WatchGuard Increases Network Security For UTM Devices

network security software Edge

The new WatchGuard Fireware 10 and Edge 10 releases come with a host of features designed to alleviate connectivity challenges, enhance security, and provide administrators with new levels of network security visibility for the Firebox X Peak, Core and Edge appliance families, execs say.

In particular, Version 10 addresses the needs of businesses with an increasingly mobile workforce. Peak is targeted toward the midtier or lower enterprise segment, while Core continues to occupy SME businesses, execs say. The Edge line is geared toward the smaller SMB space.

"Really, this opens up the door to giving businesses with mobile workers or a remote workforce that extra layer of security to conduct business even better than before," said Chris McKie, global analyst for WatchGuard, noting that the improved security of the appliances speaks to all market segments. "Everybody wants to have the greatest security," he said.

In order to address the growing need for remote security, Fireware 10 and Edge 10 offer SSL VPN functionality, allowing mobile workers to remain safely connected from almost anywhere. Both operating systems will support Mobile VPN or Windows Mobile devices.

Once connected, users can take advantage of the sign-on capability, which provides pass through authentication, as well as added support for Vasco's two-factor authentication solutions.

Customers running the optional spamBlocker security subscription will have access to support for virus outbreak detection -- a real-time technology that identifies and blocks malicious code sent via e-mail, such as spam, viruses and phishes. Connected users are given immediate protection against "zero-day" threats, due to the fact that no signatures are required.

For network administrators, WatchGuard's System Manager also comes with scalable logging and reporting engines, along with new log analysis tools, integration of LiveSecurity alerts into the appliance, and support for SNMP v3, which provides administrators with strong network security visibility. Additional administrative tools include up to 54 categories of Web filtering preferences, including URL-based filters.

Version 10 also addresses security problems created when students and employees simply insert an "s" at the end of http, allowing them to bypass network security filters and surf unauthorized or unsafe Web sites. Both Fireware 10 and Edge 10 include WebBlocker filter for https Web pages, which prevents these pages from being accessed and ensures only legitimate pages are viewed.

"Because of applications proxy capability, it prevents the type of threats that haven't been developed yet," said McKie. "It addresses those application layer threats that aren't signature based. That's the beauty of the heart of the technology -- to address unknown threats that haven't been developed."