Control Network Newsletter
Understanding Contemporary Controls' VPN Options
A virtual private network (VPN) can provide secure access to remote job sites while giving systems integrators the flexibility to monitor and maintain systems from the convenience of their home or office.
However, deciding which VPN is right for you can be confusing. Which VPN service should I use? What are the features, capabilities, and limitations? Can I maintain my own VPN?
Contemporary Controls offers three VPN solutions to meet your remote access needs—our RemoteVPN subscription service, and our Self-HostedVPN and BridgeVPN solutions.
Contemporary Controls' EIPR-V, EIGR-V series, and EIGR-C series Skorpion IP routers support OpenVPN® client functionality and can be used with our RemoteVPN subscription service. Our EIGR-V, EIGR-VB routers can be configured as VPN servers for our Self-HostedVPN and BridgeVPN solutions.
RemoteVPN Subscription Service
Contemporary Controls' RemoteVPN subscription service provides secure communication and the convenience of remote access without having to maintain the VPN server. Hosted on the Internet and maintained by Contemporary Controls, RemoteVPN incorporates a cloud-based OpenVPN server, OpenVPN clients for workstations and mobile devices, and OpenVPN routers installed at job sites.
Self-HostedVPN Solution
For network savvy users, Contemporary Controls' Self-HostedVPN solution utilizes the EIGR-V Skorpion Gigabit IP router configured to operate in OpenVPN server mode. This allows the router to act as the VPN server capable of supporting Contemporary Controls' wired and cellular routers as VPN clients. This Self-HostedVPN solution provides wired or wireless remote access for multiple clients – up to 15 wired/cellular IP routers in OpenVPN client mode and 15 OpenVPN clients on PC/tablet/phone.
BridgeVPN Solution
For single-site, remote access solutions, Contemporary Controls also offers a BridgeVPN solution which utilizes the EIGR-VB Gigabit IP router configured to operate in OpenVPN server mode as a wired bridge VPN server. This BridgeVPN solution can support up to 10 VPN clients on PC/tablet/phone.
These Self-HostedVPN and BridgeVPN PC/tablet/phone clients can be located anywhere that has Internet connectivity.
For an in-depth comparision of the capabilities and features of our our RemoteVPN subscription service, and our Self-HostedVPN and BridgeVPN solutions, reivew our "Understanding Contemporary Controls' VPN Options" (PDF). To learn more, visit the RemoteVPN product page.