What is a VPN concentrator and do you need one?

As remote work gains more popularity, businesses are exploring options to provide corporate security tools to employees at their homes. This is where VPN concentrators can be particularly useful. These hardware devices facilitate the connection of multiple remote clients and networks to a central corporate network, ensuring secure access to company resources.

In this blog, we will discuss what a VPN concentrator is, how it works, and whether or not it is necessary for your business:

What is a VPN concentrator?

A VPN concentrator is a kind of networking device that allows the creation and management of multiple remote VPN connections from different locations. Much like a regular VPN, it encrypts incoming and outgoing data and creates secure tunnels using a variety of security protocols, but on a much larger scale. A VPN concentrator expands the capabilities of a VPN router and is capable of serving thousands of users at the same time. 

By using this device, multiple encrypted VPN tunnels can be established simultaneously to create safe connections between multiple VPN nodes. Every user is given their own encrypted VPN tunnel, which enables them to securely connect to the corporate network from virtually anywhere in the world.

What does a VPN concentrator do?

• Enables multiple remote connections to a central private network through a secure virtual private network (VPN).
• Serves as a gateway between the public internet and a private network.
• Allows remote workers to access corporate resources, such as files, applications, and servers, as if they were physically present in the office.
• Encrypts data packets transmitted between remote devices and the corporate network, ensuring that all communication is secure and confidential.
• Manages and authenticates incoming connections, encrypts data, and routes it to the appropriate destination within the private network.
• Assigns IP addresses to remote devices and manages them to ensure that there are no conflicts or overlaps with the IP addresses used on the corporate network.
• Acts as a central point of control for all VPN connections, making it easier for network administrators to monitor and manage remote access.

The most popular VPN concentrators

Just like VPN services, there are many manufacturers of VPN concentrators, and their prices vary based on their workload capabilities and the number of VPN tunnels they can support. Here are some of the leading brands:

• Cisco Meraki: Cisco is a leading manufacturer of VPN concentrators, offering easy deployment and scalability, making them a great fit for large enterprises.

• Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect: A cloud-based VPN concentrator, Palo Alto offers secure remote access to cloud and data center resources, and is known for its ease of use and scalability.

• Aruba: Hewlett-Packard is another major player in the VPN concentrator market, providing convenient tools to connect remote users with the corporate system.

• ShoreTel: ShoreTel VPN concentrators enable secure IP telephony network deployment, which helps to protect IP phones from security breaches.

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VPN concentrator benefits 

Here are some benefits of using a VPN concentrator:

• Centralized Management: VPN concentrators allow for the centralized management of multiple VPN connections, making it easier to manage and maintain a large number of VPN connections in one place.

• Increased Scalability: VPN concentrators can handle a large number of VPN connections, making it easier to expand a network and add more users without having to purchase additional hardware.

• Better Performance: VPN concentrators can provide better network performance and throughput than individual VPN connections, thanks to their ability to efficiently manage and process multiple VPN connections simultaneously.

• Enhanced Security: VPN concentrators can improve security by providing a single point of entry for VPN connections, allowing for more effective monitoring and control of network traffic, as well as the ability to enforce security policies uniformly across all VPN connections.

VPN concentrator vs VPN server

A VPN server is a piece of software that runs on a physical or virtual machine and enables clients to connect to it using a VPN protocol such as OpenVPN or IKEv2. It processes and encrypts the traffic between the client and the server and provides a secure connection between the two endpoints.

On the other hand, a VPN concentrator is a physical device that can manage and process multiple VPN connections from clients simultaneously. It serves as a central point of control for all VPN connections, making it easier for network administrators to monitor and manage remote access. It can also provide centralized management, improved scalability, enhanced security, and better performance than a single VPN server.

VPN concentrator vs VPN router

Both VPN concentrators and VPN routers are network devices that facilitate VPN connections. However, there are some differences between the two:

• Function: A VPN router is a networking device that acts as a gateway to connect multiple devices within a network to the internet while providing VPN capabilities. A VPN concentrator, on the other hand, is a device that manages and processes multiple VPN connections simultaneously.

• Scale: VPN routers are typically designed for smaller scale networks, whereas VPN concentrators are more suitable for larger scale networks with multiple VPN connections.

• Performance: VPN concentrators are typically designed to provide better network performance and throughput than VPN routers due to their ability to handle and process multiple VPN connections simultaneously.

• Security: VPN concentrators are typically designed to provide a higher level of security than VPN routers as they have the capability to enforce security policies uniformly across all VPN connections and provide a single point of entry for VPN connections.

Read More: How Secure is a VPN

Final word 

If you run a large business, a VPN concentrator could be a good choice, although it is costly to maintain. A VPN router may suffice for a smaller number of users, as it is more affordable and easier to manage.

If you are looking for a reliable router VPN for your small business, PureVPN has got your back. It can be set up on multiple router brands like Asus, Tomato, TP-Link, etc. to ensure secure remote connections to your corporate network from anywhere.