Abstract: Techniques are provided for securely accelerating external domains locally. Secure client requests directed to an external domain are forwarded to a local domain accelerator. The local domain accelerator communicates securely with the client as if it were the external domain. The local domain accelerator communicates securely with the external domain and acquires data to service the client requests within a local cache. The data is vended from the local cache via secure communications made to the client.

Abstract: An architecture for secure network communications includes a security layer sandwiched between an upper connection layer and a lower connection layer. An application program need not deal directly with the details of security handshakes, encryption, and decryption. Instead, the application sends plain text data to the upper connection layer, which passes it to the security layer. The security layer manages the necessary security handshakes, and encrypts the data. The security layer then passes the encrypted application data to the lower connection layer, which transports it using TCP or another transport protocol. The security layer need not manage the transport protocol, as this is done by the connection layers. Encrypted data received over the network at the lower connection layer is passed to the security layer for decryption, and then to the upper connection layer for transport to the application.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing communications associated with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). One or more local clients who attempt to communicate with one or more remote clients via a VPN are serviced by local and remote transparent VPN services. The services intercept VPN communications and, in some embodiments, satisfy the communications via local cache. In instances where the VPN communications cannot be satisfied from the cache, the services translate the intercepted communications and securely communicate with one another for purposes of interfacing the local clients with the remote clients via the VPN.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for preserving content during a network transaction. A client issues a content-bearing request to a desired service. At the time the request is issued, the client is not authenticated to the service. The content associated with the content-bearing request is preserved and associated with a modified request. The modified request and a redirection to an authentication service are sent to the client. The client authenticates and transparently sends the modified request. The modified request is used for reacquiring the content. The content-bearing request along with the content are sent to the desired service for processing.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing communications associated with Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). One or more local clients who attempt to communicate with one or more remote clients are serviced by local and remote transparent VPN services. The services intercept communications and, in some embodiments, satisfy the communications via local cache. In instances where the communications cannot be satisfied from the cache, the services translate the intercepted communications and securely communicate with one another for purposes of interfacing the local clients with the remote clients via a VPN.