WatchGuard Technologies announced the WatchGuard Firebox T10 Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution, a network security appliance that allows enterprises to extend powerful network security to Small Office Home Office (SOHO) environments. With 70 percent of high-value employees working at home at least once a week, the new solution allows network administrators to ensure robust protection of employees who are often managing the companies’ most critical intellectual property. The Firebox T10 features WatchGuard’s cloud-based Rapid Deploy capability, which instantly self-configures and begins reporting back to the administrator’s central console by simply plugging in the appliance.
“It’s no secret that attackers go for the weakest link when trying to get into a corporate network and this is often a home office or small office user. Yet, many organizations continue to rely on little or no security,” said Mike Jude, Senior Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “The ability to leverage the power of a UTM solution, like the Firebox T10, in remote locations and manage them from a single, central console, gives IT a powerful tool for administering and enforcing policy. And, it gives them a clear understanding of what’s happening across their network – sum total.”
According to a recent global WatchGuard survey of IT professionals, more than 82 percent allow employees to access the corporate network from a small office or home office location. However, nearly 30 percent do not require a gateway security device. For those that do, only 23 percent require users to use security products similar to those used in the corporate headquarters, with features such as Intrusion Prevention, AntiVirus, Data Loss Prevention, Application Control, AntiSPAM, and more.
In the same study, WatchGuard also found that 56 percent feel basic VPN access provides the needed protection against today’s SOHO threat landscape. WatchGuard’s Director of Security Strategy, Corey Nachreiner, says that VPN access is not complete security. “VPN access has long been the standard for protecting communications for home-based employees,” said Nachreiner. “However, if your endpoint device is not protected at the same level as your enterprise network, the VPN tunnel simply provides an open window into your business. You need to protect both, and the Firebox T10 is designed to make that easy and cost effective.”
As the Firebox T10 rolls out to the market, WatchGuard anticipates the small, cost-effective solution will also appeal to customers seeking full UTM protection for mobile kiosks and carts, such as those used in retail and health care environments, that regularly handle credit cards and personal information-and must meet the same stringent PCI and HIPAA compliance standards as larger offices and businesses.
