WatchGuard Security Appliances Grow with Your Business

fact sheet Vendor: WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (www.watchguard.com) Vendor's Information: About WatchGuard Firebox X Edge About WatchGuard

The goal of every small business is to expand, and in today's world small businesses that are just getting started or larger business that are opening branch offices need security that can expand with them.

Just because you're a small business doesn't mean you should rely on the same security measures you use for your home computer.

"Consumer-grade security is very different from business-grade security," said Tracy Hillstrom, Senior Product Manager for WatchGuard, a Seattle-based maker of network security solutions for the small to medium sized business. "One of the things we've found is that there's a gap between threats that actually exist and what most people know about."

The reality is that everyone can be a victim of an attack, Hillstrom said, even if you think your business is too small or doesn't store a lot of confidential data. Business owners need to be cognizant of more than their data and their clients' data. Hackers can still try to access your network just to harness its computing power to distribute spam or viruses.

Like businesses of any size, small businesses should heed the basic steps of computer and network security: monitor logs regularly, install patches promptly, and train your users in security. Small businesses are less likely to face internal threats compared to larger enterprises, but they should resist putting too much control or knowledge in the hands or head of one person.

Small businesses need to handle some of the most basic IT security tasks even if they don't have an IT professional on staff. Routers, switches, and other networking gear should be properly configured, with the default passwords changed. The proper precautions should also be taken with wireless networks, whether at the office or on the road. Best practices for wi-fi security include using reputable hot spots, using wired networks when they're available, and choosing encrypted connections when possible.

Users on the small business network also need to exercise care with the Web sites they visit and e-mail they open. Some firewall and VPN appliances aimed at the small business market include antispam technology and the ability to block and filter malicious Web pages.

WatchGuard's Firebox X Edge e-Series is a standalone firewall and VPN solution designed for small businesses, remote offices, and telecommuters. Edge e-Series appliances are small tabletop devices that sit between your small business's WAN connection and your local network.

Edge e-Series appliances can include antivirus and antispam protection for users who choose to get a subscription. They are available in three models: the X10e, X20e, and X55e. Wireless versions of each model, which work as 802.11 routers, are also available. (Hint: the model numbers tell you approximately how many users each model can support.)

WatchGuard's approach to security builds on the concept of Unified Threat Management (UTM), a term coined by IDC analyst Charles Kolodgy in 2003. Instead of utilizing separate appliances, such as a spam firewall, Web application filter, and IDS/IDP solution, UTM puts all of these services into a single, integrated network security appliance.

To help small business effectively manage their security while handling growth, WatchGuard allows users to upgrade from the X10e to X20e or from the X20e to the X55e for increased capacity by simply downloading a license key. There's no need to rip and replace hardware as your small business grows.

The Fireware XTM operating system behind the appliances helps keep your network safe with HTTPS inspection, VoIP security, and application filtering. The operating system can be upgraded to the XTM Pro operating system (XTM Pro ships with the Edge X55e model) with a license key. XTM Pro offers additional features, including a WAN failover that lets users create a second WAN for failover. It also offers additional VPN tunnels.

Managing WatchGuard Edge e-Series appliances is simple using WatchGuard System Manager, the command line interface, or a Web UI that allows users to generate reports and gain visibility into the network.

Thanks to smart default settings and configuration wizards, the Edge e-Series features easy installation and management for employees of small businesses who may not be technology experts.

In addition to being easy to use, the easy upgrade options and the range of security offered make WatchGuard's Edge e-Series a value-oriented proposition.

"You can't match the degree of security you get for the price," Hillstrom said.