Cisco beefs up security for VPNs

Cisco has unveiled a range of new products and services to deliver faster and more secure virtual private networks (VPNs) to its larger customers.

VPNs use the public telecoms infrastructure - such as the Internet - to transfer data, employing tunnelling protocols and security procedures to retain privacy, writes Steve Ranger.

Cisco said its 7100 integrated router offers VPN applications such as site-to-site intranet, extranet or remote access services.

When fitted with extra hardware, the router can support up to 2,000 simultaneous VPN tunnel sessions using the triple Data Encryption Standard.

GartnerGroup research director Marina Smith said: 'This is a hot topic and Cisco has to be seen to be in there.

'The market has been coming together over the last year - it is in the process of a fast takeoff after a long taxi,' she added.

Smith said VPNs have traditionally always been offered as a service on a telco's private wide area network. Users can now more easily set up and operate the networks themselves on the Internet. 'Because it is standards-based, it is very easy to do.' said Smith.