What is Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a type of technology that is used to encapsulate and transmit data over the Internet via a private channel. VPNs are typically encrypted to ensure the security and privacy of data is not susceptible to malicious third-party actors. VPNs can be used by private retail customers or in large corporate environments, enabling access to network resources and highly sensitive data generally not available to the public. VPNs are aptly named because they provide virtual instead of physical access to a private network and come in two main types: remote access, and site-to-site.