Data sent across the public Internet is generally not protected from prying eyes, but you can make your Internet communications secure and extend your private network with a virtual private network (VPN) connection. A VPN connection uses encryption and tunneling to transfer data securely on the Internet to a remote access VPN server on your workplace network. Using a VPN helps you save money by using the public Internet instead of making long distance phone calls to connect securely with your private network.

To make a VPN connection, you must be already connected to the Internet. You can make a VPN connection by first dialing an Internet service provider (ISP) or by using an existing connection to the Internet.

• If you connect to the Internet using a dial up connection, you first connect to your ISP and then you make a VPN connection to the private network's VPN server. After the VPN connection is established, you can access the private network.
  
  
• If you are already connected to the Internet on a local area network, a cable modem, or a digital subscriber line (DSL) you can make a VPN connection directly to the VPN server.

To make a VPN connection

1. Open Network Connections. (Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.)
   
   
2. Under Network Tasks, click Create a new connection, and then click Next.
   
   
3. On the Welcome to the New Connection Wizard page of the New Connection Wizard, click Next.
   
   
4. On the Network Connection Type page, click Connect to the network at my workplace, and then click Next.
   
   
5. On the Network Connection page, click Virtual Private Network connection, and then click Next.
   
   
6. On the Connection Name page, type the name of the connection or your company name, and then click Next.
   
   
7. If you are using a dial-up connection to an ISP to connect to the Internet, the Public Network page is displayed. In Automatically dial this initial connection, select the name of the connection used to dial your ISP, and then click Next.
   
   
8. On the VPN Server Selection page, type the Domain Name System (DNS) name or Internet Protocol (IP) address of your company's VPN server on the Internet, and then click Next.
   
   
9. On the Completing the New Connection Wizard page, click Finish.
   
   
10. A Connect dialog box is displayed. Type the user name and password to access your company's private network and then click Connect.

Notes:

• You can create multiple VPN connections by copying them in the Network Connections folder. You can then rename the connections and modify connection settings. By doing so, you can easily create different connections to accommodate multiple hosts, security options, and so on.
  
  
• If you have an active Winsock Proxy client, you cannot create a VPN connection. A Winsock Proxy client immediately redirects data to a configured proxy server before the data can be processed in the fashion required by a VPN connection. To establish a VPN connection, you should disable the Winsock Proxy client.

Extra Configuration (Optional)

Use the Local Default Gateway

By default windows will use the remote gateway to access non-local networks (i.e. The Internet) while connected via a windows VPN connection. Unless your VPN is over a high speed network, or you have specific need for using the remote gateway to access certain resources, it is generally more efficient to use the local gateway. To configure the VPN connection to use the local gateway do the following:

Step 1: Open Network connections from the control panel. Right click on the VPN connection you would like to modify and click "Properties"

Step 2: Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" option from the item box and click "Properties"

Step 3: Click "Advanced" and Un-Tick "Use default gateway on remote network"

Step 4: Click OK until you return to the Network Connections control panel

Your VPN will now be configured to use the local default gateway.