What is “Virtual Private Network” ?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the public internet. It allows users to access their organization's private network remotely while ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the transmitted data. While the internet acts as a global electronic digital world for communicating and accessing information [1], it also presents security risks that necessitate protective measures for privacy [3]. A VPN functions by masking the user's IP address and encrypting data transfers, effectively extending a private network across a public one. This distinguishes it from cloud computing, which focuses on shared resource pools, or standard internet access [2]. Option 2 accurately describes this mechanism of providing secure access to an organization's network via the public internet, maintaining the security of the information through an encrypted 'tunnel'.

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Cyber Space – Internet > p. 68
2. [3] Political Theory, Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Political Theory: An Introduction > Political Theory > p. 7
3. [2] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Personal Communication System > p. 83