SAN JOSE, Calif. -- IPSec remains the dominant technology used to implement VPNs in North America, but MPLS and SSL are gaining mainstream acceptance, with SSL use nearly doubling between 2004 and 2006, according to Infonetics Research's latest study, User Plans for VPN Products and Services, North America 2004. Infonetics is widely recognized as the leading expert in the VPN space since publishing the industry's definitive early analysis on the subject in 1997, and conducting VPN user plans studies for seven consecutive years.

"By 2006, nearly 70% of respondents' mobile workers and telecommuters/day extenders use VPNs," said Jeff Wilson, principal analyst of Infonetics Research. "The two-thirds ceiling that appeared to limit remote access VPNs when IPSec was the main choice is melting away."

Respondents noted that ease of use and the lack of client software lead the list of SSL VPN drivers by far, but there are others, including the deployment of more Web-based applications and the requirement to work from non-company-owned computers."

Infonetics Research Inc.