* Study into user plans for VPN products and services
SSL VPN gear continues to make inroads into business networks, according to a recent study by Infonetics research.
While the technology is years younger than IPSec VPNs, 39% of the 250 small, midsized and large businesses surveyed that use VPNs for remote access say they use SSL gear.
The study, “User plans for VPN Products and Services, North American Verticals 2005.” found most VPN users hang on to their equipment for two to four years, with those strapped for money stretching the term to six years. This follows an industry rule of thumb that security gear should be replaced on a shorter cycle than networking equipment. This ensures that outdated gear that can’t effectively handle new security threats is weeded out.
The big impetus for users switching their gear is new technology, not a swap-out schedule, the study says. So if a vendor comes up with something unique or if a new technology seems better than the one customers already have, they are more likely to replace their gear. This is a plus for SSL vendors because SSL is regarded as a hot new technology that appeals to business security professionals.
Those who use VPN gear prefer appliances to VPN capabilities being built into routers, the study found. Only 14% of those polled said they use managed VPN services, and there is no clear leader among the service providers. Large local carriers and long-distance carriers tend to be preferred, though.
