While Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has exploded in popularity over the years for its low-cost communications and ease of use, VoIP users still have many challenges ahead. These include guarding against security risks and optimizing their connection speeds to get the best call quality possible, which is why many users are turning to virtual private networks (VPNs).
Why use VPNs for VoIP?
To go on the Internet and connect to customers and other partners, VoIP users often choose the popular option of a VPN to protect their privacy. Not only do VPNs offer a reliable online connection, but they also bolster security for calls that are at risk for breaches that could put customer or corporate information in danger.
In 2015, IT news site CRN reported a data breach at a major tech firm that exposed 70 million records ranging from December 2011 to spring 2014. The breach could have compromised 14,000 phone records. This wide-reaching data breach is evidence of the risk that unencrypted calls have for VoIP users.
VPNs give companies the added assurance that their voice or video calls will be encrypted and safe from outsiders trying to listen in. Knowing the advantages of VPN to facilitate VoIP communications, IT managers face the difficult choice between remote access VPN or site-to-site VPN for their business operations.
Site-to-site VPN or remote access VPN: What’s better for VoIP?
Site-to-site VPN
Site-to-site VPN is defined as connecting networks from one office location to networks at another location. This is a great solution to secure information for companies with separate branches or locations spread throughout a region, as it still behaves as a private connection. Employees can easily share their tech sources with another, making use of a company’s assets in a more productive way.
Remote Access VPN
Remote access VPN allows individuals employed by the company to connect to the firm’s private networks through a laptop or desktop device. Remote access VPNs are a good match for companies that have employees working from home or traveling for work and require access to the company’s network or servers in order to make calls or perform video chats. IT managers should ensure that these remote employees have the client software necessary to connect to private business networks.
Security
Both site-to-site VPN and remote access VPN use encryption to protect information. The difference between the two is that remote access VPN involves the VPN gateway decrypting data as it communicates information to the host inside a company’s private network.
Equipment
Although remote access VPN and site-to-site VPN have differences, IT managers can still set up much of the same equipment and software to operate either option. However, site-to-site VPN does not require installing client software, unlike remote access VPN.
Whether IT managers choose remote access VPN or site-to-site VPN for their business, they should look at what their organization and employees need for better security.24