Hosted VPNs allow an organization’s users secure access to its cloud-based applications, data and files via a website, or a desktop or mobile application. To establish a secure connection, cloud VPNs use site-to-site Internet Protocol security (IPsec), a Layer 3 solution for both network-to-network and remote-access deployments that create an encrypted tunnel to protect data as it travels between network peers.

IPsec cryptographic security keys establish protocols for mutual authentication between clients at the beginning of a session, and are also used during the session to protect communications over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. This enables Cloud VPNs to connect two networks virtually as if they were directly connected by a physical router. The Cloud VPN’s traffic can also be controlled via rules and policies similar to physical network connections, which are set in the client itself.