Data is routed across a connection according to VPN standards. VPNs build a tunnel between a private network and a public network, allowing public network users to transmit and receive data as if they were directly connected to the private network. VPNs such as globalwatchonline VPN’s have long been a popular alternative for individuals looking for more anonymity while accessing the Internet, but their use in the corporate world has surged in recent years.

The requirement for secure remote access to data, apps, and services became more important as our scattered workforce grew significantly throughout that time.

• IKEv2

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is a widely used VPN tunnelling technology that allows for secure key exchange. IKEv2 is typically used in conjunction with IPsec for encryption and authentication, similar to L2TP (and IKEv1). This protocol excels in switching connections across network types and re-establishing the link after a transient connection loss (from WiFi to cellular, for example). TL;DR: quick, mobile-friendly, network switching capabilities, open-source alternatives, and excellent native and third-party client support

• SSTP

Since Windows Vista SP 1, the SSTP Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol has been fully integrated with every Microsoft operating system. For authentication and encryption, SSTP uses 2048-bit SSL/TLS certificates and 256-bit SSL keys. The most significant disadvantage of SSTP is that it is essentially a Microsoft-developed proprietary protocol with no access to the underlying code for developers. TL;DR: excellent security, tough to detect and block, and excellent support for native and third-party clients

• OpenVPN

This type of VPN protocol is a free and open source VPN protocol which has gained in popularity. TL;DR: open source, the most secure encryption, and slower speeds. Furthermore, this type of protocol provides access of the source code to the developers.

• L2TP/IPSec

The Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP/IPSec) replaces the PPTP VPN protocol. This protocol is typically used in conjunction with the security protocol IPsec because it does not provide encryption or privacy out of the box. L2TP/IPsec is incredibly secure once set up and has no known flaws. TL;DR: extensively used, decent speeds, yet vulnerable to blocking owing to UDP’s dependency on a single port.

• PPTP

PPTP was developed by Microsoft in the mid-1990s and was implemented into Windows 95. It was created primarily for dial-up connections. However, as technology progressed, PPTP’s fundamental encryption was soon defeated, jeopardising the security of the protocol. Because it lacks many of the security measures offered in other current protocols, however, it can provide the fastest connection rates for those who do not require extensive encryption. While PPTP is still used in some applications, most providers have moved on to more dependable and quicker protocols. TL;DR: high internet speeds, widespread support, several security concerns

The Final Words

After reading this article, now you know everything about VPNs including but not limited to different types of VPNs such as IKEv2, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP and Open VPN. VPNs are quite essential to for your computer and internet, so make sure that you use them properly.