Review: Secure Wired/Wireless Access In A Snap

The SnapGear SG565 focuses on securing both wired and wireless access for small and midsize businesses. The product combines an 802.11b/g access point with a highly integrated security engine, offering administrators a stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewall and a VPN plus load balancing, fail-over, Intrusion detection, threat mitigation, content filtering and secure remote management capabilties in one device.

Setup and management can be done via a secure browser using wizard-based tools. For those who like to delve into the nuts and bolts of the unit, a textual command-line interface can be used.

One pillar of any security appliance is an integrated firewall. Here, the SG565 relies on an ICSA-certified SPI engine, which is built off a hard-end version of Linux. The firewall uses dynamic technology to repel denial-of-service attacks, port scans and unauthorized probes into the network.

A chunk of what the firewall accomplishes is to prevent intrusions. The SG565 uses an active intrusion-detection system (IDS) powered by Snort to proactively monitor network events and alert network personnel if there's suspicious activity. The IDS assists with intrusion mitigation by profiling traffic bidirectionally to help identify compromised systems.

The SG565, too, serves up virus protection. Administrators will find embedded antivirus gateway services for SMTP, HTTP, POP3 and FTP, which should corral the brunt of viruses infecting businesses today. That said, VARs should always layer antivirus technology by deploying a desktop- or server-based antivirus engine to provide a safeguard for anything that may slip past the SG565.

Secure Computing also offers an optional content-filtering service. Although the service isn't tightly integrated with the SG565, it's a worthwhile option. The filtering is provided by WebWasher, a separate Secure Computing service that offers yearly contracts.

The CRN Test Center would like to see the service better integrated with the SG565, with options and reporting handled directly from the appliance's management console.

NEXT: Channel program info and the Test Center rating.