Welcome to the world of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Virtual Private Networks (VPNS), the hottest of hotspots in town, fuelled by the surge towards more remote working for employees - from home, behind a firewall on another company's network, at a hotel using a broadband connection, on wireless LANs, or at a public kiosk. Wherever you like.

The SSL VPN market has just exploded, with over £230m already invested in the sector. Infonetics Research, for example, predicts that SSL VPNs will become a £350m ($607m) market opportunity by 2006 - for a combined annual growth rate of 105 percent.


The mix of having the right technology - SSL VPNS - at the right time - now - to suit a business need - remote access - has proved a perfect one. Add in legislation guaranteeing workers more "place-of-work" flexibility, and the availability of broadband connections, and the mix has become a heady cocktail that the market wants and needs.

Remote-working is sweeping the working world, a by-product of the need for workers en route between appointments to catch up on email via a Wi-Fi connection in the nearest Café Latte. Or spend quality time with their families, avoiding the pointless daily commute usually spent in a traffic jam, or stuck on a stationary train. Or access their mail and documents easily and securely when working abroad.