At stake are gateways allowing secure access to corporate networks based on a browser security technology known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. Analysts and makers of SSL-based networking equipment say that large numbers of corporate users are starting to implement virtual private networks (VPNs) using SSL technology.
Network managers point to SSL as a significant step forward in VPN ease-of-use that is quickly gaining market share as an alternative to the popular but less flexible Internet Protocol security (IPSec) -- a trend that in turn is fuelling new demand among companies and employees for remote network access.
According to a report last year sponsored by AT&T, better access to networks from remote locations was cited as the No. 1 factor driving increased demand in remote working.
"Six months ago, people were on the fence about SSL VPNs," said Jason Matlof, a vice president of marketing for secure access products at NetScreen Technologies. "But the pendulum has totally swung in the other direction, and people are saying they won't do remote access without SSL."
SSL's rising fortunes have drawn industry giants to the technology, forcing a shakeout for the small start-ups that dominated the market only a year ago. Today, SSL products are offered by most of the big names in security and switching, including Cisco Systems, Check Point Software, F5 Networks, Nokia, NetScreen, Nortel Networks and Symantec.
Some of these companies -- F5 Networks, NetScreen and Symantec -- have acquired start-ups for their technology; others, such as Cisco, Nokia and Nortel, have developed the technology in-house.
"To date, most of the SSL VPN vendors have been small and couldn't address the broader market," said Erik Suppiger, an analyst with Pacific Growth Equities. "With larger companies providing distribution, there's more awareness in the market, and I think that's helping drive demand."
SSL has been around
SSL technology is nothing new. It's been embedded in most standard Web browsers for years, allowing e-commerce vendors such as Amazon.com and E-trade to provide secure Internet transactions.
Even though SSL seems like an obvious technology choice for accessing a VPN, it's taken awhile for the market to gain momentum. Start-ups Neoteris (which was recently bought by NetScreen) and Aventail first started building products about three years ago. But business started to pick up only recently.
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