The following structure results when using the Internet instead of direct connections:
All participants have fixed or dial-up connections to the Internet. Expensive dedicated lines are no longer needed.
- All that is required is the Internet connection of the LAN in the headquarters. Special switching devices or routers for dedicated lines to individual participants are superfluous.
- The subsidiary also has its own connection to the Internet.
- The RAS PCs connect to the headquarters LAN via the Internet.
The Internet is available virtually everywhere and typically has low access costs. Significant savings can thus be achieved in relation to switched or dedicated connections, especially over long distances.
The physical connection no longer exists directly between two participants; instead, the participants rely on their connection to the Internet. The access technology used is not relevant in this case: ideal is the use of broadband technologies such as DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) in combination with flatrate contracts.
The technologies of the individual participants do not have to be compatible to one another, as would be the case for conventional direct connections. A single Internet access can be used to establish multiple simultaneous logical connections to a variety of remote sites.
The resulting savings and high flexibility makes the Internet (or any other IP network) an outstanding backbone for a corporate network.
Two technical properties of the IP standard speak against using the Internet as a part of a corporate network, however:
- The necessity of public IP addresses for all participants
- The lack of data security of unprotected data transfers
