Tunneling protocols are designated to facilitate the transmission of data packets over a network by encapsulating them within another packet. This encapsulation allows for secure data transmission over public networks or enables communication between networks with differing protocols. Commonly used in virtual private networks (VPNs), tunneling protocols enhance privacy and security by encrypting the data transmitted through the tunnel. There are various types of tunneling protocols, including Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), and Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). Each protocol has its strengths and use cases depending on the required security levels and network architecture.