Contemporary Controls News

IP Router Provides Secure Remote Access Over the Internet

Contemporary Controls EIPR-V Skorpion VPN Router provides secure remote Virtual Private Network (VPN) access to the Internet via a cellular or Ethernet connection. Using the EIPR-V VPN Router in conjunction with our BAScloudVPN monitoring service provides an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a VPN without maintaining a resident VPN.  

A cloud-based VPN server hosted by Contemporary Controls provides the critical connection between two VPN clients – one installed on the systems integrator’s PC and the other permanently installed on Contemporary Controls’ VPN router located at a remote location.  At the remote site, you have another VPN client but this time it is permanently installed in the VPN Router and is always connected to the BAScloudVPN via an encrypted connection.  The LAN-side of the EIPR-V VPN Router connects to the building automation equipment.  The BAScloudVPN will route between the two VPN tunnels thus created.  Using this approach, two secure VPN tunnels are created with no concern for intervening firewalls, which can post a challenge when accessing machines at remote sites simply because firewalls block messages that originate from the Internet.   This setup provides systems integrators with secure, remote VPN access to their customer sites from the convenience of their own home or office.

For cellular connections to the BAScloudVPN, utilizing cellular networks for data communications often is easier to setup than other forms of Internet communications — especially if these connections are temporary.  The EIPR-V VPN Router will connect to cellular networks using a USB cellular modem provided by a cellular provider as part of a data plan.  By using the cellular network, the main Internet connection to the remote site is not affected. Although the BAScloudVPN will work with either a wired or a cellular connection to the Internet, there is an advantage of using the cellular network in that IT personnel at the remote site need not get involved.

Contemporary Controls’ secure VPN technology is based on OpenVPN, a highly respected and proven VPN technology. The EIPR-V VPN Router is equipped with OpenVPN client firmware for communicating with the BAScloudVPN server over the Internet.  OpenVPN technology has clients for many devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, Android devices, and IOS devices.

For more information on the EIPR-V VPN Router, visit our EIPR product page at:  www.eipr-e.com

New BAScloudVPN Service Offers Secure Remote Internet Communication

Downers Grove, Illinois (September 2013) – Contemporary Controls’ new BAScloudVPN service makes it possible to provide secure, remote communication over the Internet  by hosting a Virtual Private Network  (VPN) server in the cloud.

Undoubtedly, accessing machines at remote sites over the Internet can be a challenge since firewalls block messages that originate from the Internet. Although it is possible to open up ports in the firewall using Port Forwarding, IT professionals are reluctant to compromise the security of their network and usually decline this type of request. Without permission from the IT department, the systems integrator is left with few options. However, one solution to this problem is to incorporate a VPN.

The BAScloudVPN service allows systems integrators secure, remote access to their customer sites from the convenience of their own home or office.  A cloud-based VPN server hosted by Contemporary Controls provides the critical connection between two VPN clients – one installed on the systems integrator’s PC and the other permanently installed on Contemporary Controls’ VPN router located at a remote location.  Using this approach, two secure VPN tunnels are created with no concern for intervening firewalls. The BAScloudVPN is based on OpenVPN — a well-supported open-source VPN technology. In addition to OpenVPN PC clients for Windows machines, OpenVPN clients are available for iOS and Android mobile devices for greater flexibility in accessing sites remotely.

Contemporary Controls’ BAScloudVPNserver allows the BAScloudVPN devices to communicate together.  Any Windows PC, MAC, Linux PC, Android device or iOS device can run the open source OpenVPN client software. All that is needed is an account on the server in order to utilize the BAScloudVPN service. The OpenVPN client can be downloaded from OpenVPN.net or, for Android devices, via the Google playstore or, for iOS devices, via the Apple App Store.  This allows many devices to be able to access the BAScloudVPN.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] Contemporary Controls BAScloudVPN remote monitoring service includes cellular routers, (EIPR-V wireless router required), hosting the Cloud-based VPN server and recommending a data plan from a cellular provider.  As the internet expands, securing your private Internet data on the Internet has never been more essential.

Features and Benefits
•    Wired or wireless operation over the Internet
•    Secure communication tunnels utilizing 128-bit encryption
•    No capital investment in resident VPN servers
•    Free download of OpenVPN Windows PC client software
•    Support for iOS, Android and Linux OpenVPN clients
•    Applicable to both permanent and temporary remote access
•    Flexible man-machine and machine-machine applications
•    Quick realization of a remote access project

For more information, including data sheet and application guide visit our BAScloudVPN page at www.ccontrols.com/basautomation/bascloudvpn.htm

About Contemporary Controls
Contemporary Controls is your ideal partner for applying network technology to your building automation project. With over 35 years of networking experience, locations around the world, and a reputation for technical support, Contemporary Controls has the expertise required to make your building automation projects successful. for more information, visit www.ccontrols.com, or email info@ccontrols.com.