Microsoft Corp. is ranked a “Leader” in the “Forrester Wave: SSL VPN Appliances, Q4 2006,” published this week. This marks the first time Microsoft has been included in this prestigious review of the secure sockets layer virtual private networking (SSL VPN) market prepared by Forrester Research Inc., an independent research firm. Microsoft’s SSL VPN products were recognized for their security support, manageability and usability, and monitoring and reporting features, and Microsoft received one of the top scores for its overall product strategy (http://www.microsoft.com/whale).

“Microsoft has moved quickly and efficiently into the SSL VPN appliance market with its acquisition of Whale Communications, now a wholly owned subsidiary. Whale’s Intelligent Application Gateway places Microsoft among the top SSL VPN vendors and provides a critical component for enhancing its Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server. The result should not only be a heavyweight contender for enterprise remote access, but an ideal architecture for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) as well,” the report stated.

Microsoft’s SSL VPN solutions covered in the Forrester report include the Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG) and Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server. Together, these products provide the cornerstone for Microsoft’s overall secure access strategy and platform. Microsoft scored a 4.70 out of a potential 5.0 on product strategy, with the Forrester report noting that “Microsoft has a very strong vision that involves further integration of its IAG assets into the broader security and access portfolio.”