Upcoming Events

Cloud Connect
Santa Clara
Feb 13-16, 2012

Cloud Connect brings together the entire cloud eco-system to better understand the transformation we're experiencing and promises to be the defining event of the cloud computing industry. Learn about the latest cloud technologies and platforms from thought leaders in Cloud Connect’s comprehensive conference.

Register Now!

R E V I E W

Add Some Fiberlink to Your VPN Diet

August 19, 2002
By Mike Fratto

>> continued from previous page

Managed VPN Services

	Issue TOC
	Print full article
	Print this page
	Download as PDF
	E-Mail this URL
	Flame the author

	In this article
	Introduction
	Fiberlink Communications Corp. Managed Service for Fiberlink Global Remote
	Other Products Reviewed
	Managed VPN Services
	Real World Requirement
	Doing Business Safely
	Online Only: Our Original VPN ASP Request for Proposal
	Full Responses to RFIs
	Report Card

Providing secure network access to users connecting over the Internet is a necessity, and VPNs are increasingly the method of choice. However, management can be a headache. In a recent In-Stat/MDR study of 404 LAN managers, 73.4 percent said manageability was the most crucial consideration. Second place? Compatibility. (See InternetWeek article, "Manageability, Compatibility Top VPN Selection Criteria.")

If VPNs are sucking up too much of your precious time, consider outsourcing. We sent an RFP asking for managed VPN services for 1,000 users, and AT&T, Aventail, Fiberlink Communications Corp. and OpenReach participated in our tests (see the full responses). Their feature sets--except for OS support--are comparable. If you don't use Microsoft Windows across the board, you'll want to consider Fiberlink's service, which supports multiple OSs via Cisco's Unity Client. In fact, the Fiberlink service gets our bid thanks to its almost preternaturally low price.