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39 votes
39 votes
Jim is working on a network design for a small office running a Windows file and printer server with Internet

capability for five desktop computers and a wireless router for the chief executive. He is suggesting they create a
Virtual Private Network (VPN), which will provide an encrypted "tunnel" through the public Internet for secure
access,
Why does this scenario provide an inappropriate firewall solution?

TIMED TEST HURRY

User Juan L
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1 Answer

10 votes
10 votes

Final answer:

While a VPN ensures secure communication over the Internet, it does not serve as a firewall. A firewall actively controls and monitors network traffic to prevent security threats, which is why it's necessary alongside a VPN for a comprehensive security setup in a small office.

Step-by-step explanation:

Appropriateness of VPN as a Firewall Solution

The student's question pertains to the suitability of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) as a firewall solution in a scenario where a small office requires secure access to resources. While a VPN does provide a secure encrypted tunnel for remote access, it is not primarily a firewall solution. A firewall is designed to protect against unauthorized access and to filter outbound and inbound traffic according to a set of security rules, whereas a VPN primarily ensures secure communication over the public Internet.

Therefore, suggesting a VPN for this small office might be inappropriate because it does not replace the need for a firewall that actively monitors and controls the ingress and egress of network traffic to prevent cyber threats. For comprehensive security, it would be advisable to implement both a firewall and a VPN. The firewall would handle traffic filtering and intrusion prevention, while the VPN would ensure secure remote access.

User Robert Westerlund
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2.8k points