Cost advantages

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Cost advantages

By using virtual private networks (VPNs), mobile professionals and telecommuters can access their corporate local area network (LAN) over the Internet for a fraction of the cost of traditional remote access solutions. Just as it is more cost effective to make use of the phone company's massive switching system, rather than to string up your own telephone lines and invest in your own switch, a connection to the IP address or DNS name of your Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)-enabled VPN server makes use of the physical base of routers that are available on the Internet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switches, and digital and analog lines, without sacrificing security.

You can use a network adapter to dial in to a virtual private network, as you would dial a modem to connect to a traditional remote server. VPNs offer corporations a release from the cost and maintenance obligations of components such as modem banks and dedicated analog (1-800) phone lines. The modems and their associated infrastructure remain centralized at the Internet service provider's locations, without sacrificing security or the ability to control remote connections. At the same time, the benefits of secure access to private data are ensured by additional VPN-required authenticated access, encryption, and user data compression.

For information about creating a VPN connection, see Make a virtual private network (VPN) connection.