added.

But virtual private networks (VPNs) create an encrypted 'tunnel' trough the public internet between the user's PC, phone, or tablet and a server inside the enterprise firewall, Cisco claimed.

In order to overcome cost barriers, and enable a wide variety of businesses to take advantage, businesses should enable corporate users to connect to public Wi-Fi networks using public VPNs, the firm added.

"These are less secure than corporate VPNs since they provide encryption only from the device to the service provider, not all the way through to the corporate network. But they do protect the most vulnerable zone, the Wi-Fi link and associated local area network," Cisco said.

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Last Updated: 19/12/2011 14:15

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