If your organisation has computers in offices on more than one geographic site you will usually want to connect those sites together to allow access to shared data or email services on your computer network.  This can be achieved by setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) between sites.  A VPN is a point to point connection between the Internet router at each site but the network traffic travels inside an encrypted tunnel so that it remains private from the public Internet.  This is also generally known as a Wide Area Network (WAN).

Each site to be connected must have a broadband Internet connection which is always connected.  The type of router used must support the type of VPN encryption that the router at the other end of the VPN link supports.  This is most easily achieved by using a matching pair of routers such as those from the Draytek Vigor range.

The speed of the upstream broadband link at each end will determine the final speed of the wide area link.  On a standard 512 kbps broadband connection the upstream speed is usually 288 kbps (which is not very fast).  On a much faster 8 Mbps broadband connection the upstream speed can be as high as 448 kbps (which is faster but still relatively slow).

Once the correct Internet connection and VPN-capable routers are in place at each site it then becomes possible to make further connections to other offices.  With your permission we will always configure a VPN link back to the Telematics Centre to enable a range of remote support options.

If you ask the Telematics Centre to make a proposal for a site to site network link we will first clarify your requirements, including:

• the type of Internet connection at each site
• the model of any router in use at each site
• if it is OK to configure connections back to the Telematics Centre
• whether remote worker connections will be required in the future.

Once these requirements have been clarified we will provide you with a written quotation (usually by email) covering the whole job.  When we have received your approval we will then:

• plan any required migration of broadband Internet connection from one provider to another;
• supply and install any new router at either site;
• configure the VPN connection between sites;
• configure a VPN connection from each of your sites to the Telematics Centre;
• test and demonstrate the site-to-site connection to your staff;
• fully document the work in our detailed documentation on your computer installations.

As usual, we take care of all parts of process for you, leaving you to relax and enjoy your new site-to-site network connection.

Cost:  the Telematics charge for setting up a site-to-site VPN connection depends on a wide range of factors and is therefore quoted on a per-job basis.