Which term describes a private, encrypted connection that allows secure access to a corporate internal network from a remote location?

• A. Virtual Private Network
• B. Router
• C. Switch
• D. Gateway

Answer: (A)

A virtual private network creates a private, encrypted tunnel over the public internet that lets a remote user securely reach a corporate internal network. This setup authenticates the user, protects data in transit from eavesdropping or tampering, and makes remote access feel like you’re directly on the internal network. It covers remote-access scenarios so employees can safely access internal resources from anywhere.

Routers move data between networks but don’t inherently provide encrypted remote access. Switches connect devices within the same local network and don’t handle secure remote connections to the broader network. A gateway can act as a point of entry between networks, sometimes including VPN functionality, but by itself it doesn’t define the encrypted remote-access capability that a VPN provides.