In OCI, what is the purpose of a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN)?

The purpose of a Virtual Cloud Network (VCN) in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is to create a private network that enables communication between OCI resources. VCNs are foundational to networking in OCI, allowing users to design their own isolated network environments that can include compute instances, storage services, and other resources.

By setting up a VCN, architects can manage their networking configurations, such as subnets, route tables, and network security lists, without the constraints typically associated with public networks. This isolation is crucial for security, as it allows entities to define precise access controls and maintain confidentiality of data being transferred within the cloud environment. Additionally, VCNs provide flexibility to scale and manage infrastructure securely while maintaining connectivity among various components.

This private network capability supports features like hybrid cloud configurations where on-premises networks can connect to OCI resources securely. Thus, understanding VCNs is essential for anyone leveraging OCI's capabilities, particularly for implementing secure and efficient cloud architectures.