A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a method used to securely connect to another network. VPNs are not new, but they have become increasingly popular in recent years. Employees who travel or work from home live and die by remote access such as VPNs. That being said, there are several different types of VPNs in use today. Listed below are some most commonly used VPNs and explanations of how they work:

• PPTP VPN (Also called Client VPN or Dial-Up VPN)
• LAN-to-LAN VPN
• MPLS VPNs (also called Metro Ethernet VPN)

PPTP is the oldest form of VPN. These are configured on laptops or desktops to be run like programs. They connect to a remote network and and can be disconnected at any time. Microsoft Windows Server 2000 and later natively support this.

LAN-to-LAN is a little more involved. It requires two routers or firewalls at each location. These devices are then configured to talk to each other securely. All traffic between each location can be shared and this connection cannot be disconnected without reconfiguring the devices that provide it.

MPLS or Metro Ethernet VPNs are provided via ISPs who configure their equipment to perform the entire encryption and communication configuration. This is a monthly service and performance is better than traditional LAN-to-LAN setups because the ISP can better control how traffic is sent from one location to the next. These types of VPNs can also be used to connect offices and remote users to servers located in a data center facility.