Managing access to private network resources from external devices via a relay computing element

Abstract

Described herein are systems, methods, and software that manage the communication between computing elements outside a private network and computing elements inside a private network. In one example, a relay computing element receives a first packet from a first computer outside a private network. The relay computing element determines whether the first packet is permitted for a second computer inside the private network. If the first packet is permitted, the relay computing element generates a second packet with the first packet in the payload and encapsulates the second packet in a third packet. Once encapsulated, the third packet is forwarded to the second computer.