What is a VPN Concentrator?
When working remotely for an organization, sometimes brings risk along as everyone is using the personal network. There is a risk of cyberattacks and other online threats, which affect the whole organization and employees working there. A VPN concentrator is a hardware device to which employees of a company can connect to the main central point, which is a VPN concentrator. It allows many employees to access all tools and personal files of an organization securely from any part of the world. No matter where the company is located. You can predict the importance of VPN by noting that it is not only used at a personal level but also by larger organizations for the security of data or employees as well as of the companies. All VPN concentrator details you will get to know here.
What is a VPN Concentrator?
It is a device that manages all the VPN connections at the same time. It is a great deal for remote employees to work securely and ensure that the connection is encrypted and reliable. It is the midpoint for all the VPN connections where they are controlled. A VPN concentrator can be said to be an advanced version of a router. Where multiple users can connect at one time.
What are the Key Features of a VPN Concentrator?
Here are the main features of the VPN concentrator:
1) Setting Encrypted Tunnel
A VPN concentrator creates multiple encrypted tunnels so all the connections are saved over the VPN tunnel. It provides secure data transmission between the company’s network and the remote employees. No personal data of the user and company is at risk.
2) User Data Verification
VPN concentrator secures the company’s network by only allowing authorized access. It verifies the user first and then gives access to the company’s network. Remote user’s credentials are checked, including their usernames, emails, and other information needed for the verification. This verification is important to make your network safe from data theft.
3) Data Confidentiality
VPN concentrator encrypts the data before sending it to the receiver. Once the data is turned into secret code, then it is sent over a VPN tunnel securing data from hackers and other online threats. When data reaches the right destination, it is decrypted to the receiver, ensuring confidentiality.
4) Allocating IP Address
When a remote user connects to a company’s network via a VPN concentrator. It assigns a unique IP address to the user; this way, the user can access the company’s internal network securely. With the assigned IP user verified, data transmission between the remote employee and the company becomes safe and protected.
5) End-to-End Encryption
A VPN concentrator assures that data is end-to-end encrypted from the remote user to the company or vice versa. It protects the data from hackers stealing the personal data of companies or employees. With end-to-end encryption, only the receiver and sender can read the information.
6) Consistent Security
A VPN concentrator of an organization provides an equal level of security to all employees. No matter whether they are working remotely or from the office. Ensures that all the connections on the network are protected without any access from an unauthorized user.
VPN Concentrator and VPN Router
For larger businesses, a VPN concentrator is a perfect choice; it manages thousands of users on the company’s network. However, VPN concentrators are expensive for the right reasons. On the contrary, a VPN router is economical and provides benefits to small-scale businesses with fewer employees for data security.
Difference Between VPN Concentrator and Site-to-site VPN
A VPN concentrator connects multiple remote employees with the organization’s network securely. And manages different connections from various users at one time and ensures that only verified users can access the company network.
In contrast, site-to-site VPN connects to complete networks. For instance, connecting offices that are located at different places, like branches of a company. Site-to-site VPN provides secure links to branches with servers and routers. With the VPN gateway connections, a secure and encrypted network is created. If offices appear in a single network, this way all the resources of the offices are protected.
Pros of Using a VPN Concentrator
A VPN concentrator offers multiple advantages in managing VPN connections:
Handling Heavy Traffic
A VPN concentrator manages heavy workloads efficiently. These devices are much more reliable and make sure that network performance and transfer of data are smooth without poor quality and slow networks. Also, data is transferred to the right destination.
Centralized Network Control
One of the main advantages of a VPN concentrator is that it can manage all the VPN connections from a central hub. Admin only needs to make necessary configurations or changes required at the central hub only. Admin can monitor and track everything easily. If a new user starts working remotely or physically, then the admin will make the necessary settings from the main one place. This way, time will be saved, and all VPN connections will work equally fine.
Access Permission
With a VPN concentrator, organizations determine which user will allow access to the company’s main network. This enhances the security of the network by providing access to authorized individuals. Not all employees will get complete access to the company’s network. For instance, the manager will have access to the financial record, and the company will restrict other employees from accessing internal information.
Cons of VPN Concentrator
However, despite bringing several benefits, VPN concentrators have some of the following disadvantages:
Costly Setup:
VPN concentrator hardware devices are expensive, and only large-scale businesses utilize them, having remote employees. It is an efficient device to connect remote workers with an organization’s network securely. However, small-scale businesses can use VPN routers as an alternative to VPN concentrators; they are affordable and provide a secure connection.
Scalability limitations
Since many remote users are using VPN concentrators. There is a challenge of providing bandwidth to all users effortlessly. To make performance efficient, you will need more devices to add so workload will be distributed among the devices equally. This way there will be no connection problems, and the network won’t get slowed.
Technical Configuration
Only a professional networking expert can configure a VPN concentrator without difficulty. As it requires proper knowledge of firewalls, VPNs, and also antivirus. And knows how to establish a secure connection between remote workers and the company on the network.
What are some usual performance challenges of VPN Concentrators?
Although this hardware device handles multiple connections at once and benefits large-scale businesses, it has some common performance issues that annoy remote users.
- Video calling, streaming, or downloading files can get slower when using a VPN concentrator because it takes some additional measures, which causes delays. Including encryption and decryption of data, traffic load, and if the server is far.
- Not all applications work smoothly on VPN concentrators; some apps might face compatibility issues, and you will encounter problems when you need to do an important task.
- When using a VPN concentrator, and your internet signals get slow, you can lose access to your organization’s online system to utilize the resources.
- The loading speed of platforms can get slow, as data is coming to you via a secure VPN tunnel.
For reliable connections and a smooth browsing experience, you can use iProVPN with VPN concentrators. Remote staff can set iProVPN on their devices, connect to a server, and then connect to a VPN concentrator. If you are a remote employee, your data to receive or send will undergo a VPN network before getting to your company’s network. Preventing an unauthorized reach.
Conclusion
VPN concentration is an ideal device to use at larger organizations for securing the connection between remote workers and the organization’s network. It has one central point from which a networking expert can make settings and without disturbing any connection’s performance, changes are implemented to all connections. However, it is very expensive for small businesses, and they can opt for an alternative, which is VPN routers, to make their connections secure from online threats.
There are several benefits for you to use VPN concentrators; larger organizations can control and track the connections. Since security is the major aspect, no unauthorized access is allowed to get into the internal system of the organization. You can use iProVPN for an additional layer of security. Remote workers can simply get the subscription and install the app on their devices. Then after configuring it with the VPN concentrator.
FAQs
- Who uses a VPN concentrator?
VPN concentrators are ideal for large-scale businesses. Where thousands of users work remotely from different parts of the world. It ensures that all the users are securely connected to the main network of an organization.
- What VPN concentrator alternative can be used by small businesses?
VPN concentrators are expensive. However, small businesses can use VPN routers to make connections secure.
- Is site-to-site VPN similar to VPN concentrators?
No! They are not the same, site-to-site. VPN connects whole networks over the internet. For instance, multiple branches of organizations are working in different areas; here, the VPN concentrator combines the networks into one. This is useful to share the same resources in all branches over a protected tunnel.
- What are the common VPN concentrators?
Some of the common VPN concentrators include Cisco Meraki, ShoreTel, and Aruba.
- Are there any performance issues in VPN concentrators?
Yes! There are some common performance issues you may get into when using VPN concentrators, which show up due to workload traffic and internet signals slowing down, also because it takes additional security precautions.
- Can iProVPN be used with VPN concentrators?
Yes! By getting a subscription and installing the application of iProVPN, configuring with VPN concentrators, you can effortlessly connect to your company’s network.
