Lately, you may have heard a lot of talk about the benefits of using a VPN to maintain secure search functionality for your business. But you might be confused as to what VPN is in the first place and what kinds of options you have to choose from in the first place depending on your business functions. In this guide, we’ll go through some of these topics and learn about the pros and cons of the different types of VPN protocols as well as the most secure VPN options that are out there.
What Is A VPN
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is an application that has the ability to hide your web browsing data by accessing and connecting to a select remote server, also known as “tunneling”. There are, however, several different transmission protocols and encryption standards that different providers use when handling your data. Depending on what your business needs are and what kind of security you need will determine the kind of tunneling protocol that is ideal.
IKEv2
IKEv2 aka Internet Key Exchange Version 2 is a tunneling program designed whether you are a one-man show or a large enterprise. Microsoft and Cisco worked together to develop this product in the early 2000s making it one of the newest protocols on this list. IKEv2 was developed with an eye on mobile security so it is ideal to use this tunneling protocol in conjunction with your smartphone as a mobile application.
Pros
- Secure smartphone usage
- High speed: Fastest VPN protocol on the market
- Relies upon IPsec: Uses cryptographic security to support replay protection, network-level peer authentication, and data-origin authentication
Cons
- Closed system that works better for corporate entities
- Narrow platform support
True Security Level and Who It Is Ideal For
IKEv2 is ideal for multiple corporate entities that need an up to date and very secure solution.
OpenVPN
Probably the ideal type of protocol for most use cases, OpenVPN is an open-source tunneling protocol. What makes it such a unique and fantastic VPN product is that its code is freely maintained on the internet where it receives constant updates from security experts around the world.
Pros
- Follows OpenSSL library for security encryption: access to all encryption technologies included in the library
- Constant growth enables it to keep up to date with changes in cybersecurity
Cons
- Has a backdoor risk from generic protocols that allows anyone to manipulate the VPN (a very low chance since you will have a VPN provider that implements the open-source technology properly).
True Security Level and Who It Is Ideal For
The OpenSSL library gives users who use this VPN solution access to an unfettered amount of encryption technologies. This is the ideal solution for most users that need VPN security measures and has become the standard-bearer for VPN tunneling solutions.
PPTP
PPTP or Point-To-Point Tunneling Protocol was developed in the early 90s but still has almost universal support. It is a very fast solution but does not have the same level of encryption that modern tools like OpenVPN and IKEv2 have in spades.
Pros
- Extremely fast when it comes to high bandwidth content
- Has the ability to unlock location-blocked websites
Cons
- Security measures have been eroded over the years
- Low security allows for banned website use detection
True Security Level and Who It Is Ideal For
The PPTP is not the most ideal security VPN because of the constant hacks that have been made to the system over the last few decades. It is ideal for users that only want to have access to sites that are blocked within a geo-specific location. Since this is the case, it is probably a better idea to use alternate solutions like Smart DNS or Proxies that can do the same function. Bundling the proxy with a stronger VPN can allow you both security as well as the high bandwidth capabilities you need when deciding to use something like a PPTP VPN.
SSTP
SSTP aka Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol is typically associated with Windows so running it on another operating system might be a bit of a challenge. This protocol uses an older SSL 3.0 encryption standard that secures web traffic using the HTTPS method.
Pros
- Uses common port TCP 443 that can stop VPN blocking
- WIndows is a common OS so it is possible to go around VPN blocking
Cons
- SSL 3.0 encryption is outdated and has some security issues
- Microsoft has likely built-in backdoors to the security tool
True Security Level and Who It Is Ideal For
If you are running your OS on a Mac or Linux, SSTP is not the VPN solution for you. However, if you are, you are in luck because it is one of the most secure tunneling protocols on the market. Make sure to get the most up to date version of the product because older encryption levels are outdated.
L2TP/IPSec
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol pairs with IPsec to authenticate and encrypt your data between your computer and the remote VPN server. Although it is as old as PPTP, it is supported by a wider variety of clients and services thanks to the additional IPsec bundling.
Pros
- IPsec bundling allows for greater security
- AES 256-bit encryption standard cannot be dismantled by any computing standard currently in use
Cons
- Older technology isn’t very compatible and is not the highest performing VPN
- The small number of network ports can be easily blocked in countries that do not allow for VPN use
True Security Level and Who It Is Ideal For
You won’t really have too much security unless you are able to bundle the VPN with an IPsec suite. This is ideal for users that do not plan on traveling out of the country as some countries have VPN bans on certain social media sites.
Depending on your business needs, VPN protocols can be an extremely important tool for you to use no matter where you are in the world. Having a secure and up to date tool to browse sites can make the difference if security is your number one priority. However, if it is not then other solutions are available and will allow you to access higher bandwidth content. At the end of the day, make sure you understand exactly what you need and what your goals are before deciding to invest in a solution.
