As businesses increasingly migrate to the cloud, the need to securely connect on-premise networks with cloud-based infrastructures has become a top priority. Whether you're linking your on-premise data center to a DigitalOcean VPC or connecting multiple cloud environments, creating a site-to-site VPN is crucial for secure data transmission between networks.
Setting up a DigitalOcean Site-to-Site VPN tunnel may seem challenging, but with the right tools, you can easily create a secure connection between your cloud and physical infrastructures. In this post, we’ll explore how UTunnel Access Gateway simplifies the process, enabling you to set up a reliable site-to-site VPN with DigitalOcean VPC in just a few steps.
A site-to-site VPN connects two or more distinct networks, such as an on-premise network and a cloud network like DigitalOcean’s Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). This VPN type allows secure communication between the two networks as though they were part of the same local network.
Businesses often use site-to-site VPNs to extend their internal networks to the cloud, ensuring that cloud resources remain secure and accessible only through encrypted tunnels. When setting up a DigitalOcean Site-to-Site VPN, you can connect your DigitalOcean VPC with remote networks such as on-premise data centers or other cloud VPCs, ensuring secure data flows between all environments.
Although various VPN protocols are available, IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) remains a preferred solution for creating site-to-site VPNs. Using IPsec ensures your DigitalOcean Site-to-Site VPN tunnel is both secure and scalable. Additionally, IPsec’s compatibility with a variety of IPsec-enabled network gateways—such as Cisco ASA, Meraki, Fortinet, and Palo Alto firewalls—makes it an ideal solution for hybrid cloud environments. By integrating UTunnel Access Gateway, you can leverage IPsec for your DigitalOcean Site-to-Site VPN in a much simpler, hassle-free manner.
While DigitalOcean is a fantastic platform for hosting applications, setting up a site-to-site VPN with its VPC can present some challenges, especially for those without advanced networking expertise. Configuring IPsec can be complex and time-consuming.
This is where UTunnel Access Gateway can greatly simplify the process. UTunnel supports IPsec IKEv2, enabling easy creation of site-to-site VPNs between your DigitalOcean VPC and remote sites. With UTunnel, you no longer need to manually configure complex IPsec settings—our intuitive dashboard guides you through the process with minimal effort.
For setting up your site-to-site VPN tunnel from your DigitalOcean VPC, ensure you have:
A DigitalOcean Droplet for UTunnel Access Gateway: You’ll need to set aside a dedicated DigitalOcean droplet for deploying the UTunnel Access Gateway, which should be attached to your VPC. Ensure that the droplets you intend to expose to the remote network via site-to-site tunnel are accessible from the Droplet deployed for UTunnel Access Gateway.
Firewall Rules: If DigitalOcean's firewall is enabled for the above droplet, configure it to allow inbound and outbound traffic on ports UDP 500 and 4500 for IPsec traffic. For roaming connections, open TCP 443 and UDP 443.
Static route on non-UTunnel VPC droplets: Droplets are set to send outbound traffic through their default gateway by default. However, when the Access Gateway is used for a site-to-site tunnel, traffic destined for the remote network (encryption domain) should be routed through the UTunnel Access Gateway Droplet. To achieve this, you must add a custom route on non-UTunnel droplets. The syntax for adding a custom route on Linux is as follows:
ip route add REMOTE_SITE_NETWORK via VPC_IP_OF_UTunnel_DROPLET
Replace REMOTE_SITE_NETWORK and VPC_IP_OF_UTunnel_DROPLET with the appropriate values for your setup.
Deploying the Access Gateway: Please follow the steps outlined in the guide to set up the VPN Access Gateway in your DigitalOcean VPC.
Subscription Requirements: The site-to-site VPN tunnel setup is available with the UTunnel Standard Plan. Users subscribed to the Basic plan need to upgrade to the Standard plan to access this feature.
Remote Endpoint and Tunnel Configuration: The configuration process on the remote side depends on the gateway device you're using. Popular IPsec-enabled devices like Cisco, Fortinet, and Palo Alto firewalls follow similar steps for setting up a site-to-site VPN. UTunnel provides detailed site-to-site configuration guides for several common devices. These guides can help ensure that the remote site is correctly set up to establish the tunnel.
If a guide for your specific device isn't available, don't worry. The general principles of IPsec tunnel setup are typically consistent across different devices. Reviewing guides for other devices should give you enough insight and guidance to successfully configure your tunnel.
UTunnel’s dashboard simplifies the process of configuring the site-to-site VPN. However, due to the complexities of networking, some level of technical expertise is still required. If you encounter difficulties during setup, UTunnel’s support team is available for assistance.
Securing your hybrid cloud network with a DigitalOcean Site-to-Site VPN doesn’t have to be difficult. By leveraging UTunnel Access Gateway, you can create secure, reliable connections between your on-premise and cloud environments with minimal hassle. UTunnel’s intuitive setup process, combined with robust IPsec encryption, ensures your network communications remain private and protected.
If you’re ready to simplify your cloud network security, try UTunnel today and discover how easy it is to set up a Site-to-Site VPN in DigitalOcean. For more detailed guidance, check out our knowledge base or contact our support team for personalized assistance.
