VPN configuration

[Ryan Russell]

On Fri, 12 May 2000, Jeanne Wright wrote:

> I am working on a WAN design for a 130 store retail operation in 5 states. I
> want to do credit card authorizations as well as data transfers and web
> applications. The 2 main designs recommended by different companies are a
> 56K Frame or a 56K VPN.
>
> Has anyone gone through this analysis already and found that one or the
> other is better in uptime, throughput and security?

Frame wins for uptime and throughput.  VPN (IMHO) wins for security.  Some
folks here classify frame as a type of VPN.  I'm assuming you mean VPN
with decent crypto, which frame will typically not have.

> I am leaning towards a
> VPN but am concerned about the credit card authorization and the costs to
> manage the VPN.
>

How hard the VPN is to manage depends heavily on what type (bramd
really) of VPN you're looking at.

If I may be cynical for a moment...  Frame and VPN networks are not the
palce to steal credit cards.  As long as there are much easier places to
get them (the trash, verifyers running over analog lines at 2400 BAUD,
website with bad security) then you're fine I'm sure.  I don't mean to
tell someone not to take as many security measures as they want.. but
consider the relative risks.

					Ryan

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