A survey on VPN: Taxonomy, roles, trends and future directions

Abstract

The Virtual Private Network (VPN) originated as a cost-effective alternative to dedicated lines, primarily utilized by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and large organizations. Evolving beyond mere connectivity, people expect that VPNs can provide myriads of services ranging from the protection of privacy to bypassing website blocking. Recent trends, including cloud migration, regulatory measures, and escalating cyber threats, have spurred increased adoption of VPNs for remote access. However, criticisms regarding their shortcomings have led some to advocate for their removal from the Internet. In this paper, we elucidate the VPN concept, taxonomy, roles, associated concerns, and future trends to demystify VPN. Different from existing survey, our analysis reveals VPNs as indispensable, providing an affordable, secure, privacy-enhanced, and flexible connection for individuals and businesses. Still, significant challenges must be addressed to unlock their full potential. Finally, we propose insightful initiatives for VPN design and highlighting ongoing challenges and future research directions.