What technology allows a user at home to connect to the corporate network securely?

The technology that enables a user at home to connect securely to a corporate network is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN establishes an encrypted connection over the internet, which creates a secure tunnel for data transmission between the user's device and the corporate network. This encryption ensures that any data transferred is kept private and secure from eavesdroppers, which is essential for protecting sensitive corporate information while accessing resources remotely.

VPNs also provide remote access as if the user is physically located within the corporate environment, which is crucial for employees who work from home or travel. It allows them to utilize corporate applications, access internal resources, and maintain the security of their online activities, effectively replicating the security measures in place within a physical corporate office.

In contrast, a firewall primarily acts as a barrier to protect a network from unauthorized access but does not provide a means for remote users to connect securely. A router facilitates communication between devices and networks but does not inherently secure connections like a VPN does. A proxy server may act as an intermediary for requests to resources but does not encrypt the connection in the same way a VPN does. Thus, the VPN stands out as the ideal solution for secure remote access to corporate networks.