Name Two VPN Deployment Models And Architecture

Name two VPN deployment model and architecture?

In virtual private network (VPN) deployments, two prevalent models and architectures are the remote access VPN and the site-to-site VPN. The remote access VPN allows individual users to securely connect to a corporate network from their remote locations, providing flexibility and secure communication for mobile or remote workers (West et al., 2020). This model typically employs client-based VPN software or VPN clients integrated into operating systems to establish encrypted connections over the internet.

Conversely, the site-to-site VPN connects entire networks across geographically dispersed locations, enabling seamless communication between two or more fixed sites such as branch offices and headquarters. This architecture often utilizes VPN gateways or routers at each site that establish secure tunnels, creating a virtual private network that ensures secure data transfer between trusted sites (Kessler, 2017). Both models rely on VPN protocols such as IPsec or SSL/TLS to secure the data in transit.

What is the best model/architecture for an on-perm environment, cloud environment, and hybrid environment (on-perm/cloud)?

For an on-premises environment, the best VPN architecture is typically the site-to-site VPN using traditional hardware VPN gateways or routers. This configuration ensures secure, high-performance connectivity directly between corporate data centers and branch offices, offering robust control over security policies and network traffic (Jain & Kumar, 2019). It aligns with the organization's need for direct control over infrastructure and data sovereignty.

In a cloud environment, a secure and scalable option is the cloud-based VPN model utilizing cloud VPN gateways. These services, provided by cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, enable secure connectivity between cloud resources and on-premises networks or client devices. They offer flexibility, ease of deployment, and integration with cloud-native services (Goyal & Brar, 2021). The architecture leverages cloud security features and reduces the need for physical hardware, making it well-suited for dynamic and elastic cloud workloads.

For hybrid environments combining on-premises and cloud infrastructures, a hybrid VPN architecture that integrates both site-to-site and remote access VPNs is optimal. This hybrid model ensures secure, flexible, and scalable connectivity across multiple environments. It enables remote users to securely access on-premises resources and facilitates seamless communication between cloud services and internal data centers. Using a combination of VPN gateways and cloud VPN solutions enables organizations to optimize security policies and network performance across hybrid infrastructures (Zhao et al., 2020).

References

• Goyal, N., & Brar, S. (2021). Cloud VPN architectures: An overview. Journal of Cloud Computing, 10(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13677-021-00234-3
• Jain, R., & Kumar, S. (2019). VPN deployment models for enterprise networks. International Journal of Computer Networks & Communications, 11(2), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.5121/ijcnc.2019.11205
• Kessler, G. C. (2017). VPN security architectures: An overview. Information Security Journal: A Global Perspective, 26(1), 20-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/19393555.2016.1259174
• West, J., Wang, X., & Lee, H. (2020). Securing remote access VPNs: Protocols and best practices. IEEE Security & Privacy, 18(4), 52-59. https://doi.org/10.1109/MSEC.2020.2985031
• Zhao, Y., Liu, J., & Chen, T. (2020). Hybrid VPN architectures for cloud-edge environments. IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing, 8(2), 453-466. https://doi.org/10.1109/TCC.2018.2887513