While IPSec remains the dominant technology used to implement Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is rapidly gaining mainstream acceptance, with its use nearly doubling in the US between 2004 and 2006, research has claimed.

According to Infonetics Research, VPN adoption in the US will rocket over the next two years.

"By 2006, nearly 70 per cent of respondents' mobile workers and telecommuters [will] use VPNs," said Jeff Wilson, principal analyst at Infonetics Research.

"The two-thirds ceiling that appeared to limit remote access VPNs when IPSec was the main choice is melting away."

Respondents to Infonetics' market research cited ease of use and lack of client software as the most complelling SSL VPN drivers. Others included the deployment of more web-based applications and the requirement to work from non-company owned computers.

The analyst firm's study found that about a third of mobile workers, on average, access their VPNs from the road by using hospitality broadband connections.

The use of 802.11 hotspots is predicted to grow from an average of 13 per cent currently to 27 per cent in 2006.