9.9 Evaluate Products and Vendors

9.9 Evaluate Products and Vendors

Begin by making a careful survey of the products that are out there. You should be able to eliminate a fair number that simply don't offer what you need to meet your goals. Don't ignore potential compatibility problems. Make sure that whatever VPN solution you settle on will get along with the networks you are running and the software you are using. IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP, which operate at the lower OSI layers, probably do not present a problem on this score.

Selecting a specific product will, at the very least, reduce the number of vendors to consider. From there, try to narrow the vendor list down to a manageable number to examine in greater detail. Dig into the vendors' backgrounds. Talk to those individuals you would routinely be working with (if possible) to find out if you feel comfortable that you're communicating clearly. Ask for company references and follow up on them. Don't forget to network with your peers to find others who have already implemented a VPN. Talk with them about their experiences with their vendors.

From your list of requirements, prepare a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP). That is the single best way to make sure that vendors you are considering know exactly what it is you want. It also provides a solid baseline for evaluating competing offerings from vendors. By making sure that everyone starts with the same premise, you can more easily compare their proposals. Don't expect this to produce uniform...

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