Which VPN Routers Work With Avaya Vpn Phones?

Most companies have adopted a remote work policy, allowing employees to perform their jobs from home. As a result, corporate VPN solutions, like Avaya Vpn, have seen a boom in demand.

But while many businesses will install VPN software on their computers, smartphones and tablets, they may be unsure about what type of hardware they need to run a VPN. Fortunately, this article will help answer the question: “Which VPN routers work with Avaya Vpn phones?”

The Biggest Differences Between VPN Routers

VPN routers, such as the Cisco ASA 5520, are designed to be used with VPN software and to provide the security and features required by businesses and organizations.

By comparison, a VPN appliance, such as the FortiGuard 550B, is essentially a small computer equipped with a VPN client.

The VPN router’s main feature is that it provides advanced routing capabilities, allowing VPNs to be extended beyond a single network. This makes it very suitable for use within a corporate or public-private hybrid network.

Features You Need To Look For In A VPN Router

When selecting a VPN router, you will need to consider several factors, such as the level of encryption, IPSec support and remote server management.

The weakest link in any secure exchange is usually the encryption process, which prevents any unauthorized person or device from decrypting and reading your communications. This is where most VPN routers score low, as they usually implement weak cryptography implementations.

While you should avoid selecting a VPN router that uses outdated and weak ciphers, you should also make sure that it supports the latest government regulations, like PIPA and DAPA, and the strictures of the PCI Security Standards council.

You should look for a VPN router with perfect Forward Secrecy, where a session’s encryption key is never sent to the remote server and is therefore never exposed. In this case, even if the connection is intercepted, it would not be possible to decrypt the communications. This is why Perfect Forward Secrecy is considered to be the holy grail of secure communications.

Consider The Limitations Of The Demographic You Are Targeting

People, especially those in business, usually assume that all businesses and individuals are the same. But although the need for a VPN may be the same, the demographic you are targeting with your marketing may behave, process information and use devices differently. This is why every bit of information you can get about your target audience will assist you in creating the best possible marketing strategy.

Consider Your Own Risk Awareness And Thresholds

Even if you are using the best VPN router available, nothing stops a determined attacker from bypassing the security of your network. This is why it is always a good idea to consider your own risk awareness and thresholds before installing a VPN.

For example, if you work for an organization that processes confidential information, you should be extremely careful about selecting a router that can be accessed from external devices. Similarly, if you work for an organization that deals with trade secrets or proprietary information, you should make sure that the router is totally isolated and cannot be accessed from the internet. In this case, you would not only need to ensure that it is locked down by default, but you would also need to review the configuration regularly, just to make sure that it stays that way.

A VPN Router Is Not One Size Fits All

In some cases, you may need a small VPN solution, for example, if you are a sole trader or a micro business that always communicates with customers over email. In other cases, you may need a large-scale solution, like for a global corporation.

The size of your network and the number of employees you have will determine which type of VPN solution is suitable for you. If you are connecting an extensive network and have many employees, you may need to look into a dedicated VPN solution, which provides all the security, scalability and robustness you need. On the other hand, if you are a small or medium sized business that only has one or two devices connecting to the internet, you may be able to get by with a regular VPN router, which is what most companies will opt for. In any case, be sure to read the fine print before making a purchase decision.

Although all VPN routers work in theory, not all of them work in practice. Some routers, like the Asus Router, implement many of the same security weaknesses that made headlines when the company was hacked last year. As a result, it is always a good idea to read security blogs, watch tech news websites and keep on top of the latest security developments.

To top it off, many routers, such as some from Asus, are configured in a “plug and play” manner, making it very easy for tech-savvy users to install and use them in less than five minutes.

To learn more, check out our review of the Cisco ASA 5520 VPN router.