Microsoft developing new VPN secure tunneling protocol

Along with Vista Service Pack 1 and Longhorn Server, Microsoft plans to debut another new product this year: a new Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol or SSTP. According to the company, SSTP will resolve certain issues that exist with VPN tunneling: namely, problems that arise when attempting to use a VPN client in conjunction with a firewall, router or web proxy. As one would expect, SSTP will work with Microsoft's existing VPN software, though it's not clear if SSTP will be available for use in other VPN clients (Microsoft currently has no plans to standardize SSTP). If you have a lot of users who use VPN tunneling to remotely access your network, it might be worthwhile to sign up for the upcoming Longhorn Beta test, in order to get an early glimpse of the new protocol.

For more on the new SSTP:
- see this NetworkWorld article