Secure Computing SafeNet, Sidewinder Version 5.1.0.02 manual About Soft-PK & Sidewinder VPNs

About Soft-PK & Sidewinder VPNs

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About Soft-PK & Sidewinder VPNs

Figure 1-1. Sidewinder VPN connection providing secure data transmission between a remote system running Soft-PK and your internal network(s)

Soft-PK is security software for remote PC users. It is designed to provide data privacy between remote users and a corporate network. Industry-standard encryption and user verification routines protect the data sent over the connection. Soft-PK conforms to Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards for TCP/IP and IP Security (IPSec) protocols.

Soft-PK works with the Secure Computing Sidewinder firewall to establish secure VPNs over public and private networks. Information passed across a VPN is encrypted, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.

		Soft-PK
Protected Network	Sidewinder	Internet
		Internet
		= VPN tunnel
		= Data

Note: In a VPN connection, keep in mind that the definition of "remote" depends on perspective. From the Sidewinder’s point of view, the remote end is a system connecting from the Internet. From the Soft-PK system’s point of view, the remote end is the Sidewinder (VPN gateway) and the protected network.

Using Soft-PK, a mobile employee or telecommuter can establish authenticated and encrypted access with networks protected by Secure Computing’s fully IKE (Internet Key Exchange) compliant Sidewinder firewall. Remote users can access secure corporate resources using either public networks or corporate dial-up lines.

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Getting Started