How does SSL VPN operate with a browser-based client?

• A. One or more VPN devices to which a user connects via a browser, and traffic between the browser and the VPN device is encrypted with SSL or TLS
• B. Requires a dedicated VPN client installed on the user device
• C. Uses IPsec for browser traffic
• D. Does not encrypt any traffic

Answer: (A)

SSL VPN with a browser-based client works by connecting to a VPN gateway through a web browser. The browser establishes a secure TLS/SSL session with the gateway (usually over HTTPS), and that encrypted connection carries the user’s traffic to the VPN device. From there, the gateway can present a portal or secure access to internal resources, often without requiring any dedicated VPN software on the user’s device. This is different from IPsec-based VPNs, which rely on a special VPN client and operate at a lower level, and it ensures that the traffic between the browser and the VPN gateway is encrypted.