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VPN - FAQ
> Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I use a VPN rather than using a password protected access to a remote network share?A: There are several reasons why a VPN should be used, the key reasons are:
- Using a remote network share would mean having to expose a computer/server/network directly to the Internet. This is always extremely dangerous as it does not restrict access.
- Any data that is transmitted over the Internet would be available to anyone to see as it it transmitted. The Internet is made up of many computer networks joined together. As the data passes from network to network to it's destination, it passes through lots of third party networks. If the data is sent just using a remote network share, anyone could read/sniff the data and see what is being transmitted (including the network share password).
- A VPN works by having multiple theoretically uncrackable authentication keys that only the VPN server can decrypt. Once the keys have been confirmed, the 'tunnel' is established. Then any data that is sent down the 'tunnel' is encrypted, so the data cannot be intercepted and read.
A: Once the VPN server has been installed, additional client connections can be easily added
Q: My ISP (Internet Service Provider) only provides me with a dynamic IP, is this a problem?
A: Only the server needs a fixed IP address, connection to the server can be made from any IP address, whether fixed, dynamic, or even just from your laptop at a Wireless Hot-Spot. Café Networks will also be monitoring your IP address as it changes so support and updates can be supplied as necessary.
Q: I already have a complicated network set-up, I need to know that the Café Networks VPN solution will not disrupt how it works.
A: The Café Networks VPN solution is one of the most flexible and adaptable solutions currently available. There is no network set-up that the server cannot be configured to work with.
Q: I currently can share information internally on my network and I have certain ports forwarded on the firewall to allow particular traffic in and out I need to keep this set-up.
A: The Café Networks VPN will be set to match your internal networks and can be configured to replicate any existing port forwards as necessary.
Q: Where exactly does the VPN server sit on my network?
A: The VPN box sits in on the border of you network, directly connected to your Internet connection. The Internet connection comes into the VPN server and then out onto your internal network, with the exception that the firewall component will block and log attempts to get into your internal network by unauthorised users.
Q: I don't want all my Internet traffic to be passing through the VPN, how does the VPN work?
A: When you want to use the Internet, such as to surf the web, the information just flows out through your Internet connection as per normal, however, when you want to place something onto the VPN connected network, the VPN detects where the traffic is directed, and routes it through the encrypted tunnel to the server.