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SSL VPN : Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access
SSL VPN : Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access

SSL VPN : Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access: Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access

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SSL VPN : Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access

Chapter 2. SSL VPN: The Business Case

As alluded to in Chapter 1, the need to provide remote access to important electronic resources such as applications, files, and databases is not new. For several decades, businesses, governments, and organizations have realized that significant benefits could be achieved by delivering such access to various parties. These benefits include:

  • Improving work force productivity:

    • Employees and contractors can perform tasks even when not physically present in their usual work facilities.

    • People are often willing to work more hours if they are permitted to work from home.

    • Managers and administrators can respond faster to emergency conditions and may be willing to respond to less-critical events immediately rather than applying an "it can wait until tomorrow" attitude as they would if they had to return to work after retiring home at the conclusion of normal business hours.

  • Lowering costs:

    • Increased self-service capabilities for conducting business with outside...

SSL VPN: A Historical Background


To fully understand the business value of SSL VPN (and why it delivers certain benefits better than alternative technologies) it is wise to understand what factors influence the value of a remote access solution in general as well as how SSL VPN figures into the overall picture and history of remote computing.

We begin with a discussion of how and why SSL VPN came to be and the way it evolved. Early remote access was typically achieved using one of two methods: Direct modem-based dial up or leased lines.

  1. 1. Direct modem-based dial-up: Users would connect to an organization by dialing (using a modem connected to their computers) a phone number belonging to the host office. Dialing this number connected the user to a modem bank at the site to which he wanted to connect. This type of access allowed users to connect from anywhere—as long as the user had access to a computer and modem (and perhaps some special software installed on the computer as well), and had...

Remote Access: Measuring Return-on-Investment


In general, the value of a solution designed to provide users with remote access to enterprise resources can be judged on four criteria:

  1. 1. Who can gain remote access: This includes factors such as:

    • How many users can gain access in total?

    • How many users can gain access simultaneously without severely degrading the performance?

    • How complicated is the remote access technology? Will non-technical users be able to use it?

  2. 2. Where can they access from: This includes factors such as:

    • From how many different types of machines can remote access be achieved?

    • Are there any technical requirements at the endpoints (e.g., for special hardware or software) that would preclude access from specific types of locations or devices?

  3. 3. What can be accessed: This includes factors such as:

    • How many different types of resources can be made available remotely using the particular remote-access technology?

    • Are the systems fully available or just in limited form?

    • Will security...

So What Does SSL VPN Actually Give Me?


The following matrix illustrates how various remote-access technologies SSL VPN meet the value criteria discussed earlier in this chapter.

 

Dial Up

Leased Lines

IPSEC VPN

SSL VPN

Who

Limited to users who have computers the organization will allow to be connected to its network

Typically only a very small number of special users for whom the cost can be justified (e.g., the CEO)

Only users with special computers with special software. Limited to users who have computers the organization will allow to be connected to its network

All users

From Where

From anywhere the user has access to a modem line

From one location—the endpoint of the leased line

From the special computers using any Internet connection

From essentially any Internet connected device

What

Only resources that are not bandwidth intensive

Most internal resources

Most internal resources

Most internal resources

Cost

High

Very high

High

Low

In short, it is clear from the...

Summary


In this chapter we reviewed the business reasons for implementing remote access, looked at how and why SSL VPN emerged, and discussed how SSL VPN can provide great value to organizations searching for a remote access solution. We explained the unique qualities of SSL VPN technology that enable it to provide remote access to the following than was previously possible:

  • more people

  • working on a greater number of machines

  • from more locations

  • and at a lower cost

In the next chapter we will look at how SSL VPNs actually work—what is inside the slick-looking appliances.

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Key benefits

  • Understand how SSL VPN technology works
  • Evaluate how SSL VPN could fit into your organisation?s security strategy
  • Practical advice on educating users, integrating legacy systems, and eliminating security loopholes
  • Written by experienced SSL VPN and data security professionals

Description

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide remote workers with secure access to their company network via the internet by encrypting all data sent between the company network and the user?s machine (the client). Before SSL VPN this typically required the client machine to have special software installed, or at least be specially configured for the purpose. Clientless SSL VPNs avoid the need for client machines to be specially configured. Any computer with a Web browser can access SSL VPN systems. This has several benefits: Low admin costs, no remote configuration Users can safely access the company network from any machine, be that a public workstation, a palmtop or mobile phone By pass ISP restrictions on custom VPNs by using standard technologies SSL VPN is usually provided by a hardware appliance that forms part of the company network. These appliances act as gateways, providing internal services such as file shares, email servers, and applications in a web based format encrypted using SSL. Existing players and new entrants, such as Nokia, Netilla, Symantec, Whale Communications, and NetScreen technologies, are rushing our SSL VPN products to meet growing demand. This book provides a detailed technical and business introduction to SSL VPN. It explains how SSL VPN devices work along with their benefits and pitfalls. As well as covering SSL VPN technologies, the book also looks at how to authenticate and educate users ? a vital element in ensuring that the security of remote locations is not compromised. The book also looks at strategies for making legacy applications accessible via the SSL VPN.

Who is this book for?

This book aimed at IT network professionals and managers who are currently evaluating SSL VPN technologies. It requires a broad understanding of networking concepts, but does not require specific and detailed technical knowledge of protocols or vendor implementations.

What you will learn

  • How SSL VPN technology works, and how it fits into existing network architectures
  • Evaluating SSL VPN for your organization
  • Understand what to look out for when talking to vendors
  • How to plan an SSL VPN implementation for your business
  • Educate staff to maintain SSL VPN security
  • Strategies for providing access to internal legacy applications via SSL VPN
  • A heads-up on likely trends and possibilities for the future of SSL VPN

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Mar 09, 2005
Length: 212 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781904811077
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Mar 09, 2005
Length: 212 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781904811077
Tools :

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Table of Contents

8 Chapters
Introduction to SSL VPN Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
SSL VPN: The Business Case Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
How SSL VPNs Work Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
SSL VPN Security Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Planning for an SSL VPN Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Educating the User Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Legacy Data Access Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
The Future of SSL VPN Technology Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon 3.8
(4 Ratings)
5 star 50%
4 star 25%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 25%
C.Rini Mar 05, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Easy to understand. Good reference to have in your library.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jeanne Boyarsky Jun 01, 2005
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
"SSL VPN - Understanding, evaluating and planning secure, web-based remote access" - the only thing wordy about this book is its title. The rest of the book delivers information clearly and concisely through text, diagrams and examples. "Hacker Bob" animates key passages to keep things from getting dry.As expected, the audience for this book is techies. Basic network concepts are explained, so anyone with a technical background will understand. Any network fundamentals quickly lead to SSL VPN applications.The authors are good about explaining "why" and providing the pros/cons of a decision. Key criteria are also provided for both technical and business decisions. I found one of the most valuable parts to be about bad architectures. The authors illustrate several common architectures and point out weaknesses. The focus on diagrams and flow was quite useful.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Amazn Customer 1028 Nov 15, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
Not up to date, but still a good primer on SSL VPN.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Peppergirl Mar 06, 2012
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
This book was a huge disappointment. I know a number of computer languages, worked with servers and the web, so I wasn't afraid of tackling something new. Unfortunately, getting this book was like getting a consultation. It tells you all about it, what you need, and why it works, but something critical is left out WHAT to do, HOW to do it. I put it down still having no clue how to implement it. When I move to a new office, I will leave it behind to gather dust.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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