There are many types and configurations of VPNs available. Here are some of the most common:
- Internet access: You connect a device to a service on the internet. It encrypts your connection and becomes your apparent point of origin when you access the wider internet. When you use any other internet services, like your browser, video and music streaming apps, or email, your IP address will show as the VPN’s.
- Remote access: You connect a device remotely to a local area network, typically over the internet. The VPN encrypts your connection so that listeners can’t steal or modify data in transit. This gives you access to resources like servers and printers on the network as though your device is physically connected.
- Site-to-site connection: This type of VPN connects two networks. These VPNs often bypass the internet and use direct connections instead. That makes them faster and more available. If your organisation uses a cloud service like AWS Direct Connect or Google Cloud Partner Interconnect, it might be using a site-to-site VPN to access the cloud service.