An organization is deploying a VPN to allow branch offices to securely connect to the corporate network over the internet. Which type of VPN configuration would best suit this requirement?

A Site-to-Site VPN is the appropriate solution for connecting entire networks across different geographical locations. This configuration establishes a secure, encrypted tunnel between the network gateways (e.g., routers or firewalls) of the branch office and the corporate headquarters. All traffic between these two networks is routed through this tunnel, effectively making the branch office an extension of the corporate network. This model is designed specifically for the scenario described, where an entire branch office, rather than individual users, needs persistent and secure access to corporate resources.

A. Client-to-Site VPNs are designed for individual remote users connecting a single device to the corporate network, not for connecting an entire office network.
B. Full Mesh is a specific topology describing how multiple sites connect (all-to-all), but "Site-to-Site" is the fundamental VPN type that enables this connection.
D. Split Tunneling is a traffic-handling feature within a VPN that determines which traffic goes through the tunnel, not the type of VPN connection itself. ---

1. Cisco Systems, Inc. (n.d.). What Is a VPN?. Cisco Documentation. Retrieved from Cisco's official website. In the section "Types of VPNs," it explicitly defines a Site-to-Site VPN as a connection that "connects entire networks to each other... In this setup, a router or firewall at one location communicates with a router or firewall at another location." This directly supports the choice of Site-to-Site VPN for connecting a branch office network.

2. Kurose, J. F., & Ross, K. W. (2021). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (8th ed.). Pearson. In Chapter 8, Section 8.8.2, "IPsec and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)," the text describes how IPsec in tunnel mode is used to create a VPN between two routers, which is the technical foundation for a Site-to-Site VPN. It states, "the two routers are said to be connected by a virtual private network," which aligns with connecting two distinct sites.

3. Purdue University. (n.d.). What is the difference between a client-based VPN and a site-to-site VPN?. Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP). Retrieved from Purdue University's official IT documentation. The document clarifies: "A site-to-site VPN... is used to connect an entire network in one location to an entire network in another location... A client-based VPN... is used by a single user to connect to a remote network." This distinction from a reputable university source confirms that Site-to-Site is the correct choice for the scenario.