It will also ensure ease of migration to emerging technologies such as data-telephony convergence and multimedia. Interoperability allows a user to implement a VPN based on problem-solution feature sets per location rather than being required to retrofit one vendor's offering across all locations. An effective VPN design focuses on firewall and server placements. It needs to be manageable using a Web browser with visibility into device configurations, applications and traffic flows. An administrator troubleshooting an access problem should not have to aggregate reports to ferret out a network bottleneck.
Security is a primary focus when implementing VPNs.
In the wide-open world of the Internet, safeguards must be put into place within the network infrastructure to protect sensitive information and resources. The challenge is to integrate the solid protections that already are widely deployed in networks within the VPN without inducing performance penalties or placing barriers between users and content. Normal routines of authorization and authentication can be implemented and security servers deployed to provide checkpoints for access and monitor log-ins. Concurrently, sensitive business data can be encrypted even when presented on a Web server. Traditional, key-management tools can be used for added layers of protection.