Linksys QuickVPN Cisco WRVS4400N Wireless-N Gigabit Security Router with VPN A - Page 21

3 Planning Your Virtual Private Network (VPN) This chapter provides information for planning your VPN and includes the following sections: • Why do I need a VPN?, page 21 • What is a VPN?, page 23 Why do I need a VPN? Computer networking provides a flexibility not available when using an archaic, paper-based system. With this flexibility, however, comes an increased risk in security. This is why firewalls were first introduced. Firewalls help to protect data inside of a local network. But what do you do once information is sent outside of your local network, when e-mails are sent to their destination, or when you have to connect to your company's network when you are out on the road? How is your data protected? That is when a VPN can help. VPNs are called Virtual Private Networks because they secure data moving outside of your network as if it were still within that network. When data is sent out across the Internet from your computer, it is always open to attacks. You may already have a firewall, which will help protect data moving around or held within your network from being corrupted or intercepted by entities outside of your network, but once data moves outside of your network-when you send data to someone via e-mail or communicate with an individual over the Internet-the firewall will no longer protect that data. Cisco WRVS4400N Wireless-N Gigabit Security Router with VPN Administration Guide 21