This leader-led, demo class course presents an overview of the technologies and solutions that provide for secure transmissions over the Internet. Connecting branch offices and remote users through virtual private networking using the characteristics and functionality of the Nortel Networks Contivity VPN family of switches will be examined. Basic design issues are covered, such as VPN technologies, the Contivity product family, routing and tunneling protocols, high availability and QoS, authentication and encryption, and packet filters and firewalls. A demonstration of the Contivity VPN switch and its basic configuration is provided.