Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What are the two basic types of VPNs?

1. Public and Private

2. Intranet and Extranet

3. Site-to-Site and Remote Access

4. Local and Wide Area

The correct answer is: Site-to-Site and Remote Access

The two basic types of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are indeed Site-to-Site and Remote Access. Understanding these two categories is crucial for network design and implementation. Site-to-Site VPNs create a secure connection between two or more networks (typically separate office locations) over the internet. This type of VPN allows for secure communication over an untrusted network as if the connected networks were part of the same local area network (LAN). It is commonly used by organizations to connect branch offices to a central office securely. Remote Access VPNs, on the other hand, allow individual users to connect to a network securely from remote locations. This is particularly useful for employees who need access to the corporate network while working from home or while traveling. Remote Access VPNs authenticate users and encrypt the data transmitted over the connection, providing a secure channel for individual users. Both types ensure that data remains secure and private even when traversing potentially insecure networks, fulfilling the purpose of a VPN. Understanding these distinctions helps in selecting the appropriate type of VPN based on the organization's requirements and use cases.