VPN assistance

[mirajik]

I am working in social outreach program with five branches across the country and the headquarter which is located in the capital.
My boss wants to set up a sort of private network, in order to streamline the information flow between the branches and headquarter. Currently the information/report relies on emails and sometimes courier services(for distributing large volume of data via CDs and external HDDs). We want to change for the better.
The requirement is, we need a sort of VPN to incorporate file sharing, a central database and intranet. I have been tasked to supervise the implementation. All the branches have internet access, though not connected to the same ISP. Depending on the location and service available, some use broadband, some VSAT and other 3G/GPRS mobile access.

Can somebody give me an overview of a setup and its requirements?

[sicarie]

This is a large undertaking - there are several steps that will be required including an internal assessment of your current configuration, examination of vendors and poc engagements, and portal/agent deployment at each site and remote connective device. It's a large project for someone without previous experience in this type of deployment. I would highly suggest considering a consultant to install and configure this system while current employees work on a dev system and learn to support the installation.

If you are determined to do this yourself, I would recommend taking an internal assessment of your network - determine what devices are outward-facing, what speeds you have available internally and externally. Then I would suggest researching the different types of VPNs available - both proprietary and open source. From there, you can determine which one best fits your current network (or determine if a hardware upgrade is required) and get the vendor to bring in dev system to show how it will work in the environment (or if you decided an open-source tool fits best, install one yourself). From there, you can proceed with testing, and after testing, deployment.

[mirajik]

Thanks

Thanks sicarie
I ll have to seek an Networking specialist in my area.

Thanks,

[sicarie]

Good luck! I believe that is a good way to go about it, though keeping yourself in the process, and setting good benchmarks will help you prepare to approach situations like this in the future.

[grojom]

This is the best advice, I would suggest to any client that if they don't hire me, to hire someone.
Just remember with VPN to KISS it. Like many things VPN can become encumbering and difficult to manage if you overdo it.
If you have 1 central location, unless you need a constant connection to remote locations, site-to-site VPN is probably overkill. But again that is a determination you and the specialist will need to make.