Which protection method typically involves a specialized communication network to transmit data securely?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is designed specifically to create a secure connection over a less secure network, such as the Internet. This specialized communication network works by encapsulating and encrypting data packets. When a user connects to a VPN, it establishes a tunnel that protects the data being transmitted from eavesdropping and interception.

This method is particularly effective for safeguarding sensitive information when users access public Wi-Fi networks or remote locations. It uses various tunneling protocols and encryption standards to ensure that data remains confidential and integral throughout its transmission, thus providing a layer of security that is essential for protecting against potential threats in untrusted environments.

In contrast, encryption refers to the process of converting data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access, but it does not specifically indicate a dedicated network. Tokenization replaces sensitive data with unique identifiers or tokens, while a firewall serves as a barrier to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network, rather than focusing on the secure transmission of data.