How to Add a VPN to a Virtual Machine?
Many of you might be familiar with the concept of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as it relates to accessing public networks such as the Internet when you’re traveling or offshore. A VPN allows users to connect to a remote network (usually a company network) through a public network (such as the Internet) to gain secure access to resources and systems that they need for work.
While it’s true that most companies don’t need to block outside connections due to security concerns (unless, of course, they want to do so for legal or contractual reasons), the concept of adding a VPN to a VM still makes perfect sense.
For instance, if you’re accessing a corporate network from home via VPN (often called remote access VPN), you might want to consider running the VPN Client on a Virtual Machine. This will allow you to connect to the network even when you’re not physically at your desk. Or, if you’re doing some remote work from a company’s computer, you might want to consider connecting via VPN to ensure that your activity on their network is covered by data protection laws.
There are several benefits to adding a VPN to a virtual machine (VM). For example, you can use the virtual machine to test VPN settings and see how they perform before implementing them on a physical machine. Or, you can use the VM to create a secure connection even when you’re not physically on the same network.
Let’s take a look at how to add a VPN to a Virtual Machine.
Choose Your VPN Provider
First, you’ll need to choose a VPN provider. You’ll want to choose a provider that has a strong presence in the market, is well-established, and offers a wide range of features.
If possible, you should also consider choosing a VPN provider that is supported by a major operating system (such as Windows or Mac OS X). This is important because many providers require that you run their software on a specific operating system (or version). If you’re using a VM to connect to a corporate network and the operating system running on the VM is different than that of your physical machine, you might experience intermittent connection problems.
Install And Configure The VPN Client
Once you’ve chosen a VPN provider, you’ll want to download and install their VPN Client software. It is highly recommended that you download and install the VPN client software on a separate device (such as a mobile phone or dedicated computer) from the VM that you’re using to connect to the network. Installing the client software on the VM can be somewhat tricky as it requires the administrator account to be activated before the installation process can continue. Once the client software is installed, you’re ready to configure it to connect to your VPN.
To connect to your VPN, you’ll need to enter the details provided by your VPN provider in the form on their website. You’ll then need to click the Allow button to allow the VPN connection to be established. From there, you can connect to the network via the VPN.
Set Up The VM To Access The Internet
In addition to adding a VPN, you can also use the VM to set up Internet access to allow remote users to connect to the corporate network. To do this, you’ll first need to establish a static IP address for the VM. A static IP address is one that is assigned to a particular computer or network interface by a network administrator or service provider prior to connection.
To set up Internet access via a static IP address, you’ll first need to go to the Machine in the VM and select the Network adapter. From there, you’ll want to choose the Internet radio button to determine whether or not the VM will be accessible via the Internet.
If you’re setting up a public VLAN for remote access, you’ll then select the Internet radio button and click the Properties button to view the available Internet options. From here, you can choose a specific Internet provider and enter the required information.
If you’re accessing a VPN for legal reasons, consider using a dedicated computer for the purpose (such as a NAS dedicated to the task). This will ensure that all of your activities are covered under legal data protection regulations. When accessing a VPN for legal reasons, your dedicated device will need to be registered with your country’s data protection authorities.
Monitor Connection Quality
It is important to regularly monitor the connection quality of your VPN to ensure that it is always secure, reliable, and provides the level of service that you expect.
If you are using a static IP address, you’ll want to check the network adapter’s status from time to time to view the connection quality. If the connection drops below a specific threshold, you’ll need to reestablish the connection or choose an alternate Internet provider.
Use The VPN To Access Corporate Resources
If you are a business traveler, you might want to consider setting up a VPN to allow you to access your company’s corporate resources (such as networks, servers, and databases) when you’re off-site.
When accessing a VPN for corporate purposes, you’ll want to use the VPN client to connect to your company’s network. After you’re successfully authenticated with your VPN, you’ll be able to access your company’s resources as usual.
To connect to your company’s network, you will first need to specify the name of the organization that you work for. You will then be presented with a list of networks where you can connect to. You will want to select the network that corresponds to your company and, if possible, select the one that is faster than the one that you’re currently connected to. If this is not possible, you’ll need to specify that you are trying to connect to a VPN and select a different network to use.
Once you’ve connected to your VPN, you will be able to access all of your corporate networks, resources, and databases as usual.
Add More VPNs To The Network
If you have multiple VMs set up on a multi-VM network, you might want to add another VPN to the group. To do this, you’ll have to set up a new VPN client on each VM in your group.