Virtual Private Networks for Dummies [Paperback]

Mark S. Merkow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999 | Series: For Dummies (Computers)

Let’s face it: the information age makes dummies of us all at some point. One thing we can say for sure, though, about things related to the Internet is that their best strengths are often also their worst weaknesses. This goes for virtual private networks (VPNs). They may reach a wide base of customers – but can also be vulnerable to viruses, hackers, spoofers, and other shady online characters and entities. VPNs may allow for super-efficient communication between customer and company – but they rely on information which, if compromised, can cause huge losses. The Internet is still a frontier – sometimes so wide open it leaves us bewildered – and, like any frontier, the risks go hand in hand with potentially huge rewards.

Virtual Private Networks for Dummies offers you a no-nonsense, practical guide to evaluating your company’s need for a VPN, understanding what it takes to implement one, and undertaking the challenging quest to set it up, make it work, and keep it safe. Whether you’re the resident expert leading the project team, or you just want to learn what makes e-commerce tick, this detailed, from-the-ground-up guide will soon have you comfortably conceptualizing:

• Security goals and strategies
• The evolution of VPNs
• Privacy in VPNs
• Extranets
• Remote-Access VPNs
• Funding
• Custom network solutions design
• Testing VPNs
• And more

With new products and technologies offering supposedly revolutionary solutions to IT departments every day, this book focuses on the real world – you know, the one full of obstacles, mishaps, threats, delays, and errors – and gives you the background knowledge to make decisions for yourself about your VPN needs. Written with a dash of humor, Virtual Private Networks for Dummies contains both technical detail (standards, protocols, etc.) and more general concepts (such as conducting cost-benefit analyses). This clear, authoritative guide will have you securely and cost-effectively networking over the Internet in no time.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Shockingly short on implementation details, Virtual Private Networks for Dummies tries to craft a scattershot collection of facts and references into an introduction to virtual private networks (VPNs). That's not to say that this book is insubstantial, because it's not; probably, you'll learn something about networking, cryptography, authentication infrastructures, and other aspects of VPN engineering. Also, it's done a good job of compiling references to VPN resources on the Internet, so you'll have plenty of surfing to do. But it never explains how to build a VPN--or even the simplest laboratory simulation of one--and that's precisely the kind of how-to information that buyers of this book will want.

True enough: every situation that calls for a VPN is different; and, if the book had shown how to implement a VPN with one turnkey solution, users of the others would complain. But even the narrowest example would have been better than some of the stuff that fills these pages. At one point, the reader is walked through the process of encoding and decoding a plain-text message--by hand--by using a shared private key. Spare us, please. The book gives the vital Layer 2 Transport Protocol all of two short paragraphs. Sections on public-key encryption and digital certificates do a good job of unraveling perennially misunderstood processes, but they don't offset the lack of details on VPN. --David Wall

Topics covered: Aspects of virtual private networks (VPNs), organized to get potential VPN implementers thinking about security and other design issues. Specifically, Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI); digital certificates; turnkey VPN packages; and a lot of general stuff about what VPNs are good for, and how to design a good one.

From the Back Cover

Includes tips on e-commerce and extranets

Packed with real-world Virtual Private Networks case studies

Save time and money with the hot new remote networking solution Virtual private networks let you create a secure business network over the Internet — and avoid the expense of dedicated access lines. This friendly guide walks you through this complex technology and leads you to a VPN solution that's just right for your business.

Discover how to: Make the Internet secure for business Link remote sites and customers to your network Maximize speed and reliability Understand encryption and authentication issues Choose the right hardware, software, and partners

The Dummies Way^™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily^™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764505904
• ISBN-13: 978-0764505904
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As It Promises, An Introduction, March 16, 2000

By 

A Novice Administrator (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Private Networks for Dummies (Paperback)

As part of the For Dummies series, this book delivers what it sets out to do: provide an introduction to the technically complex world of VPNs. I searched other titles and found them all starting at a higher level of competence than I possessed. This book provides the beginning primer that leaves me ready to move to those other available volumes. This book focuses upon security issues (the author is a security specialist), but also provides useful historical information, steps to plan, implement and test your VPN, and illustrative case studies of those who have been there before. The book also includes helpful appendices about other available resources (a buyer's guide), and even includes hints on how to justify a VPN to your boss...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars In serious need of updating., June 1, 2005

By 

M. Koehler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Virtual Private Networks for Dummies (Paperback)

I should have paid more attention to the copyright date: this text is too old to be of much use to anybody. Computer technology changes quickly and this book was written in the late 90's. For example if you already use Windows XP, there is some built-in VPN capability which you could use for free; but this is not even mentioned due to the age of the book. I wish the "For Dummies" people would produce an updated book on this subject.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing at best., November 27, 2004

By 

James E. Andrada "Aspiring Geek" (Los Gatos, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Virtual Private Networks for Dummies (Paperback)

I found this book to be a largely random collection of superficial comments about VPN's. There seems to be no coherent flow or direction and the few items of value, while interesting, are completely tangential to the implementation of an actual VPN. Even one well presented example of an actual implementation would have been welcome.

One doesn't expect in depth analyses in the "Dummies" series, but they generally present some introductory level and quite usable "how to's" that can get you started in the right direction. Unfortunately, this book falls woefully short of providing a useful starting point.

This book has set a new speed record in moving from my mail box to my recycling box. I honestly cannot give it even one star.