Virtual Private Network Definition

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When giving a Virtual Private Network Definition, you will often find some varying descriptions amongst today's network consumers and communications providers. If we look at the literal definition of the words virtual private network, it can help us to understand the overall Virtual Private Network Definition.

Using Webster's dictionary definitions of the component words, a VPN should have the following attributes:

1. Virtual - defined as "being such practically or in effect, although not in actual fact or name." Therefore, the first part of the answer to our question "what is a VPN" is that it is something that acts like a hard-wired network, but is actually not.
    
2. Private - defined as "of, belonging to, or concerning a particular person or group; not common or general." So, a VPN should be one where the consumer has exclusive use of the network links. (Note, this is different from a Secure Network, which may be a private or public network.)
    
3. Network - defined as "a system of computers interconnected by telephone wires or other means in order to share information." This is the goal of a VPN or any other type of network.

So now that we've defined the components, do we have a Virtual Private Network Definition? Let's put the definitions together. A virtual private network gives the owner the ability to share information with others on their network by means of a private, exclusive link that is created by a method other than hard-wires or leased lines; usually via the public internet.

The information is kept private by means of encryption on both the sending and receiving end. In this way, information can be sent across the internet without being susceptible to interception or corruption by those who are outside of the VPN.

In looking at this virtual private network definition, a variety of other questions arise regarding VPNs and how they are created. In order to create the best VPN for their needs, a consumer will need to decide first who needs to share information, and then what level of security, data transmission and reliability they will need.