Study sees SSL VPNs being used for network access control

SSL VPNs have made a pretty good run at IPSec VPNs, trying to displace them as the preferred remote access method, and now the SSL technology is going after network access control.

According to a study by Infonetics Research, some SSL VPN vendors claim that half of their SSL VPN sales go to businesses that use the devices as a way to control access to networks from internal users logging in from the LAN, not just remote access users gaining entry via the Internet.

According to the study, “Enforcing Network Access Control: Market Outlook and Worldwide Forecast,” most customers will still buy SSL gateways because they need a remote access platform. But once they have it installed, they will use it for network access control, as well.

Those companies using SSL VPN technology as their primary network access control method is less impressive. Currently, the study places that at 15%, and that will shrink to 11% by the end of 2008. During that time, more and more customers will be using some form of network access control, so it is a smaller percentage of a larger pool.

Also during that time, network-integrated network access control will retain its dominance over other methods, nailing down 79% today and with that shrinking to 72% by the end of 2008. The third option, separate enforcement applications that overlay existing networks, will grow from 6% to 17%.

Because the method that is apparently preferred – network-integrated – is still maturing, businesses that already have SSL VPN gear may want to consider it as an interim method of controlling internal access to network resources. It could be a cost-saving stop-gap measure until they feel ready to adopt another method.