Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)

Last Updated: January 3, 2014

Definition - What does Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) mean?

Point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP) is a set of communication rules that govern the secure implementation of virtual private networks (VPN), which allow organizations a method of extending their own private networks over the public Internet via "tunnels."

By using PPTP, a large organization with distributed offices can create a large local area network (LAN ) - essentially a VPN - by using the infrastructure of a wide area network (WAN), like the network of a public Internet service provider (ISP) or telecom. This is more cost effective than laying out a network infrastructure over such distances.

[Free White Paper] Demystifying data science: How organizations can benefit from artificial intelligence and advanced analytics

Techopedia explains Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)

PPTP enables the creation of a secure route of transfer of data from a remote client to a server in a private enterprise network through the creation of a VPN over TCP/IP-based networks, such as the Internet. It allows remote users to securely access corporate networks over the Internet, as if the client is physically present in the corporate network.

PPTP is an extension of the point-to-point protocol already used on the Internet, and Microsoft and its partners proposed it as a standard. Along with Cisco’s proposal of the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol, these proposals may become the basis for the next Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard.

PPTP offers the following advantages:

Lower transmission costs: No additional service used, other than the Internet.

Lower hardware costs: Allows ISDN cards and modems to be separated from RAS servers, which results in fewer devices to purchase and manage.

Low administrative overhead: Administrators only manage the remote access server (RAS) and user accounts, rather than managing different hardware configurations.

Enhanced security: PPTP connection is encrypted and secured over the Internet and works with other networking protocols, like IP, Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) and NetBIOS Extended User Interface (NetBEUI).