SSH Secure Tunnel

SSH allows for secure data transmission through networks. This requirement could be  as simple as checking emails or up to covering the security for sending confidential data to someone online. Many companies now have SSH secure tunnels set up so that they can allow their employees to access email, internal company websites and files with a minimum risk of compromise even when the employee is out of the office.

Basically it can be set up that as long as an authorized user has internet access they can connect securely through the network and it doesn’t really matter what type of internet connection you have (even slow hotel internet connections will let you connect!)

Once the tunnel is set up and you try to access it, authentication procedures come into place  to ensure that you are authorized to have access to the encrypted data.

Tunnel is basically a networking transportation term that means  a (usually encrypted) one on one connection between two computer applications. It basically ensures the security of the data that you send between two applications like your web browser to a secure host site application. Although it can be used by staff connecting remotely to and office computer or website to catch up on emails or project work, it can be used for personal finance links to financial sites such as banks, sales outlets and private bulletin boards

Basically when we connect somewhere, say to check for email we obviously have to send our log in details to confirm we are who we say we are. By having an SSH secure log in, it means that between the time the password leaves your computer and the time it reaches the other end it is encrypted. This means if anyone does capture your password on the network  during this logon procedure, the encryption should render it unusable.

Setting up a SSH secure tunnel is actually relatively easy but of course the first time you attempt to configure one you may struggle, however once you know how to set it up it can usually be accomplished very quickly. POP3 email is particularly easy to set up and also email clients such as Outlook Express are very easy to configure for connection to an SSH secure tunnel.

All data that you need to transmit via either “intranet” or “internet” needs be secure. These days we send any number of files backward and forward using email or FTP and they often contain secure data that we would not want shared with anyone else. An SSH secure tunnel ensures that whatever you send, however delicate, can be sent safely and securely.