Network-dependent companies are excited by the benefits promised by the virtual private network, including lower costs, greater flexibility, and improvements in connectivity. But they also have questions: What benefits are real? How can they be measured? What are the expenses and the dangers? Virtual Private Networks: Making the Right Connection is an intelligent introduction written especially for business and IT professionals who want a realistic assessment of what a VPN can provide for their organizations. Covering advantages and risks, this book expands your understanding of what you can do with a VPN, while detailing all that implementing it will demand of you. With its help, you"ll find your way through VPN hype to the answers you need to make sound decisions. * Thoroughly explains VPN concepts and technologies, and examines the potential of VPNs as intranets, extranets, and remote access solutions. * Covers essential VPN topics like tunneling, encapsulation, encryption, security, and protocols. * Provides detailed points of comparison between typical VPN costs and the costs of maintaining traditional WANs. * Offers frank consideration of the hidden costs and risks sometimes associated with VPNs, helping you decide if a VPN is right for you. * Lists and assesses the software and hardware products you may need to implement a VPN. * Discusses both Internet-based VPNs and VPN services offered by providers of "private" ATM and frame relay networks, detailing the pros and cons of each.