If you use the HTTP protocol via your browser, your traffic is encrypted whilst it is running through the VPN tunnel itself, but it is then decrypted when it hits the remote VPN endpoint, and travels over the internal network in cleartext. Say you're remote and trying to connect to an internally hosted web application via an IPSec VPN. This is where using an additional layer of SSL/TLS comes in handy. In some of the above cases, such as IPSec VPNs and SSL VPN tunnels, you may not be getting end-to-end encryption with the actual service you're using. There are a number of references on the subject of SSL vs IPSec (some of these are directly from vendors): However, for exactly these reasons, many organisations will use a combination of both often an IPSec VPN for site-to-site connections and SSL for remote access.
#Viscosity vpn is it ssl or ipsec full
In both cases one can be configured to achieve similar things as the other - SSL VPNs can be used to simply create a tunnel with full network access, and IPSec VPNs can be locked-down to specific services - however it is widely agreed that they are better suited to the above scenarios. These lightweight clients can often also run local checks to ensure that connecting machines meet certain requirements before they are granted access - a feature that would be much harder to achieve with IPSec. Furthermore, SSL/TLS is inherently supported by modern devices, and can usually be deployed without the need for specialist client-side software, or with lightweight browser-based clients otherwise. It is usually easier to configure an SSL VPN with more granular control over access permissions, which can provide a more secure environment for remote access in some cases. They operate on layers 5 and 6, and in a typical deployment grant access to specific services based on the user's role, the most convenient of which are browser-based applications.
SSL VPNs are often cited as being the preferred choice for remote access.
#Viscosity vpn is it ssl or ipsec software
IPSec VPNs also tend to require specific software supplied by the vendor, which is harder to maintain on end-user devices, and restricts usage of the VPN to managed devices. This solution is therefore better suited to situations where you want remote clients to behave as if they were locally attached to the network, and is particularly good for site-to-site VPNs. IPsec VPNs operate at layer 3 (network), and in a typical deployment give full access to the local network (although access can be locked down via firewalls and some VPN servers support ACLs). There are different layers of secure transport to consider here:īoth SSL and IPSec VPNs are good options, both with considerable security pedigree, although they may suit different applications.