What is the purpose of VPN gateways in a network?

The primary purpose of VPN gateways is to act as remote access entry points on separate subnetworks, enabling secure connections over the internet. Through a VPN gateway, users can establish a secure tunnel to a remote network, ensuring that data transmitted is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access. This secure access is particularly important for remote workers or users connecting to an organization's internal network from various locations. By isolating the communication on separate subnetworks, VPN gateways help maintain security while facilitating connectivity between users and organizational resources.

This capability is essential in environments that require secure data access and privacy, which aligns with modern organizational security needs. The use of VPN gateways also allows for central management of remote access policies, thus reinforcing the security posture of the network.