What is SSL VPN? (2024)

FAQs

What is the SSL VPN? ›

SSL VPN Explained

A secure sockets layer VPN (SSL VPN) enables individual users to access an organization's network, client-server applications, and internal network utilities and directories without the need for specialized software.

While an IPsec VPN allows users to connect remotely to an entire network and all its applications, SSL VPNs give users remote tunneling access to a specific system or application on the network. Choosing the right application comes down to a balance of convenience for the end-user and security for the organization.

Whether to use an SSL certificate depends on what VPN protocol you are using, currently most popular VPN protocol is SSTP, IPsec or IKEv2. For SSTP you will need an SSL certificate as it's an SSL-based VPN protocol, and it requires a valid SSL certificate to secure the communication between the client and the server.

SSL VPNs might not be a great fit for companies with extreme security requirements or a need for control because they often rely on browsers to enable remote access. Here are a few shortcomings of SSL VPNs: They have limited network-level access control.

Navigate to the Network |SSL VPN | Server Settings. Navigate to SSL VPN STATUS ON ZONES which represents SSL VPN Access status on each Zone. Enable or disable SSL-VPN access by toggling the zone below. The Green indicates active SSL VPN status.

It is possible for a firewall to block certain ports, specifically ones that VPNs use. If your data travels through one of the blocked ports, the firewall will not allow it to pass through, preventing you from communicating using your VPN.

By default, Mobile VPN with SSL operates on the port and protocol used for encrypted website traffic (HTTPS) to avoid being blocked. This is one of the main advantages of SSL VPN over other Mobile VPN options. We recommend that you choose TCP port 53, or UDP port 53 (DNS) to keep this advantage.

It's a combination of HTTP, which handles the mechanics of data transmission, and SSL/TLS, which handles data encryption. With SSL/TLS encryption, your data is much safer – anyone snooping on your traffic can now only see scrambled data. These days, most websites use HTTPS. NordVPN uses it too!

SSL: Secure Sockets Layer

SSL is standard technology for securing an internet connection by encrypting data sent between a website and a browser (or between two servers). It prevents hackers from seeing or stealing any information transferred, including personal or financial data.

To run a successful business website, you need an SSL certificate to prevent traffic interruption. Even if you don't collect any information from your website visitors, your website requires an SSL certificate to prevent customers from getting a pop-up that indicates your website is unsecured.

Do I still need a VPN? ›

There's a good chance you need a VPN if: You want to keep your online browsing activity hidden from your ISP, websites you visit and apps you use. You'd like to stream geographically protected content such as international Netflix or Disney Plus libraries. You're a frequent international traveler.

Go to VPN -> SSL-VPN Settings, in 'Restrict Access' select 'Limit access to specific hosts', and add a host to allow for accessing the VPN. Note: If there are SSL VPN authentication rules that have source-address defined as "all", the globally configured source-address will not work.

SSL has not been updated since SSL 3.0 in 1996 and is now considered to be deprecated. There are several known vulnerabilities in the SSL protocol, and security experts recommend discontinuing its use. In fact, most modern web browsers no longer support SSL at all.

An SSL certificate error occurs when a web browser can't verify the SSL certificate installed on a site. Rather than connect users to your website, the browser will display an error message, warning users that the site may be insecure.

To delete SSL VPNs:

Go to VPN Manager > SSL VPN. Select the VPN or VPNs you need to delete. Click Delete in the toolbar, or right-click and select Delete.

With site-to-site SSL VPN, you can provide access between internal networks over the internet using point-to-point encrypted tunnels. The tunnel endpoints act as either client or server. The client initiates the connection, and the server responds to client requests.