Sahr Johnny, a contributor at CFO Asia, writes frequently about business technology. Three Little Words To fully understand exactly what a VPN is, it's probably best to define the words that make up the phrase. Virtual Not real. In the technology world, virtual means something running on the World Wide Web, as in virtual shops. Remember, though, the Internet is only the conduit.
Virtual offerings rely on Web-browser technology.
Browser-based technology enables users to overcome differences in hardware and platforms. A VPN is a secure system - which is a big part of its appeal. Ironically, a virtual private network relies on the public Internet to work. Network Two or more linked computer systems. Generally speaking, actual wires are required for a network - phone lines, leased lines, etc.