LogMeIn has expanded its offerings for web-based remote access by acquiring Applied Networking, owner of virtual private network (VPN) software client Hamachi, for an undisclosed sum.

Hamachi was introduced in beta in January 2004, and has an estimated three million users. This would boost LogMeIn’s total subscriber base to around six million. Like LogMeIn, the Hamachi software runs on client PCs to offer peer-to-peer remote access, remote control and file transfer.

“Hamachi is really a faster, better, cheaper alternative to an IPSec VPN, providing full connectivity but the same amount of control,” said LogMeIn chief executive Michael Simon. “It can ensure compliance with corporate security policies and is fine with laptops, for example.”

The Hamachi software is available now in a free version, but will cost around $40 (£21) per user per year for a full-featured package.

LogMeIn touts ease of deployment as a major advantage, with users being able to set up VPNs to an office from remote locations such as hotel rooms or Wi-Fi hotspots in a matter of seconds. But some experts argue that it is precisely this ease of deployment that makes remote access tools like Hamachi and LogMeIn a security risk, because hackers can easily exploit the connections that users establish into corporate networks. Therefore, many companies prevent employees from using them.

Simon said that IT managers concerned about security can use a utility to monitor unofficial access. “We give away a tool called LogMeIn Scout, which sets up permissions in Active Directory and allows administrators to specify what people can do, like remote control but not file transfer, for instance,” he said.

LogMeIn also offers IT Reach, a central support and administration platform that allows a remote access client to be deployed via email to up to 500 workers. The same functionality will be incorporated into Hamachi in future, said Simons.