As a business operating in China, accessing the global internet can be a significant challenge due to the country’s stringent internet regulations and censorship practices, commonly referred to as the “Great Firewall”. Many popular websites and online services that are widely used in other parts of the world are blocked or restricted in China, making it difficult for businesses to communicate, collaborate, and access essential online resources. Overcoming these hurdles is crucial for companies seeking to maintain a competitive edge and seamless communication with their global partners, customers, and employees.
China’s regulatory environment doesn’t just impact network performance, it adds complexity which businesses must consider in terms of both time and money. Whether it’s setting up local data centers to improve performance issues, customer onboarding, software patches, upgrades, monitoring, maintenance, or problem resolution — all these factors ultimately hurt profitability.
This blog post explores various strategies and solutions that businesses can employ to secure reliable internet access in China more effectively and affordably. From virtual private networks (VPNs) to proxy servers, DNS tunneling, and beyond, we’ll delve into the pros and cons of different options, helping you determine the most suitable approach for your organization’s needs. Additionally, we’ll discuss the legal considerations and compliance requirements that businesses must adhere to when accessing the internet in China.
Whether you’re a multinational corporation with a presence in China or a local company seeking to expand your digital footprint, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of China’s internet landscape effectively.
By leveraging a private AI-powered routing infrastructure at the cloud edge within China, and seamlessly integrating with a global network spanning over 500 Points-of-Presence (PoPs) on the public cloud, Teridion establishes the fastest and most optimized paths between any two endpoints, whether site-to-cloud or site-to-site.
Understanding China's Great Firewall
China’s Great Firewall is a comprehensive system of internet censorship and surveillance implemented by the Chinese government. It employs a range of technologies and methods to monitor and restrict online content and activities deemed sensitive or potentially threatening to the state’s control.
From the government’s perspective, the Great Firewall serves several key purposes, including as a tool to promote social harmony and prevent the spread of content that could potentially incite unrest, protests, or challenges to the established social order. Economic protectionism is another of the Great Firewall’s objectives. By restricting access to foreign websites and online services, the Great Firewall creates an environment that favors domestic companies and promotes the growth of China’s homegrown internet ecosystem. This aligns with the government’s broader economic goals of fostering self-reliance and reducing dependence on foreign technologies.
Additionally, the authorities justify the Great Firewall as a means to safeguard traditional Chinese values and culture from what they perceive as the negative influences of Western ideologies and cultural exports.
While the Chinese government presents the Great Firewall as a necessary measure to maintain social stability, national security, and cultural integrity, critics argue that it represents an overreaching tool for censorship and control over the free flow of information. Regardless of the motivations, the Great Firewall remains a defining feature of China’s internet landscape and a significant challenge for businesses operating within the country’s digital sphere.
At its core, the Great Firewall utilizes a combination of techniques to filter and block access to specific websites, services, and online resources.
The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers can understand. The Great Firewall manipulates DNS resolution by redirecting requests for blocked domains to alternative IP addresses or returning an error message, effectively preventing access to those websites. The Great Firewall can also block specific URLs or web pages that contain sensitive or prohibited content, even if the parent website is not entirely blocked. In addition to DNS and URL filtering, the Great Firewall employs sophisticated algorithms and natural language processing techniques to scan online content and filter sensitive keywords or phrases related to topics deemed controversial or politically sensitive. This content is then selectively blocked at the keyword level, based on the established criteria.
IP blocking is another common practice. Certain IP addresses associated with restricted websites or services are added to blacklists maintained by the Great Firewall. Any traffic destined for these IP addresses is blocked at the network level, denying access to the corresponding online resources.
Finally, by analyzing the content of data packets as they traverse the internet, the Great Firewall can identify and block specific protocols, applications, or online activities based on their unique signatures or behavioral patterns. This is known as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI).
These methods are continuously evolving and adapting to new technologies and evasion tactics, making the Great Firewall a dynamic and ever-changing system. Additionally, the Chinese government collaborates with internet service providers (ISPs) and other entities to enforce these censorship measures at multiple levels of the internet infrastructure within the country.
It’s important for businesses to understand the intricacies of the Great Firewall and its implications for their online activities in China. By acknowledging these challenges and implementing appropriate strategies, companies can better navigate the complexities of China’s internet landscape and maintain reliable access to the global digital ecosystem.
Challenges ofInternet Access in China
Operating within the confines of China’s tightly controlled internet environment presents significant challenges for businesses, both domestic and international. The Great Firewall’s censorship measures have far-reaching implications, extending beyond the mere blocking of popular websites and services.
One of the most immediate impacts is the limitation on access to widely used online platforms and tools that are integral to modern business operations. Websites like Google, Facebook, X, YouTube, and many others are either completely inaccessible or face intermittent disruptions within China. This restriction not only hinders communication but also limits access to vital information, productivity tools, and cloud-based services that are essential for businesses to function efficiently in today’s digital landscape.
For example, the inability to leverage popular cloud-based services and productivity tools impedes workflow efficiency, data sharing, and real-time collaboration, ultimately impacting productivity and overall business operations. Companies often struggle to effectively communicate and collaborate with partners, clients, or remote teams located outside of China.
Marketing and advertising efforts also become severely hampered, as popular social media channels are off-limits.
And businesses may face challenges in accessing up-to-date industry news, research, and information necessary for informed decision-making and staying competitive in their respective fields.
Finally, attempting to circumvent censorship measures or to use unsecured networks poses a significant challenge of its own. The Chinese government closely monitors online activities and has implemented strict penalties for individuals or entities found to be violating internet regulations. Businesses that attempt to bypass the Great Firewall through the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) or other means risk severe consequences, including fines, service disruptions, or even legal prosecution.
Strategies for Accessing the Internet in China
It is crucial for businesses to carefully assess the risks and potential consequences of circumventing censorship, as well as the implications of relying solely on China’s heavily regulated internet environment. Failure to comply with regulations or implement appropriate security measures can not only compromise sensitive data and intellectual property but also jeopardize the company’s operations within the country.
Navigating the challenges of internet access in China requires a strategic approach, involving a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, the adoption of secure communication channels, and the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures. By acknowledging these hurdles and proactively addressing them, businesses can better position themselves to operate effectively within China’s unique digital ecosystem while mitigating potential risks and liabilities.
Teridion’s Network as a Service
Teridion’s cutting-edge Network-as-a-Service platform is setting new standards for high-performance connectivity, both within China and across the globe. By leveraging a private AI-powered routing infrastructure at the cloud edge within China, and seamlessly integrating with a global network spanning over 500 Points-of-Presence (PoPs) on the public cloud, Teridion establishes the fastest and most optimized paths between any two endpoints, whether site-to-cloud or site-to-site.
Recognizing the importance of regulatory compliance in China, Teridion has forged strategic partnerships with Chinese cloud providers and utilizes licensed local infrastructure. This localized approach not only ensures adherence to regulations but also enables customers to configure and deploy services with remarkable speed and flexibility. With a simple connection from their site to Teridion’s PoPs in China, customers can have their Chinese locations up and running within hours, enjoying the same level of connectivity and management capabilities as their global sites.
What sets Teridion apart is its ability to guarantee Service Level Agreements (SLAs) through real-time network monitoring and dynamic in-transit traffic routing to the most available and efficient network paths. This intelligent routing capability ensures that customers experience uninterrupted, high-quality connectivity, even in regions with complex regulatory environments or network constraints.
Teridion’s transformative impact is evident in success stories of organizations that have embraced its solutions to optimize performance, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional user experiences in China.
For example, Merrill Corporation, a mergers and acquisitions platform whose technology is used to run more than a quarter of the world’s M&A activity, used Teridion to reduce latency by a staggering 75% while maintaining security, and respecting data sovereignty. Teridion’s solution made China a viable market for Merrill without escalating costs.
Teridion also helped world-leading manufacturing giant ATI get past significant hurdles with its remote desktop and transmission control protocols between their US and China sites. Though ATI’s connection was registered with the Ministry of Industry, ATI’s China-based employees had severe disruptions when trying to access US-based applications. Teridion emerged as a highly effective solution, delivering a fast, secure, and reliable site-to-site connection, significantly improving throughput, voice and video performance, and reducing loss and delays, as evidenced by the notable improvements in packet loss, latency, and other key metrics.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
VPNs offer a potential solution for overcoming internet restrictions, but the country’s active efforts to tighten control over VPN services and the diminishing options have left many businesses facing challenges with their VPN not functioning correctly in China. Identifying and maintaining reliable solutions can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive endeavor. The official stance of the Chinese government is that all VPN services must obtain a license from the government authorities to operate legally within the country’s boundaries. However, the process of acquiring such a license can be complex and challenging.
Recent regulatory developments indicate that the use of unauthorized VPN services to access restricted content, such as foreign websites and social media platforms, is prohibited. Businesses that require VPN services for legitimate purposes, such as establishing connections to international networks, may apply for a license. However, even in such cases, the government exercises close scrutiny over the usage patterns.
In essence, while the use of VPNs is not inherently illegal in China, their usage is heavily regulated, and individuals and businesses are required to adhere to government guidelines, obtain necessary licenses if applicable, and refrain from using unauthorized services to access restricted content.
Proxy Servers
In China, proxy servers can provide a way to access websites and online services that are otherwise blocked or restricted. A proxy acts as an intermediary, forwarding requests to the intended destination and retrieving the content on the user’s behalf, potentially circumventing censorship measures.
While proxy servers offer a degree of anonymity and the ability to bypass geographic restrictions, they generally do not provide the same level of security and privacy as VPNs. Unlike VPNs, which create an encrypted tunnel for all internet traffic, proxies typically only reroute traffic for specific applications, such as web browsers. It’s important to note that the reliability and effectiveness of proxy services can vary, and some may be detected and blocked by China’s internet censorship systems. Additionally, using proxy servers to access restricted content may violate local laws and regulations, so businesses must exercise caution and research the legal implications before proceeding.
DNS Tunneling
DNS tunneling involves encoding data into DNS queries and responses, allowing transfer of traffic over the DNS protocol which is often permitted through firewalls. It takes advantage of the ubiquity and permissive nature of DNS to bypass filters.
This method has pros like bypassing basic website blocks, but also significant drawbacks like very low bandwidth, latency issues, and increased risk of detection/blocking by advanced censorship systems watching for anomalous DNS patterns.
If pursued, precautions like using HTTPS encryption, rotating IP addresses, and chaining with other circumvention tools may help enhance security and performance to some degree. But there are no guarantees of reliable connectivity or complete anonymity.
Teridion | VPN | Proxy Servers | DNS Tunneling | ||
Security | High | Moderately high | Low to average | Low | |
Success in Bypassing Censorship | High | Moderately high | Moderately high | Average | |
Financial Cost | Average to low | Varies | Low to average | Low to average | |
Legal Risk | Low | Average to high | Average to high | Low to average | |
Explanations:
Security: Teridion and VPNs generally offer high security due to their encryption and tunneling techniques. Proxy servers and DNS tunneling have lower security, as they may not encrypt traffic end-to-end or use weaker encryption methods.
Success in Censorship Compliance: Teridion and VPNsare designed to bypass censorship effectively. Proxy servers can also be successful, but their performance may vary. DNS tunneling has a lower success rate due to its limited bandwidth and potential for detection by censorship systems.
Financial Cost: Teridion is a commercial service that is cost-effective compared to MPLS, SD-WAN and other commercial alternatives. VPNs often have subscription fees, ranging from low-cost to premium options. Proxy servers and DNS tunneling can be free or low-cost.
Legal Risk: Teridion and VPNs are generally considered low-risk, as they operate legally in many countries. Proxy servers may have higher legal risks, as their use could be interpreted as circumventing censorship in certain countries. DNS tunneling has a lower legal risk, as it is a legitimate technique for bypassing censorship.
Best Practices for Secure Internet Access in China
When it comes to secure internet access in China for businesses, striking the right balance between maintaining operational efficiency and complying with local laws and regulations is crucial. Businesses must stay updated on China’s evolving internet policies by monitoring official government sources, industry publications, relevant newsletters, forums, and social media channels. It’s also advisable to partner with reputable local service providers or consultants who can provide guidance on navigating the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
Respecting local laws and regulations is paramount. Businesses should familiarize themselves with China’s cybersecurity laws, data privacy regulations, and internet censorship policies, ensuring that their activities and online operations comply with these rules to avoid potential legal consequences. Seeking legal counsel or advice from local experts can help ensure compliance.
Rather than dealing with the hassle of implementing and managing secure internet access solutions themselves, businesses can leverage services like Teridion. Teridion provides a cloud-based network that enables secure and reliable internet access in China, while ensuring compliance with local regulations. By using Teridion’s platform, businesses can bypass the complexities of evaluating and implementing VPNs, secure remote access solutions, and other measures, instead focusing on their core operations while benefiting from Teridion’s expertise in navigating China’s complex internet landscape.
