Site-to-Site VPN vs Remote Access VPN vs Personal VPN: What Are the Differences?

A VPN is a service that creates a private tunnel within a public connection (e.g. the internet). VPN software allows its users to send and receive data transfers securely.

Virtual Private Networks fall into several categories. We take a look at three most common VPN types (site-to-site vpn, remote access vpn and personal vpn), how they work, and when to use them.

What is VPN?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool used to securely connect to a network over the internet. It establishes a private connection, also called a VPN tunnel, and routes all traffic and communication through that tunnel.

VPNs can be overwhelming to distinguish between the different types of VPNs and understand the optimal choice for your needs. So what types of VPN are there? What do you need them for?

For better understanding, we have divided VPNs into three categories.

What is Site-to-Site VPN?

Site-to-Site VPN is commonly used in large companies where multiple users in various locations need to access shared resources. Organizations with branches in numerous locations rely on site-to-site VPNs to connect the network of one branch to the network at another branch.

These connections can take one of the two forms.

Intranet based VPN: An Intranet based VPN links two offices of the same company. It connects two separate LANs to a single WAN.
Extranet based VPN: Some organizations need to connect to a network of another organization using an extranet-based VPN. A possible example of such a connection would be a company that connects to its supplier’s network for efficient trade.

A Site-to-Site VPN connects geographically distant offices through the internet and ensures secure communication. As the VPN connection is established on router-to-router communication, one router acts as a client while the other as a VPN server. Communication between the routers only starts after authenticating both the end points.

What is Remote access VPN

Remote access VPN establishes a secure connection between clients and a corporate network, while still maintaining the security and resources of the network. It provides a new VPN tunnel that allows users to access a network without compromising security and privacy.

Remote access VPN is particularly useful when accessing insecure public WLANs. It prevents ISPs and third parties from compromising data since the connection is encrypted all the way to the provider.

The major advantage of remote access VPN is universal access of employees to company resources. Clients, for instance, can connect to corporate network from a home office and work as if they were present at the company workplace.

What is Personal VPN?

Personal VPN is the most common type of VPN in use today. It connects users to a private network via a secure remote server. A personal VPN works by routing user’s data through a virtual tunnel between the user’s device and the private network.

The encryption protocols ensure that your data isn’t compromised as it moves through networks. Users must install the client VPN software to establish a connection to the VPN.

Personal VPNs are simple to use and easy to set up. They can easily bypass geo-blocks and access content that is otherwise restricted. Personal VPNs are ideal for personal use.