Forrester Research Inc., late 1997 report Cost isn't the only advantage, however. VPNs in theory are easier to manage than the other alternatives, making it a snap to add and remove users. And at its best, the technology is transparent to the end user, with no additional training required. Keane's Dengler says RiverPilot, the RiverWorks dialer, is particularly user friendly. Users applaud this capability, says Dengler.
Access control is a problem When implemented properly, VPNs are more secure than conventional WANs.
With most implementations, all data going through the tunnel is encrypted and users are authenticated prior to being allowed through the VPN gateway. But security is one of the trickiest VPN issues. So, users must implement VPNs in conjunction with strong firewalls and encryption and authentication products. Choosing a firewall, a VPN gateway, and strategies for encryption and authentication of users are the biggest headaches of the VPN implementation, he says. Copyright 2001 INT Media Group, Incorporated All Rights Reserved.