Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Improve Network Efficiency

Connect to your datacenter in the most efficient way possible.

Networking Solution from Microsoft

The comprehensive networking solution from Microsoft, powered by Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, helps connect your datacenter to your users, virtually wherever they are, in the most efficient way possible.

With the Microsoft networking solution in your datacenter, you can count on having some of the most up to date industry standards and can connect your servers both physically and virtually. You can help your users be more productive with virtually seamless connections to the corporate network and access to files. In addition, we work with key industry partners to ensure our solution supports and extends your investment in a broad range of hardware.

There are key industry trends that are occurring in almost every business today: IT is moving to virtualization and cloud based workloads, and there is a marked increase in the size of the remote workforce. The networking solution you deploy needs to be robust and comprehensive enough to grow with your infrastructure and your end users.

The Virtual Private Networking (VPN) solution from Microsoft

The VPN solution is seamlessly integrated into both Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 to ensure your users can connect to your corporate network from virtually anywhere (internet connection required). With most VPN solutions, the user must manually initiate a connection to the corporate network through a cumbersome process involving additional software and launching of an application. Microsoft’s VPN solution, Direct Access, is directly integrated into the operating system allowing users to visit a corporate internal SharePoint collaboration website to view documents just as easily as they can visit Bing.

The Branch office networking solution from Microsoft

Help drive down the cost of WAN connectivity by ensuring that copies of key documents are cached locally in branch offices. BranchCache reduces the amount of networking traffic over your WAN links by allowing users to download local copies of these documents instead of traversing the WAN to retrieve.

Centralized Branch IT

In a centralized branch IT approach, all branch services are located in the datacenter or other central site and are delivered over the network to clients in remote sites. Branch sites have no servers or remote infrastructure beyond simple hubs and switches connected to routers. Under this approach, services are highly consolidated and investments in the branch infrastructure are generally lower. Network performance and availability are critical. Without excellent WAN capabilities, latency can create unacceptable delays.

As you evaluate developing a centralized branch IT infrastructure, consider best practices in the following key areas.

Maximize hardware usage

Centralize your desktop applications in the datacenter and then deploy thin clients to your branch sites. Thin clients consume less power and they are cheaper to replace. You can enhance this approach by deploying a modern thin client operating system, such as Windows Vista, that accelerates traffic to servers in the datacenter.

Streamline management

Use virtualization and terminal services to give you better control and manageability of your line-of-business applications, desktops, and IT infrastructure. You can enhance this experience by using a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) approach and remote application publishing. This lets you host and centrally manage your desktops and applications in the datacenter while giving end users a full PC desktop experience on their thin clients.

Improve network efficiency

Use peer-to-peer caching to cache networked data on client PCs, without the need for a server in the branch. A modern desktop operating system can enhance this approach because it is more efficient at transmitting data across the network to servers in the datacenter.

Distributed Branch IT

In a distributed branch IT approach, services are hosted on servers located in branch sites, and service delivery has only limited dependency on a remote datacenter or other centralized location. This approach enables powerful workloads and capabilities in the branch location with less demand on the network. Although investments in the branch infrastructure are generally higher, there is greater resilience and less reliance on WAN connectivity with this approach.

As you evaluate developing a distributed branch IT infrastructure, consider best practices in the following key areas.

Maximize hardware usage

Use virtualization to consolidate severs in your branch. This lets you maximize the use of the processing power in your branch servers and it saves money on power costs. It also saves space and lowers the long-term cost of new hardware. You can get more from your legacy hardware by using Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation to improve performance through optimized traffic, increased security, and simplified management.

Streamline management

Standardize on a comprehensive systems management solution, such as Microsoft System Center, to centrally manage the deployment of patches, updates, and software to the servers and PCs in your branch offices. This minimizes the need to send IT staff to branch sites personally to do simple tasks. Systems standardization also helps you monitor and troubleshoot problems in your branch sites before they interfere with business processes. And it can be used to backup data centrally and reliably from the datacenter so you don't have to use costly tape drives or depend on on-site employees to handle backup processes.

Improve network efficiency

Save money on bandwidth upgrades by updating server operating systems. Modern server operating systems, such as Windows Server 2008, are extremely efficient at transmitting data across the network based on specific branch requirements. Caching technology allows you to avoid sending duplicate data over your network, and can let you to pre-position data at your branch site so that, for example, a single file can be made available to multiple employees at a branch site without requiring a network download every time someone wants to see it.

Hybrid Branch IT

In a hybrid branch IT approach, the delivery of centralized applications to the branch is enhanced by distributing some services, typically core infrastructure services, to the branch. This approach is generally used when a centralized branch IT approach is not feasible or when servers are not required in branch sites. Network dependency is still an issue, though not as much as with a centralized approach, and costs are generally lower than a distributed approach.

As you evaluate developing a distributed hybrid IT infrastructure, consider these best practices in the following key areas.

Maximize hardware usage

Consolidate WAN optimization technology and core IT services on a WAN Optimization Controller - a device in the branch that helps accelerate network traffic flow and decrease lag time. Many WAN Optimization Controllers today also provide core IT services such as DHCP and DNS networking services, print, and identity management. This approach helps you save hardware costs and space. Another option is to upgrade to a modern server operating system, such as Windows Server 2008, which delivers WAN optimization technology that can accelerate traffic on existing servers and provide appropriate benefits without incurring the hardware costs of a WAN Optimization Controller.

Streamline management

Use virtualization and terminal services to centralize the management of branch applications and desktops. This ultimately gives you better control and manageability of your line of business applications. You can enhance this experience by using a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) approach to standardize desktop applications and improve desktop management.

Improve network efficiency

A WAN Optimization Controller or WAN optimization technology on the server can improve the performance of applications that are accessed across the network, including line-of-business applications that are centralized in the datacenter. This gives your end users quicker response rates and ultimately higher productivity.

How to Buy

You can purchase Networking Solutions from authorized resellers or through Microsoft Volume Licensing.

For more information on Networking Solutions licensing, download the Pricing and Licensing Guide.
For more information on configuring products, programs, and pricing options visit the Microsoft Product Licensing Advisor.
To help boost productivity within your organization sign up for the Microsoft Software Assurance Program.