The Virtual Private Network Consortium (VPNC), a newly formed industry trade association for companies that manufacture VPNs, has announced the launch of its web site at http://www.vpnc.org. The site is a comprehensive online clearinghouse of information about this rapidly evolving VPN market that aims to increase interoperability between members and serve as the global forum for VPN vendors.
Among the resources offered by VPNC are a comprehensive collection of Internet standards and drafts relating to VPN technologies, and a chart describing the VPN features supported by member companies. Also in the works is a chart outlining the current levels of interoperability between individual products of member companies, and a directory of white papers about VPN technologies will be added to the site.
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VPNC
VPNC was formed in May, 1999, to serve as a forum for VPN manufacturers throughout the world. VPNC`s primary goals are to increase interoperability among the products of member companies by highlighting areas where products currently interoperate, to help the press and potential customers understand VPN technologies and standards, and to provide publicity and support for interoperability testing events. VPNC strongly supports the current Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards process and is not in the business of creating its own standards.
VPNC`s Founding Members include Altiga Networks, Cisco Systems, Compatible Systems, Freegate, Hi/fn, Intel, Internet Devices, MCI Worldcom Advanced Networks, Network Alchemy, and SSH Communications Security. Additional members include Data Fellows, IRE, Microsoft, Redcreek, Secure Computing, and TimeStep.
In addition to VPN software and hardware vendors, companies that create certificate authority (CA) software and ISPs who offer direct VPN services are also eligible to join VPNC.
Praise from VPNC Members
"The VPNC mission for widespread interoperability of VPN products and support for the current and future standards is consistent with Altiga`s strategy," says Greg Marcotte, Vice President of Marketing, Altiga Networks, a founding member of VPNC.
"Network Alchemy is proud to be a founding member of the VPNC," said Kenny Frerichs, CEO of Network Alchemy. "VPNC will prove to be invaluable in accelerating the deployment of IPSec VPN services throughout IP networks."
"We are very pleased by VPNC`s initial efforts at interoperability testing between multiple VPN vendors. Now we can assure our small to midsize business customers of interoperability with key VPN vendors," said Richard De Soto, Vice President of Marketing at FreeGate corporation.
VPNs
Virtual Private Network technology enables users to create ad hoc strategic secure networks without the technical or geographic limitations of intranets. VPNC`s member companies implement a variety of VPN technologies, including IPsec, L2TP, and PPTP. IPsec is currently the dominant VPN protocol, particularly for security gateways. The combinations of L2TP with IPsec, and PPTP with RC4, are also currently used as VPN protocols for remote access.