When employees work remotely, how can businesses guarantee security to their internal network, especially when dealing with sensitive information? The answer is the SSL VPN, which can turn out to be an essential technology for remote access. Yet, what does SSL VPN mean, and how does it offer a secure connection without any complex connections?
In this guide, we will learn how SSL VPN operates and why it is an important facility for many organizations today.
What is SSL VPN?
A VPN is a tool that provides secure communications between users and networks, especially in the Internet environment. SSL means VPN extending this concept further by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to ensure the safest connection possible. The point about SSL VPN is that it does not demand any applications.
Advertisement The user only needs a web browser. What makes them very convenient and easy to use is their easy access to every device category. From internal company tools, client-server applications and sensitive directories, SSL VPN guarantees secure end-to-end encrypted communication.
How Does SSL VPN Work?
The interconnecting of VPN SSL has become popular for the following reasons: ease of implementation and users are already in touch with a secure web connection (HTTPS), which uses the same TLS protocols as SSL VPN. Here is how we think SSL VPN works:
- Initial handshake: Through an SSL VPN connection, the user’s browser establishes a connection to the gateway.
- Server authentication: The server sends a denial message to the browser, encrypted and signed using a digital certificate provided by a recognized certificate authority.
- Encryption negotiation: A socket is established between the server and the browser, and they settle on the key to encrypt the information.
- Key exchange: It involves the setup of a secure tunnel through a shared secret or public keys.
On the user’s side, once the user verifies his or her identity, he or she receives access to internal data, which means that all data exchange takes place within the fully encrypted communication channel, ensuring end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
Types of SSL VPN
There are two types of VPNs, SSL Portal VPN, and SSL VPN Tunnel:
- SSL Portal VPN: This works like a secure web page where users view a front-end website with a door that links to further in-house pages. It is basic. However, it can only enable one relationship at a time and is only compatible with browser-supported materials.
- SSL Tunnel VPN: SSL Tunnel VPN still offers a powerful solution compared to the client-side app download, permitting the use of web pages and other services and resources for the wished network. It supports such active content as JavaScript or Flash.
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Benefits of SSL VPN
The convenience and security of SSL VPN services make them a valuable solution for businesses:
- Easy to deploy: One more advantage of SSL VPN is that Transport Layer Security (TLS) is permanently included in every up–to–date browser, which helps SSL VPN be effective on most of devices. Administrators do not have to download software on each user’s machine.
- User-friendly: This minimizes the need for the employees to undergo an extensive training program as the tool operates via a browser and hence may be likened to using the internet.
- Easy to support: Since the product works with nearly all operating systems, as already mentioned, the administrators rarely encounter support issues that need to be resolved.
- Enhanced security: Policies can limit access to specific resources based on what a person needs to know, so the damage is kept small if their username or password is hacked.
Important Read: Free VPN Vs. Paid VPN
IPsec VPN vs. SSL VPN
Traditional IPsec VPNs work at a lower level, and while they provide high levels of security, they are code-based and thus demand additional software. Though IPsec VPNs can accommodate almost any resource, their configuration can be complex and easily compromised, posing a security risk.
Still, SSL VPN has the advantage of lighter bandwidth usage, is easier to set up, and does not require changes to the user’s device. Thus, deploying free SSL VPN is the preferred choice for most organizations.
Why are SSL VPNs Important?
SSL VPN is now considered the building block for secure remote access in today’s work-from-home environment. In the millions of new working-from-home arrangements, organizations require compelling, dependable VPN partners more than ever. With the growth in cyber threats and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, secure encryption is critical for working-from-home employees and students. According to security experts at Fortinet,
SSL VPN is crucial for maintaining secure connections in an era of increased remote work. Its ease of deployment and cross-device compatibility make it an invaluable tool for businesses that need to scale remote access quickly.
FAQs
This VPN uses SSL encryption to create secure connections over a browser.
The regular VPNs can require specific client software. However, an SSL VPN uses standard web browsers to initiate a secure connection.
SSL is a protocol for encryption in VPNs, especially SSL VPNs. It offers simplicity, but IPsec provides more robust features.
No, SSL VPN is not site-to-site. Instead, it uses client-to-site connections.
Go to the Network |SSL VPN | Server Settings. Then go to SSL VPN STATUS ON ZONES, which represents SSL VPN Access status for each Zone. Enable or disable SSL-VPN configuration access by toggling the zone below. The green light will appear, which will show SSL VPN enable status.
The most significant disadvantage of SSL VPN is that it can only be used to access web-enabled SSL applications.
Yes, SSL VPNs can be blocked for configuration and restriction.
There might be different problems. Some are certificate issues, firewall restrictions, or misconfigurations in the VPN settings.
After going to Server Setting, go to SSL VPN STATUS ON ZONES which represents SSL VPN Access status on each Zone. Enable or disable SSL-VPN access by toggling the zone below. The green light will appear, which will show SSL VPN enable status.
Yes, it is safe due to its encryption protocols, but it needs to be correctly configured like all security tools.
Administrators can use policy settings to restrict SSL VPN.
Conclusion
Remote access to the internal resources of an organization’s network can be easily provided by using SSL VPN as it is secure, easily scalable, and easy to use. Through it, a product underlines the safety of communications and, at the same time, provides the functionality demanded by employees and administrators. Because of the necessity of remote access in today’s business environment, SSL VPN protocol will remain a crucial technology in ensuring the continuity and security of business.
Moreover, there are a lot of benefits to a VPN, like bypassing geo-restrictions, and secure connection. We advise you to read the advantages below and set up a VPN today for an excellent experience.