McAfee's Secure-1: One-Stop Solution For Small Businesses

McAfee's Secure-1 appliance combines all the security elements needed by a small business into a single solution, with a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Solution providers can tailor the device to each business's specific needs, providing a variety of services based on a per-user, per-month pricing schedule.

The Secure-1 unit offers plug-and-play simplicity, and integrators will find the unit easy to set up and deploy. The browser-based interface uses setup and management wizards to speed deployment. Even tedious or difficult tasks such as port forwarding and adjusting DMZ settings are now easily accessed and modified. That ease of management extends to content and antivirus control, which also ensures the product is properly deployed. Solution providers can choose from "canned" scenarios to further speed deployment tasks or can custom-tailor security scenarios. Preset scenarios can also serve as a building block modified to fit each business. Predefined settings help make those canned scenarios secure and easy to understand as well as use.

Because the device leverages managed services, administration is even easier. McAfee controls the antivirus portion of the unit via a subscription. The incorporated firewall is based on Check Point Software Technologies' software and is also automatically maintained through McAfee's managed services. These elements remove much of the burden from solution providers, allowing them to focus on security reporting and other management chores. The unit also integrates VPN connectivity, which helps to further secure small-business networks accessed by remote users.

Solution providers will appreciate the unit's basic reporting capabilities, which create customized reports that demonstrate effectiveness of the device and process ROI calculations.

McAfee offers a simplified and flexible agreement structure, which is geographically customized. Partners fall into one of three levels—Elite, Premier or Associate—based on their level of commitment, accreditation and interest in joint marketing, training and support incentives. Elite partners receive face-to-face support, Premier partners receive phone support and Associate partners receive Web-based support. Partners can expect margins in the 12 percent to 17 percent range. While the initial margins don't generate a great deal of profit, partners can choose to offer value-added services such as VPN deployment and security vulnerability assessment.

When offering a device such as Secure-1 that incorporates a managed service, solution providers should consider the implications for their overall business model. Managed services can cut into the bottom line, eliminating some of the profits gained by offering direct customer support. On the other hand, solution providers can benefit from reducing headaches associated with handling mundane tasks and can dedicate staff to higher-profit, higher-profile services. CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>McAfee Secure-1

COMPANY: McAfee, Inc.
Santa Clara, Calif.
(888) 847-8766
www.mcafee.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
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