Patent ID: 8856915

Claim:
A security communication apparatus including at least one processor and memory storing computer-executable instructions communicatively-coupled via a bus, connected to a first network and configured to set a virtual private network on a second network between the security communication apparatus and a second security communication apparatus, the security communication apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a request related to the virtual private network between the security communication apparatus and the second security communication apparatus, first communication data and second communication data from a transmission apparatus via the first network; a converting unit configured to encrypt the first communication data which is not encrypted by the transmission apparatus and received from the transmission apparatus, into third communication data; a setting unit configured to set the virtual private network on the second network in accordance with the request related to the virtual private network; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the second communication data which is encrypted by the transmission apparatus and received in an encrypted state from the transmission apparatus, to the second security communication apparatus via the virtual private network when it is indicated in accordance with the request related to the virtual private network that the second communication data is encrypted by the transmission apparatus, and when it is indicated in accordance with the request related to the virtual private network that the first communication data is not encrypted by the transmission apparatus, transmit the third communication data encrypted by the converting unit from the first communication data which is not encrypted by the transmission apparatus and received in an unencrypted state from the transmission apparatus, to the second security communication apparatus in an encrypted state via the virtual private network.