With the diverse landscape of digital threats, the options for secure and private communication for Internet users have expanded over the years.
Different types of VPN solutions and other security technologies have become available both for individual users and businesses around the world. Among such technologies, two of the most common ones are Site To Site VPN and Remote Access VPN tools.
Since the different purposes and abilities of VPN types make them challenging to tell apart, we aim to explain the Differences Between Site To Site VPN Vs Remote Access VPN and help you choose which one you need.
Being used for similar goals, site-to-site VPNs and remote access VPNs might look the same at first glance, but they do have differences. Let’s jump into the article to see what those differences are.
Site To Site VPN
Site To Site VPNs are a type of VPN solution that connects multiple endpoints and allows them to share information. These endpoints could be remote users of a business or simply other networks of some remote offices.
The main point is that this VPN tool aims to connect remote endpoints to overcome geographical restrictions blocking the secure communication of the parties.
The most important quality of this VPN solution is its encryption capabilities when the data is sent to one endpoint. By doing so, it ensures the integrity and privacy of the information until it is securely transmitted.
You can click here to learn more about how they work and what are the steps to this connection.
Site To Site VPNs are made up of two main components to activate this function, the VPN client and the VPN server.
The server component is usually located at a physical location so this may be the headquarters of a company. The VPN server handles the encryption configurations and other necessary tools needed to initiate a connection.
The second important component is the VPN client, which is located at other endpoints such as a remote worker’s device.
End users connect to this private tunnel using the VPN client, and this connection secures all the information shared between the parties. But again, site-to-site VPNs can be used to connect more than two networks or users.
A great part of site-to-site connections is that it allows users to access the resources on the other side of the tunnel. If there are five endpoints within a site-to-site VPN, every endpoint can use the resources from the remaining ones. This makes it significantly useful for companies with remote offices or work-from-home team members.
Remote access VPN
Remote access VPN is a tool that allows remote users to access by connecting to a private network from a remote location. This type of VPN is usually preferred by work-from-home employees and has been even more popular since 2020.
In order to access the private tunnel, the end-users utilize software installed on their device. After authentication, the private tunnel gets initiated and the user now has the ability to work as if they are actually in the office.
A significant advantage of remote access VPN is its ease of use. All the configuration is already done on the VPN server, and what is left to the users is to open up their client software and connect. In addition to encrypting the connection, this software also deals with the verification of the users through advanced methods, preferably MFA.
Remote access VPNs do not require companies to invest in any additional hardware or other equipment, saving them money and potentially office space. Since this VPN is mostly used by remote workers, it also allows companies to benefit from the perks of the work-from-home model.
In short, this VPN is a security solution that is designed to meet the remote access needs of an organization and help them access resources from anywhere in the world. They provide improved security and flexibility, as well as cost savings, making them an attractive option for businesses.
Site To Site VPN Vs Remote Access VPN
Security
One of the primary differences between these two types of VPNs is the security levels they offer. In nature, Site To Site VPNs need to have a better security level since they usually connect more than two networks.
In this type of connection, it is common that all the endpoints store protected information which requires a higher level of security.
On the other hand, remote access VPNs are mostly utilized as a tool to allow individual users to securely access remote resources. This type of VPN is more suitable for organizations that want to provide access to partners or remote employees.
Since it has a smaller scope than site-to-site VPNs, they do not provide the same level of security.
Cost Savings
Another significant difference between these two types of VPN is the cost savings they can provide. Site-to-Site VPNs require dedicated hardware and software to create and manage the VPN connection.
This hardware might be expensive for some organizations. In addition to this, site-to-site VPNs also require a high-speed internet connection to stay reliable and stable.
In contrast, remote access VPNs are much more affordable since they don’t require any dedicated hardware located in an office or data center. They just require a standard VPN software installed into the end user’s device.
This option is great for companies with limited budgets and remote employees. However, it is important to note that site-to-site VPNs come with added benefits as we mentioned along with that higher price.
Performance
The performance offered by these VPNs will be a significant factor when you choose one of them. In general, it is accepted that Site To Site VPNs offer greater performance than remote-access VPNs.
This type of VPN is specifically configured to handle large amounts of traffic without any issues, so they have a better threshold before failing in performance.
However, remote access VPNs may experience some performance problems if too many users simultaneously connect to the tunnel. Since this VPN tool uses the user’s internet connection, it usually makes it inferior and poorer than the dedicated connection of site-to-site VPNs.
Therefore, we can say that remote access VPNs are more suitable for smaller organizations with remote users that need a secure remote connection to company resources. Site-to-site VPNs are the better choice for bigger organizations that needs higher performance and low latency connections between remote networks.
Conclusion: Site To Site VPN Vs Remote Access VPN
Site To Site VPNs and remote access VPNs are often confused and thought of as if the same thing. However, their designs are drastically different as well as the features they provide.
In this article, we tried to explain both and list the differences between them to help you make the best decision for your organization. We hope that one of these great tools will improve your business security status and let you connect with your team members.
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