Do you know about Site-to-Site VPN? It’s one of the many types of VPNs, and it helps companies securely transfer files over long distances. Its operating principle is somewhat similar to the VPN you typically use, as it can encrypt data and alter the traffic transmission address.
However, there are many more details you need to understand. Please continue reading to fully grasp this type of VPN.
What Is a Site-to-Site VPN?
Site-to-site VPNs are powerful tools for securely transmitting data or files between groups or organizations. “Site-to-Site” means data transmission from one location to another. Like a VPN you’re using, site-to-site VPNs redirect users’ internet traffic to companies or schools and make their devices connected as if in the office.
“VPN” makes this transmission process secure and encrypted. Site-to-site VPNs have strong data redirection and encryption capabilities, making them the preferred VPN tool for enterprises.
When a company wants to collaborate with other businesses and needs to transmit important files and data, they may choose Site-to-Site VPNs for security reasons. Similarly, when a parent company wants to share resources with its subsidiaries, Site-to-Site VPNs are used to ensure data encryption.
How Does Site-to-Site VPN Work?
Site-to-site VPNs utilize technologies from the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), the precursor to the internet, and TCP/IP to ensure the accuracy of data transmission.
TCP/IP is used to manage and ensure that data packets are sent in an orderly manner to the correct addresses, guaranteeing effective and reliable data transmission across the network. This ensures that when using site-to-site VPNs, all data can be transmitted systematically to the designated locations.
Typically, two or more companies use routers or dedicated VPN devices to set up a VPN. These VPN gateways establish an encrypted virtual tunnel to connect for data transmission. Before the data is sent, the VPN gateways encrypt all traffic, ensuring that even if the data is intercepted by hackers during transmission, it cannot be read or altered.
When the data reaches its destination, it is decrypted and then forwarded to the target host for company employees to view. Conversely, data can also be transmitted from this target host back to the original sending host following the same steps, facilitating resource exchange and sharing.
Remote Access vs. Site-to-Site VPN
Remote Access VPN is another VPN type used most by companies and organizations. It is similar to the site-to-site type in some ways.
Firstly, the two VPNs are used for encrypting data transmission. Second, they are used for two or more sites that are not in the same network. Lastly, both VPNs have access permission settings. You can’t directly use the two VPNs to freely gain resources from a computer. However, they are different as well.
Their users are not totally the same. Remote VPNs are usually used by an employee to remotely access the company’s files and data. However, site-to-site VPNs are often used by multiple companies or organizations to share resources.
What’s more, a remote VPN needs to be downloaded as software or applications on the employee’s computers while the site-to-site VPNs are set up on specific devices like routers without the need to be downloaded separately.
Site-to-Site vs. Business VPNs
The differences between VPNs used by individuals and site-to-site VPNs are more pronounced. The target users, purposes, network configurations, and server nodes of the two types of VPNs are distinct.
Firstly, commercial VPNs are subscribed to by individuals to unlock geo-restricted resources and for data encryption. Individuals can use commercial VPNs to access streaming services, games, and other internet resources from different regions. On the other hand, site-to-site VPNs are typically used by enterprises to securely share important files or data.
Commercial VPNs operate over the public internet and can redirect user traffic through vast server nodes. Site-to-site VPNs, however, can be set up within local area networks or over the public internet, directing user traffic to specific addresses. As a result, site-to-site VPNs generally have fewer server nodes compared to personal VPNs. An excellent personal VPN like LightningX VPN has over 2,000 nodes across more than 50 countries.
What’s more, this great personal VPN uses top-notch protocols like WireGuard, Vless, and Shadowsocks. These are better than site-to-site VPN protocols such as IPSec/L2TP and OpenVPN. LightningX VPN is compatible with popular platforms and devices while site-to-site VPNs are mostly set up on routers or specific devices.
Benefits and Limitations of Site-to-Site VPN
Here are the benefits and limitations of site-to-site VPNs.
Advantages
Like a VPN for personal use, site-to-site VPNs can redirect internet traffic and change corporations’ locations to other companies so they can appear in the same place for later data sharing.
In sharing, site-to-site VPNs create an encryption tunnel to protect companies’ data. Even though a stranger hacks the data, he can’t decrypt it and will only receive garbled text.
Meanwhile, using site-to-site VPNs greatly increases operational efficiency. Employees no longer need to manually send the files and data from online platforms. Once VPNs are connected, employees can access the companies’ resources, like free school libraries, at any time.
Limitations
Firstly, site-to-site VPNs lack flexibility. This type of VPN is typically set up on a fixed device used as a gateway, which is not conducive to mobile work for employees.
Secondly, the VPNs are generally configured in a star architecture, where traffic reception and transmission pass through these centrally located VPN gateways, placing a network burden on the central hub.
Finally, these VPNs do not adequately meet the needs for centralized management because each VPN gateway may be managed by different companies or organizations. This makes it impossible for a single person to have a unified view of all VPN gateways.
For instance, if a VPN gateway fails while data is being transmitted, the lack of timely communication between companies could potentially lead to data leaks.
Site-to-Site VPN Configuration
The configurations of different site-to-site VPNs are various. You can check the general method to set up one.
Step 1. Set up the physical interfaces on both VPN endpoints. This step refers to configuring the Ethernet and IP settings for each VPN endpoint and setting it as a trusted network.
Step 2. Create the VPN tunnel interfaces. This step involves naming the newly created VPN tunnel interface, associating it with a virtual router and a security zone specifically dedicated to VPNs, and then assigning it an IP address.
Step 3. This step involves setting up encryption profiles for two protocols, IKE and IPSec, to ensure the security of the connection. By establishing identical encryption profiles for both parties, a successful VPN connection can be achieved.
Step 4. This step involves configuring the dynamic routing protocol (OSPF) on the virtual routers to help them automatically learn and adjust network paths. It is necessary to assign the router’s network interfaces to the correct OSPF areas to properly participate in routing updates. Additionally, ensure to select the correct OSPF link types and set the appropriate OSPF IDs.
Step 5. This step involves setting up IKE gateways for the two VPN peers to ensure the security of the VPN connection. Additionally, configure the local and peer IP addresses for each gateway to identify and locate the communicating parties. Finally, set up pre-shared keys to authenticate the identities of the two VPN peers.
Step 6. This step involves configuring IPSec tunnels, which are secure channels for encrypting network traffic. You need to select the appropriate interfaces for the tunnel to transmit data. Then, use the corresponding IKE gateway and IPSec crypto profile to choose the appropriate auto key type and apply it to the tunnel for secure data transmission.
Step 7. Finally, establish policy rules for traffic transmission between sites to specify which IP addresses are allowed to communicate. Then associate these IP addresses with the appropriate security zones to ensure that traffic is transmitted within secure network areas.
Conclusion
Site-to-site VPNs are powerful tools for corporations to share data and resources. It can also be implemented in different situations as long as you want. However, if you just want to simply unlock geo-restricted content, try a great tool like LightningX VPN.
