Jola Cloud Solutions' Blog

There are over 200 ISPs in the UK with their own backbone network, but thousands more selling internet services to business customers. End users buy predominately on price and demand a good service from sales, through provisioning to support.

Innovative ISPs are looking for new revenue streams and ways to differentiate their services from the competition. 4G failover is not new, however there are new ways of providing the service to increase resilience, control and security.

ISPs selling Ethernet services with 4G fail-over use private APNs to ensure seamless failover, when connectivity via the primary circuit fails. The issue with setting up private APNs is often the cost, the lead-time and the lack of direct control.

An APN (Access Point Name) is the name given to the gateway within a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) that provides the ability for a device containing a SIM card to access an IP network, such as the internet.  The vast majority of SIMs available on the market will access the internet via the MNO’s public APN.

For some customers and solutions, a public APN isn’t appropriate because it is not secure enough and doesn’t offer enough control. They would choose a private APN.

Customers with a need to increase security

Private APNs can be configured to provide a completely private IP network with no internet access at all. Customers with a need to securely access devices, with a much reduced risk of hacking, choose private APNs.

IPCCTV providers, who want secure access to their devices to upload software or download footage, are moving away from using fixed IP SIMs in devices, which are regularly being hacked. Fixed IP SIMs are typically more expensive, so users are saving money and improving security by using a private APN.

Customers who want more control over their network

By connecting remote 4G devices using a private APN, customers can implement bespoke routing and apply policies, such as content filtering.

ISPs selling Ethernet services with 4G fail-over use private APNs to ensure seamless failover, when connectivity via the primary circuit fails.

A private APN (Access Point Name) is a point of entry onto an IP network for a mobile device. Private APNs allow connections to a corporate network simply and securely over a Private IP address range, without touching the Public Internet. This is done without the need for multiple VPNs, additional hardware and additional overheads.

What are the benefits? 

• Devices are connected to a private network, avoiding the public internet, therefore increasing security. Secure internet break-out options are usually available.
• Data security is increased as low level malware cannot bypass the APN.
• Jola’s Private APN is self-built solution within a white label portal, with extensive management tools, so resellers retain complete control.

Security – IoT LTE devices can be configured to use a Private APN. Using a Private APN in conjunction with a Fixed Private IP VPN solution terminating at a customer’s data centre, an organisations' data remains on the customer’s private data network.

Configurability – Private APNs offer customers the ability to configure settings such as IP address ranges, static or dynamic addressing, as well as authentication. No VPN specific hardware or client software is required.

Cost-Effectiveness – Private APNs offer a cost-effective mobile VPN solution which allows deployment of corporate security policies on mobile devices.  It allows fast distribution of routing changes to connections to the LTE network. 

Coverage – The EE UK/EU/US M2M SIM allows for access across the UK, Europe and the US.  For VPN applications, it translates into seamless access to all the organisation’s applications and data, conveniently and securely, virtually anywhere in the world.