MPLS is often considered better than traditional VPNs due to its inherent architecture, which provides benefits like enhanced security and performance.
Enhanced Security: Reducing the Scope for Interception
A key advantage highlighted is security. MPLS networks reduce the scope for traffic interception. Unlike traditional IP routing where attackers might intercept traffic by reading IP headers, MPLS uses labels. This means:
- Hackers cannot read the IP address of data packets. Traffic within an MPLS network is forwarded based on these labels, not the destination IP address itself at every hop.
- They gain little information about the origin and destination of data. Since the original IP addresses are not continuously exposed and used for forwarding decisions within the core MPLS network, it's harder for external parties to track the source and destination of specific traffic flows.
This label-based forwarding mechanism provides a level of isolation and obfuscation that makes intercepting and understanding the traffic flow more difficult compared to routing solely based on IP addresses over a public internet connection secured by a VPN tunnel.
Performance and Reliability Advantages
Beyond security, MPLS often provides other operational benefits:
- Predictable Performance: MPLS allows for traffic engineering and Quality of Service (QoS), enabling prioritization of critical applications (like voice or video) for more stable performance.
- Greater Reliability: Often provisioned over dedicated or privately controlled network infrastructure, MPLS typically offers higher uptime and more consistent connectivity than VPNs running over the unpredictable public internet.
- Simplified Management: For complex networks connecting multiple sites, MPLS can simplify routing and management compared to building numerous site-to-site VPN tunnels.
Key Differences Comparison
Here's a simple comparison focusing on the discussed aspects:
| Feature | Traditional VPN (over Internet) | MPLS Network |
|---|---|---|
| Security Model | Relies on encryption/tunnels over public internet | Inherent isolation via label switching; harder to read IPs |
| Routing Info | IP addresses used throughout | Labels used for forwarding within the core network |
| Performance | Variable, depends on public internet conditions | More predictable, supports QoS |
| Reliability | Can be impacted by public internet outages/congestion | Typically higher, over managed infrastructure |
While VPNs are excellent for securing connections over the public internet, MPLS offers a different approach that can be inherently more secure against certain types of interception within its managed network and generally provides better performance characteristics for private networks connecting multiple locations.
