What type of network offers a secure, encrypted connection through a single firewall?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is designed to create a secure, encrypted connection over a public or private network. When using a VPN, the data being transmitted between the user's device and the VPN server is encapsulated in a secure tunnel, making it highly secure against eavesdropping and interception. This encryption is particularly important when the connection passes through potentially insecure networks, like public Wi-Fi.

A key feature of VPNs is that they allow communications to be routed through a single point, typically a firewall that controls traffic in and out of a network, enabling both security and remote access capabilities. This allows users to access resources within a private network securely, even from outside that network.

In contrast, the other types of networks listed do not primarily emphasize secure, encrypted connections. For example, Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) are mainly about segmenting networks to improve performance and manageability within a local area. Wide Area Networks (WANs) provide connectivity over larger distances but do not inherently provide encryption. Lastly, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) pertains to telephony systems and does not relate to network encryption or secure connections.