Most local businesses want remote locations to have full access to the company network, for seamless communication and increased productivity. Until recently, small and medium-sized businesses had only two options for creating this access: a leased-line-based wide area network (WAN), or dial-in service. Now CCS Group is offering a less expensive and more flexible option: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

VPNs are affordable because they operate on a portion of the public telecommunications infrastructure rather than on leased lines. Because a VPN uses the Internet, real-time access to the network is available for the price of local Internet access. VPNs are flexible because new users can be added quickly and easily, without the configuration required to add users to a private network.

As technology has evolved, VPN security has increased. VPNs use encryption and tunneling to protect confidential information as it travels over the Internet. Increasingly robust and easy-to-administer firewalls and other security measures keep hackers out of a business network.

The increase in VPN popularity is good news for Bermuda's small and medium-sized business owners because it has increased competition among suppliers. These companies  can now offer guaranteed 99% uptime, credits for outages, and other services that provide the same level of reliability as leased lines. 

Bermuda's small and medium-sized business can use VPNs in the following three categories:

• Extended intranets: Use of a VPN for smaller branch offices, franchise sites, and remote workers provides nearly the same level of connectivity and reliability as a private network. Costs are lower, because Internet connections replace expensive leased lines. More desktops can gain access to the network, because a VPN allows new users to be added almost instantly. This extends the reach of the corporate intranet, so all employees can take advantage of its information and resources.
• Remote access: VPNs provide a cost-effective alternative to standard dial-in remote access to a company network. Users can connect to the network via the Internet, eliminating expensive long-distance or toll-free dial-in costs. An employee on the road can gain full network access simply by tapping into an Internet connection. Overseas offices can connect directly to the corporate database over local lines instead of a more expensive leased line.
• Extranets: Extending a corporate network to include customers, suppliers and other business partners enables workers to research products, place and fulfill orders, and collaborate via a secure Internet connection. By involving customers and suppliers, a VPN smoothes the transition to electronic commerce and other forms of online ordering and fulfillment. Because this business-to-business communication is done via the Internet, connection costs are low. It can enable productivity-boosting applications such as EDI, and streamline business processes such as ordering, shipping and billing.