Mobile Access: SSL And IPsec VPNs

In January and February of 2007, Forrester surveyed 1,033 North American and European network and telecommunications decision-makers about general trends and budgeting priorities in their organizations' telecommunications environments. When asked about specific priorities for landline data technologies and services, Forrester found that IPsec VPNs remain the top technology for remote access while SSL VPNs continue to gain in popularity. Of the 608 landline data decision-makers asked about their adoption of remote-access VPN technologies, 59% have already fully deployed or are currently upgrading IPsec VPNs, while only 40% have fully deployed or are currently upgrading SSL VPNs. The preference for both IPsec and SSL VPNs as a managed service will alter a market already showing a preference for network-based solutions over those hosted in-house. Vendors hoping to maintain a position in this space must highlight their solution's ability to function as a network-based asset and prepare for an increasing number of channel partners and users to demand the technology as a service.