This page hot links to the Web sites of vendors and service providers offering VPN products and services. Equipment vendors are grouped by product type.

Internetworking and Remote Access Vendors

The main approach to VPNs by the major internetworking and remote access vendors is to add software that runs on existing routers. The software typically adds firewall, authentication and encryption services to their products.

Stand-Alone Box Vendors

These vendors have introduced a new class of product--stand-alone VPN access devices. These devices are designed specifically to support VPNs and vary greatly in functionality from vendor to vendor. Some simply replace remote access servers and support a remote user access the corporate network. Others go beyond this level of connectivity allowing companies to securely carry traffic between remote sites.

Software and Operating System Vendors

A number of companies offer VPN solutions that are based on software. This group of vendors ranges from operating system vendors Microsoft and Novell, to firewall vendors, to companies that offer VPN application software. Most of the offerings from these vendors feature extensive configuration and management tools.

VPN Service & Solution Providers

Internet service providers and carriers are targeting the VPN market this year. Most ISPs with nation-wide backbones are either offering or plan to offer VPN services. The type of services offered ranges greatly even within one provider's set of services.

Alphabetical List of VPN Vendors and Service Providers