VPN — Technology for Ensuring Secure Network Interaction

(a theoretical note preceding an article on deploying a VPN server)

Today we’ll break down the concept of a virtual private network, better known as VPN. What it is, what types exist, and we’ll also talk a bit about popular implementations of this network technology.

Introduction

It’s hard to imagine the internet in its modern form without virtual private network tunnels that permeate it from every side. It’s no secret that ensuring data security and privacy is an important part of any active user of IT technologies.

As a note, the site has a corresponding tag: , which you can use to find articles directly related to information security 😉

Virtual private networks play a key role in this process, providing secure data transmission over open channels such as the internet.

As per tradition, let’s hear how Wikipedia defines this term:

VPN (from virtual private network) is a generic name for technologies that allow one or more network connections to be established on top of someone else’s network. Even though networks with a lower or unknown level of trust are used for communication (for example, public networks), the level of trust in the resulting logical network does not depend on the level of trust in the underlying networks, thanks to the use of cryptographic tools (encryption, authentication, public key infrastructure, and protections against replay and tampering of messages transmitted over the logical network).

Wikipedia

Now let’s talk about which common types of private networks exist, as well as popular implementations of VPN technology.

Types of VPN

Among the main types, the following can be highlighted (there are actually many more):

1. Remote Access VPN. This type allows individual users to connect to a network from remote locations. They can access internal resources using an encrypted connection over the internet. This type of VPN is widely used in corporate environments for secure access to an organization’s networks from anywhere.
2. Site-to-Site VPN. This type connects two or more local networks over the internet. This allows you to extend your network resources and ensure their secure interaction.
3. Intranet-based VPN. An intranet-based VPN is used to ensure secure data exchange between internal segments. It’s usually implemented based on encryption and authentication, providing a secure communication channel within a large local network.

Popular VPN Implementations

Below is a list of popular implementations of virtual private network technology:

1. OpenVPN — supports various protocols and authentication types, providing configuration flexibility. OpenVPN is one of the most widely used and popular solutions for creating private virtual networks. It stands out for its open source code, which ensures transparency and the ability to audit its security.
2. IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) — is a set of protocols used to ensure the security and integrity of data in IP networks. It’s widely used for creating Site-to-Site VPNs and Remote Access VPNs. IPsec provides strong encryption and authentication, which makes it popular among enterprises.
3. WireGuard — a relatively new solution for creating VPNs that strives for simplicity and efficiency. It’s designed with modern needs in mind and provides fast and secure data transmission. WireGuard enjoys growing popularity thanks to its speed and ease of configuration.
4. OpenConnect (Ocserv) * — a VPN server and client created to work with the AnyConnect SSL VPN protocol used by Cisco. Ocserv, the server side of OpenConnect, offers a high degree of security and compatibility with various platforms. OpenConnect allows users to connect to secure networks using a simple and intuitive interface.

Comparison of VPN Implementations

Briefly about the pros and cons of the implementations discussed:

1. Security:
   • OpenVPN, IPsec, and OpenConnect provide a high level of security thanks to strong encryption and authentication protocols.
   • WireGuard also offers reliable protection, although some critics point to the relative novelty of this technology.
2. Performance:
   • WireGuard often stands out among competitors thanks to its high performance and low latency.
   • OpenVPN, IPsec, and OpenConnect also provide acceptable performance, though they may be somewhat slower compared to WireGuard.
3. Ease of use:
   • OpenVPN has rich functionality and extensive configuration options, making it convenient for experienced users.
   • IPsec and OpenConnect also provide flexibility and control, although configuring IPsec can be more complex.
   • WireGuard and OpenConnect stand out for their ease of setup and management, making them an attractive choice for beginners.

Conclusion

* In conclusion, I’d like to mention that an article-instruction on deploying an OpenConnect (ocserv) server in a Docker container will be ready soon (UPD Setting up an OpenConnect SSL VPN server (ocserv) in Docker for internal projects), with a demonstration of client setup on all popular platforms: Linux, Windows, Android, HarmonyOS. Subscribe to our telegram, or check out the Raven chat so you don’t miss it 😉

P.S. Read about installing and running the Docker engine in the article: Installing Docker engine on a Linux server running Debian.

Thanks for reading. Good luck!

Useful sources

• Networks for the very smallest. Part seven. VPN — Habr
• VPN — Wikipedia

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