The issue of exactly how to explain or define a VPN is that it is often up for discussion among today's consumers and network communications providers. If we look at the literal definition of words virtual private network, it can help to understand what is and what is not, a VPN.

Using Webster's dictionary definitions of the component words, a VPN must have the following attributes:

Virtual - defined as "being such practically or in effect, although not in actual fact or name." Therefore, the first part of a response to our question "what is a VPN" is that this is something that acts as a network-Wired difficult, but in fact is not.

Private - defined as "belonging to or in connection with a particular person or group; not common or general." Therefore, a VPN should be one where the customer has a special use of network links. (Note, this is different from a Secure Network, which can be a private or public network.)

Network - defined as "a system of computers interconnected by telephone wires or other means in order to share information." This is the goal of a VPN or any other network.

VPN explained this way is network technology which gives the owner the ability to share information with others on the network by means of private, exclusive link that is created by a method other than hard-wires or leased lines; usually via the Internet. Before the Internet, computers in different offices, cities or even many countries can only talk to each other like people could - through telephone wires. As the need for this type of communication grew, telephone lines became replaced by higher volume wires, like T3 circuits, but the concept was the same. For a computer to talk to computer B, there should be a physical wire connection. For security reasons, you will want to ensure that only 2 computers used your line, so you would contract with a vendor to "lease" that circuit. However, this type of network is expensive and difficult to expand, not to mention difficult to have control over the client.

With the Advent of the Internet, connections need not be physical. As long as each computer has access to the Internet, data may be shared using local ISP circuits, across the internet, and to many recipients in the same way it was when computers were physically connected. This is why the way VPN works is considered as a "virtual" network; is not all about hard-Wired.

The VPN aspects explained in this article so far have not yet discussed a concern always present in today's world - security. In a dingy old, the security of data transmission can rely entirely on the warranty provider. Today, however, holds a VPN encryption private information by both the sending and receiving end. There are a variety of encryption protocols, depending on what a company needs are, who need to communicate with (and therefore be compatible with), etc. The data is not only Encrypted, but is encapsulated , which means that it is sent in its own private "tunnel" or connection in the entire Internet. Nobody can see the data, and even if they can, they can not decipher or change it. In this way, data can be sent throughout the Internet without being susceptible to interruption or corruption of those who are outside the VPN.

In order to create a virtual private network, you will need to decide who needs to share information, in what ways, and how often. Next you will need to prepare a list of hardware and software systems you are currently using at each location. You may very well need to make changes so that computers can talk to each other easily. You will also wish to consider just how important is that your data remains secure, as this would have an impact on what type of protocol selected. Preparation of this information would have to be educated discussion you should have with potential vendors.