Establishing the Secure Tunnel

Using the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway

After the Secure Access Client is started, it establishes a secure tunnel over port 443 (or any configured port on the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway) and sends authentication information. When the tunnel is estab- lished, the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway sends configuration information to the Secure Access Client describing the networks to be secured and containing an IP address if you enabled IP pool visibility.

Tunneling Destination Private Address Traffic over SSL or TLS

After the Secure Access Client is authenticated and started, all network traffic destined for specified pri- vate networks is captured and redirected over the secure tunnel to the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway.

The Firebox SSL VPN Gateway intercepts connections that are to be tunneled (usually trafic to your according to your policy, and multiplexes/tunnels them over SSL to the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway. where the traffic is demultiplexed and the connections are forwarded to the correct host and port com- bination.

The connections are subject to administrative security policies that apply to a single application, a sub- set of applications, or an entire intranet. You use the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway Administration Tool to specify the resources (ranges of IP address/subnet pairs) that remote users can access through the VPN connection.

If the device is configured todo this, all IP packets, regardless of protocol, are intercepted and transmit- ted over the secure link. Connections from local applications on the client computer are securely tun- neled to the Firebox SSL VPN Gateway, which reestablishes the connections to the target server. Target servers view connections as originating from the local Firebox SSL VPN Gateway on the private network, thus hiding the client IP address. This is also called reverse Network Address Translation (NAT). Hiding IP addresses adds security to source locations.

Locally, on the client computer, all connection-related traffic (such as SYN-ACK, PUSH, ACK, and FIN packets) are recreated by the Secure Access Client to appear from the private server.

Operation through Firewalls and Proxies

Users of Secure Access Client are sometimes located inside of another organization’s firewall, as shown in the following illustration.

Network topology connecting through an external corporate firewall.

26	Firebox SSL VPN Gateway

SSL VPN specifications

WatchGuard Technologies offers a robust SSL VPN solution designed for secure remote access to corporate networks. As businesses increasingly rely on a remote workforce, the need for secure and reliable connectivity has never been more critical. WatchGuard's SSL VPN features advanced security technologies that ensure data integrity and confidentiality while enabling seamless access to applications and resources.

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In addition to its ease of use, WatchGuard's SSL VPN is built on robust security technologies. It employs end-to-end encryption to safeguard data in transit, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information. By utilizing SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocols, the VPN creates a secure tunnel between the user’s device and the corporate network, protecting against potential threats such as eavesdropping or man-in-the-middle attacks.

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In summary, WatchGuard Technologies' SSL VPN solution combines ease of use, robust security, flexible authentication, and scalability. These features make it an ideal choice for organizations seeking to provide secure remote access to their employees while maintaining a strong defense against cyber threats. With WatchGuard, businesses can confidently navigate the challenges of a digital landscape, ensuring their network remains secure as they embrace remote work.

WatchGuard Technologies SSL VPN manual Establishing the Secure Tunnel

Models: SSL VPN