What provides an encrypted connection between a remote user and an enterprise network?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides a secure and encrypted connection between a remote user and an enterprise network. By utilizing a VPN, data transmitted over the public internet is encrypted, ensuring that unauthorized parties cannot access or interpret the information being exchanged. This is particularly important for protecting sensitive corporate data while it's being transmitted from remote locations, such as when employees work from home or while traveling.

The functionality of a VPN includes creating a secure tunnel through which data can flow, significantly reducing the risk of interception and eavesdropping. This technology is vital for businesses that need to extend secure access to their internal networks for remote employees, making it an integral part of network security policies.

Other options, such as SSL, a firewall, and a proxy server, provide different layers of security or functionality but do not serve the same purpose as a VPN in creating an encrypted connection for remote access to an enterprise network. SSL is used for securing web communications but does not create a private network tunnel. A firewall monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic but does not provide encryption for remote connections. A proxy server acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers but does not inherently provide encryption between the client and the network.