Cable Modems and VPN Access

With the number of remote workers growing itlimited to preserve bandwidth at the servers, and
has become a critical issue for many businesseslet cable users take advantage of their robust
to begin setting up Virtual Private Networks. Howconnection. These connections will be made to
to get their workers on enterprise networkstime out or disconnect after download, although
reliably and securely is at the forefront of any ITto the end user it still appears a connection is
staff. The answer has fortunately become simplerbeing made. VPN connections made via cable
with the VPN. And the number one broadbandInternet networks are not only here to stay,
connection for many VPS is cable Internet access.they are growing fast. This technology is only
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, allows usersgoing to get better over time, and soon VPNs will
to access a secure private network from a publicbe made with the bandwidth it takes to take full
network, and connects remote users. Thisadvantage of the speed inherent in a high speed
method allows users access to a business'sbroadband cable Internet network. VPN
secure servers without the need for a dedicatedConfigurations There are two common types of
leased line. These virtual connections use theVPN in use now, site-to-site and remote client. A
Internet to link users, but makes sure that anyremote client VPN is a single user that connects
data that is delivered to them cannot be seen byto a host network. This connection is dynamic and
third parties. VPNs are used by companies thatonly exists while the user is actively accessing
have remote locations, usually in more than onefiles. Site-to-site VPNs are permanent connections
city, and require that data be sent from locationbetween two locations using equipment dedicated
to location. Information passes through a secureto this task. The typical telecommuter will use a
"tunnel" made in the Internet, and is delivered toremote client, while larger network to network
users as if they were on a secure intranet.connections are made via a site-to-site
Although dial up access and DSL would functionconfiguration. Cable And VPN Perfomance When
with a VPN, cable internet service seems to beInternet access is discussed, speed is almost
favored by many VPN providers. This is in partalways the number one priority. This is not the
due to the upper limits of bandwidth that cablecase for VPNs, although it does come in third.
offers for download, but also the upload capabilitySecurity is the number one issue with VPNs, and
of cable outshines the competition. As data isif speed must be sacrificed, then so be it.
traveling both ways through a VPN, it is importantFortunately with cable Internet access, the slow
to keep throughput moving at a good pace fordown is usually minor if the enterprise is using up
everyone concerned. Cable And Remote Clients Ato date servers. Interoperability is the second
site-to-site VPN would rarely use a cableissue with VPNs. With remote users ranging from
connection, and even then only to connect asales people, partners, and possibly customers, a
remote user. Cable Internet functions best whenVPN must be usable by many platforms and
allowing remote users to tunnel into a networksoftware. With the business community
from many different locations. Although theredominated by Windows' products this usually isn't
may be authentication via private access keys,a problem, but many firms have art houses that
these connections can "seem" to be always onare Mac oriented. This coupled with different
even if they are not. If a VPN will support 100software configurations, and remote users with
users, but all 100 don't need the service all of theno IT background, VPNs need to be flexible and
time, the number of client connections can beeasy to use.