Appendix A: VPN Checklist
Gilbert Held · 2004
a p p e n d i x a VPN ChecklistThe selection of an appropriate VPN solution requires taking a large number of parameters into consideration.Those parameters can include the location of employees who need to communicate in a secure manner over a public network as well as numerous technical features that need to be carefully matched against organizational requirements.Because organizational requirements can and usually do differ from one organization to another, there is no one best VPN solution.However, by considering the range of parameters and technology associated with VPNs it is possible to match a particular VPN solution to organizational requirements.In this appendix readers will find a checklist of parameters and features they may wish to match to their organizational requirements.Because it is also possible to turn to a third party to provide a VPN solution, by carefully examining and selecting those features required by your organization from the following checklist, this list can also form the basis for the creation of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit bids from vendors.The VPN checklist presented in this appendix can also be used to compare and contrast vendor offerings by matching the requirements you select against different products.In addition, because it is possible that an alternative to a VPN may be in the best interest of your organization, this checklist concludes with a list of alternatives you may wish to explore. Organizational VPN Feature/Parameter Requirement VPN category Site-to-site (under IPSec called gateway-to-gateway) Remote access