Currently, wanting to provide communication between computers in the office, Virtual Private Network technology is being actively used. Setting up a VPN allows not only to provide reliable communication between corporate PCs, but also to accompany all units of computer equipment with the best cryptographic protection. For this reason, you can be confident in the security of the transmission of corporate information, in the complete exclusion of third-party invasion.
Setting up a VPN connection in different versions of Windows OS has differences.
It is very important to understand that setting up a VPN ensures the creation of a new dedicated zone. All technical devices, including scanners, printers, will be visible to every user who is connected to the VPN. Every attempt by an outsider to get inside the corporate network will be accompanied by absolute failure.
Connection algorithm
Of course, it's just impossible for an uninformed user to connect Windows 7, 8, 10 to a VPN. Beforehand, it is very important to fill yourself with, first of all, a sufficient portion of theoretical knowledge about the features of various operating systems.
If you understand your computer a little bit, but actively strive to figure out how to set up a VPN, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with our recommendations, and then, strictly following them, consistently carry out each step indicated by us. In this case, we can guarantee you a positive result.
General recommendations for creating a network
To connect to the VPN, initially click on the Start button at the bottom of the right. When the additional menu opens, select the Control Panel option.
After that it is important for you to go to the network settings. To make this transition, find the desired parameter. In this case, it all depends on what type of display you have previously selected. Even if you yourself did not choose, it means that it was chosen by the operating system itself or by the one who installed Windows on your computer initially.
If desired, you can easily switch categories. This kind of switch is located in the upper part of the window on the left side.
So, if the “View by categories” parameter is set there, find the line “Network and Internet”, click on it. If the option “Display in classic style” is selected, then it is important to find the line “Network and Sharing Center”.
So, after making such transitions, you will be able to visualize the offer “Setting up a new connection or network” without any obstacles. Just click on it with the left mouse button, you will immediately go to a new page where you will be offered to create a new connection to the network.
If you have decided to connect your PC to the VPN, then select the Connect to the workstation offer, which is often the fourth in the list. Further, you should strictly follow all the emerging tips, but also be sure to take into account some of the nuances arising from the installation of different versions of the operating system.
VPN configuration
Connecting to a virtual network is carried out only after installing a kind of VPN server, which can be played well by one of the corporate computers. It is this VPN server that will control the access of all the other computers that belong to the corporate network space you have created.
Of course, Windows itself will not be able to do the “magic” manipulations that provide you with a successful corporate network. In this case, you will definitely need your participation, involving the introduction of certain settings.
Settings in Windows XP
If Windows XP is installed on your computer, click on the “Start” button, find the “Control Panel” in the list that opens, go to it. After performing such simple manipulations, a window will open, on the left side of which a “New Connection Wizard” will be located, activate it, just launch it. In the new window that opens, the second position will contain the parameter that we need to use.
Click on the “Connect to the network at your workplace” line, and then go to the “Connect to a virtual private network” line.
Now the connection wizard will confidently lead you to the desired goal, recommending only to enter some information. In particular, initially he will ask you to invent and enter the name of the corporate network you are creating. Of course, no one limits the flight of fantasy, so the name can be anything. Next, the connection wizard will ask you to register the server. If it was decided to use one of the computers as a server, then it is better to enter the IP address of this PC in this field.
At the final stage, the wizard will automatically create a shortcut to the corporate network space you created. It is not at all superfluous to make some additional changes, so double-click on the shortcut that appears to bring up a dialog box in which all the necessary settings are made.
In this dialog box there will be four tabs, go to one of them "Security", select "Advanced (Optional)". Then it remains to carefully examine all offers and opt for acceptable parameters for your corporate network.
Settings in Windows 8
If you have Windows 8 installed on your PC, then the algorithm of actions will be not just different, but as automated as possible. Of course, if you own a Windows 8 PC, you may perk up that everything will be so easy to implement, but this does not mean that you can ignore our recommendations. One wrong step and you cannot ensure a successful connection between corporate computers.
At the bottom of the screen on the right side in the part where the clock is located, you can easily find the network status icon, it looks like a monitor. Click this shortcut with the right mouse button. After that, a new window will open in which you will find the "Network and Sharing Center". After clicking on this parameter, a new shortcut “Creating a new connection or network” will appear, click on it and confirm that a direct internet connection is provided on your PC.
The connection wizard will also ask you to enter the name of the environment, and also offer to make changes to the various options if necessary. In this case, you can make additional network security settings, including:
- data encryption;
- password verification protocol;
- access options.
Anything you see fit, you can contribute. This completes the configuration of the VPN network in Windows 8.
Settings in Windows 7
If your computer is accompanied by a Windows 7 or 10 operating system, it means that you are also lucky in some way. Even if you are a beginner, but a fearless user who ventured to follow the route described by us to establish a VPN network, we can please you, that you will certainly succeed.
In Windows 7 and 10, near the clock is a shortcut indicating the status of connection to various networks. If you click on this shortcut with the left mouse button, you will immediately see a list of all connections that can be considered as a possible option that provides connection to the Internet or the public network.
Among this list, you can find the name of your VPN-network, select it, immediately after that the “Connect” button will appear. By clicking on this button, you will have the opportunity to make some changes to the parameters.
Carefully read the security settings, login, data encryption, which offers in this case, Windows 10, check the checkboxes next to those parameters that are most important to you.
So, if you set out to ensure that several computers on which Windows XP, 7, 8, and 10 are installed, are connected to the corporate network, do not hold back such technical gusts. You will be able to accomplish everything if you only carefully study the recommendations and, without undue haste, make changes to the settings, reading more than once the suggestions of the network setup wizard, and even 10 times to realize what and for what specific actions are needed.