CACS/Glossary/VPN

Virtual Private Network (VPN) (Internet) a service, usually offered by an ISP, that uses various routing, encryption, and security technologies to allow the Internet to serve as the equivalent of a private or controlled network. This supports the connection of a corporate network with external elements for telecommuting or extended enterprise applications, or may entirely replace a proprietary network.

VPN is also used to describe the collective software and methods used in the VPN service.