Check Point Offers a United Front Against Threats

In today’s world of technology threats, you can drive yourself crazy and/or broke purchasing and setting up separate products for firewall, virtual private networks and antivirus protection. Recognizing this, vendors have been introducing unified threat management products that offer multiple security options in one device.

The latest comes from Check Point Software Technologies, which today announced the availability of Safe@Office 500/500W ADSL appliances. In addition to providing built-in security features, Check Point takes the appliance concept a step further by also including an ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) modem. Check Point Software offers both wired or wireless appliance — the wireless version carrying the W designation and includes an integrated 802.11b/g secure access point.

Safe@Office 500/500W ADSL packs security and connectivity in one appliance.

The goal of the 500 and 500W, according to spokesman Liran Eshel, is to help small business “secure, connect and manage by offering enterprise-grade functions.” He added that there is a growing demand for VPN at all small businesses.” Other trends include the need to have multiple layers of virus protection. “It’s best to have anti-virus on desktop and at the gateway,” Eshel said.

By integrating firewall, IPSec VPN, intrusion prevention and antivirus technologies with a high-speed ADSL modem in a hardware device, the company says small businesses and remote offices can simplify the task of connecting to the Internet and ensure complete security for critical Internet communications.

Eshel said that the Safe@Office 500/500W ADSL further ensures safe communications by “looking inside the packets to identify peer-to-peer and instant messaging security threats.”

In addition to its goal of providing security, the Safe@Office 500/500W ADSL is also a network router, featuring a high-speed broadband modem port, 4-port LAN switch, a dedicated DMZ port that can function as a secondary Internet connection (WAN2) and an optional wireless access point. To help ensure interoperability with more complex networks, the 500/500W support both static and dynamic routing options.

Prices for the 500 and 500W ranges from roughly $300 to $1,000, Eshel said, depending on options and number of user accounts.

The product will also be sold through Check Point’s partners. For example, ISPs will likely offer Internet connectivity packages with remotely managed security services to small businesses.

Dan Muse is executive editor of internet.com’s Small Business Channel, EarthWeb’s Networking Channel and ServerWatch.