Network security vendor SonicWall has announced it will buy secure sockets layer virtual private network (SSL VPN) vendor Aventail for $25 million.

"We looked at companies that we felt had really good technology, that was complementary to ours and maybe struggling in market development or the way they went to market," said SonicWall's European vice president, Martin Blough.  " Aventail fits this profile and the acquisition allows us is to expand into the higher mid-market, which complements our SMB focus."

Blough said the company sees the SSL VPN market as "vibrant and growing", a view backed up by research firm Infonetics which predicted the market share for the SSL VPN remote access way of securing users, as being a third by 2008. Infonetics recently said that unit shipments of SSL VPN gateways were up 11 percent worldwide in Q1.

"We fully expect to support all Aventail's customers and we're putting in phone calls during the next 2-3 days to assure customers that we'll continue to support and develop the Aventail product line," added Blough. "We expect to enhance that line, which in the future will take on the SonicWall label."