What is VPN? VPN Usage in the Cloud Era and Current Situation in China

What is VPN? VPN Usage in the Cloud Era and Current Situation in China

Introduction

You may have heard the term "VPN" before. In the world of the internet, it's an essential technology for protecting security and privacy, and for safely connecting corporate systems.

Here, we'll explain "What is VPN?" in an easy-to-understand way for beginners, and also touch on VPN utilization in cloud services like AWS, GCP, and Azure, as well as VPN situations in China.

💡 What you'll learn from this article: You can comprehensively understand everything from basic VPN concepts to practical applications and special situations around the world.

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VPN Basics

What VPN Means

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Originally, a "dedicated line" was a system where companies and organizations leased dedicated lines from telecommunications companies to conduct secure communications isolated from external access.

However, dedicated lines are expensive and lack flexibility. This is where VPN technology emerged: "creating virtual dedicated lines on the internet."

🎯 Analogy: VPN is "technology that creates encrypted secret tunnels on the internet highway." No one can see what's inside.

How VPN Works

VPN uses encrypted tunnels. A tunnel creates an encrypted pathway on the internet and conducts communications only within it.

Representative protocols include:

• IPsec (Internet Protocol Security)
• SSL/TLS VPN
• WireGuard (Lightweight VPN protocol gaining attention recently)

The most commonly used standard VPN technology in enterprises VPN that can be easily connected from browsers New technology that's fast and easy to configure

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Why is VPN Necessary?

From a Personal Use Perspective

The main reasons individuals use VPN are:

• Preventing eavesdropping on public Wi-Fi
• Ensuring anonymity (hiding IP address)
• Accessing geo-restricted content

Wi-Fi at cafes and airports can be dangerous You can hide your location and activities You can access overseas video services and websites

✅ Practical example: When you want to watch Japanese video streaming services while on a business trip overseas, using VPN makes it appear as if you're in Japan.

From a Corporate Use Perspective

For companies, VPN is an important foundational technology for business:

• Employees safely connecting to internal networks remotely
• Safely connecting multiple locations
• Hybrid configuration of cloud and on-premises (company servers)

You can safely access internal systems even when working from home You can safely integrate headquarters and branch office networks You can safely link cloud and company servers

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VPN in the Cloud Era

In the cloud era, cloud services like AWS, GCP, and Azure also provide VPN as standard. This means companies no longer need to build and operate their own VPN servers.

VPN on AWS

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides the following VPN services:

• AWS Site-to-Site VPN
• AWS Client VPN

Connects company locations and VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) via IPsec A service that allows employees to safely connect to AWS environments from home, etc.

🚀 Features: As a managed service, redundancy and scaling are easy. Operational burden is significantly reduced.

VPN on GCP

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) VPN services:

• Cloud VPN
• HA VPN (High Availability VPN)

Connects on-premises and GCP VPC via IPsec An option that achieves 99.99% SLA (availability guarantee)

🌐 GCP's strength: Stable connections are possible with global network infrastructure. High-speed communication between data centers worldwide is realized.

VPN on Azure

Microsoft Azure VPN services:

• Azure VPN Gateway
• ExpressRoute (not VPN but similar purpose)

Supports site-to-site VPN and point-to-site VPN Dedicated line-level stable connections are possible

🔗 Features: Designed for easy integration with Microsoft 365 and Active Directory. High compatibility with Microsoft products.

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Current VPN Situation in China

China's "Great Firewall"

China conducts national internet censorship called "Golden Shield (Great Firewall)." Many overseas services like Google, YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) cannot be accessed directly.

🚫 Examples of restricted services:
- Google (search engine, Gmail, YouTube)
- Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
- Twitter (now X), LINE
- Wikipedia (Chinese version has restrictions)

VPN Regulations

China has strict regulations on VPN usage:

• Unauthorized VPN use is essentially illegal
• Consumer VPN apps are heavily restricted
• Only government-approved corporate VPNs are officially available

VPN services without government permission cannot be used Personal VPN apps have been removed from app stores Only foreign companies and specific industries can use government-approved VPNs

Reality

The actual usage situation is complex:

• Some foreign companies use government-approved VPNs
• Individuals also use VPNs, but with risks
• Emergence of new technologies

They use approved VPNs to ensure international communications There are risks of regulation and blocking by authorities Recently, proxy technologies similar to VPNs like Shadowsocks and V2Ray have emerged

⚠️ Caution: VPN usage in China carries legal risks, so you need to fully understand local laws before making decisions.

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Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

The main benefits of using VPN are:

• Ensuring communication security and privacy
• Efficiency in remote work and inter-location connections
• Safe hybrid integration of cloud and on-premises

Data is encrypted, significantly reducing the risk of third-party eavesdropping Remote work and multi-location collaboration can be conducted safely and efficiently Cloud services and company systems can be safely integrated

✅ Practical effects: Especially now that remote work has become widespread, VPN has become an important technology supporting business continuity for companies.

Disadvantages

On the other hand, VPN also has the following challenges:

• Communication speed reduction (encryption overhead)
• Setup and operation difficulty
• Possibility of being regulated in some countries or services

Some speed reduction may occur due to data encryption Technical knowledge is required, and setup and management take effort Some countries like China restrict VPN usage

⚠️ Note: Speed reduction has been significantly improved with recent technological advances, and in many cases, it's not a practical problem.

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Conclusion

We've learned about VPN basics, cloud usage, and special situations in China.

Key Points

• VPN is a "virtual dedicated line on the internet"
• Cloud services like AWS/GCP/Azure provide secure VPN connections as standard
• VPN is strictly regulated in China, with only government-approved services available

It realizes secure communication through encrypted tunnels Companies no longer need to build their own VPN servers VPN treatment varies greatly by country

Future Outlook

As remote work and cloud usage continue to advance, VPN's importance will increase further. Particularly, the following areas are expected to see utilization:

• Mobile VPN in the 5G era
• Integration with IoT devices
• Combination with AI and machine learning

VPN utilization in high-speed communication environments Security enhancement for smart devices Automatic threat detection and response

🚀 Finally: VPN is not just a technology but an important infrastructure supporting the safety of digital society. By understanding it correctly and using it appropriately, safer and more convenient internet usage becomes possible.