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The market for virtual private network (VPN) solutions that use secure socket layer (SSL) security is poised for significant growth during the next five years. That’s according to Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) in a recent report on the world SSL VPN market.

 

The research firm reported that this particular market brought in revenues of $370.7 million during 2006, and likely will be worth more than $1 billion by 2013. This growth will occur as new industry standards for remote access applications are fine-tuned, overcoming some of the existing challenges associated with the use of SSL VPNs.

 

“SSL VPN enables a corporation to deliver granular controls to applications that are deployed within and outside of the enterprise, such as access for corporate partners and remote access for traveling and remote workers,” said Frost & Sullivan analyst Terrence Brewton.

 

Brewton continued: “The primary benefit of SSL VPN technology is its capability to secure IP-based communication without the use of a VPN client. This gives SSL technology an added advantage over other VPN technologies such as multi-protocol layer switching (MPLS) and IPSEC.”

 

Compliance with vertical-specific security legislation such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) are driving factors for SSL VPN market growth, Frost & Sullivan said. Application level solutions and remote access gateways are especially popular.

 

Individuals and certain segments in IT department still want for resource expenditure in IPSec VPN even when enterprises already have demonstrated a tangible willingness to invest in IT security.

 

Traditional VPN’s rely on IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) to tunnel between the two endpoints. IPSec works on the network layer of the OSI Model; data traveling between two endpoints is secured without association with any specific application. When connected on an IPSec VPN the client computer is “virtually” a full member of the corporate network--able to see and potentially access the entire network, Frost & Sullivan explained.

 

SSL is a common protocol and most web browsers have SSL capabilities built in. Therefore almost every computer in the world is already equipped with the necessary “client software” to connect to an SSL VPN.

 

Enterprises are in no hurry, Frost & Sullivan noted, to switch from IPSec to SSL VPNs. But, SSL VPNs have been gaining popularity, even if they (like IPSec VPNs) are not the right solution for every instance. Enterprises are realizing positive balance in tradeoffs between the two technologies and using them to provide traditional VPN connectivity for remote users and using enhance SSL VPN features to address back-end security issues.  

 

“While it is understandable that these enterprises would not wish to resign these investments to obsolescence within a short period of time and that SSL and IPSec VPN offer both exclusive and complementary trade-offs, the marketplace has already started to address some of the confusion that has accompanied enterprises picking and choosing amongst VPNs,” Brewton said. 

 

In spite of challenges, the SSL VPN market will continue to see steady growth and acceptance as corporations are forced to deal with regulatory and security challenges in providing remote access, Frost & Sullivan predicted. Dealers will do well to adopt more agile solutions that offset the chief restraints of the technology such as performance, price and acceptance.