SonicWall Launches Security Appliance Series

Network Security

Executives say that the new appliance offers a comprehensive strategy that addresses the increasingly complex security environment faced by midsize enterprises. The NSA offering also allows security operations to be conducted safely and efficiently without compromising performance or manageability.

"(Enterprises) want consolidation of security, but they don't want it to have a tremendous impact on their network," said John Kuhn, director of product management for SonicWall. "For the first time, you're able to turn on all of the inspection that you want without compromising the performance of the system."

The NSA Series multi-core platform, which is now targeted for the mid-size enterprise organizations, first appeared in the E-class appliance launched in 2007. The appliance allows execs and IT administrators to impose tighter control of network activity, while securing, blocking and authorizing Web applications. Ultimately, the tighter controls result in increased network visibility and the reduction of the security breaches or threats, execs say.

Increasingly the rise of Web 2.0 threats and network traffic have led to colossal challenges for mid-size businesses when implementing security systems and protecting data. With new applications, exponential growth of inbound and outbound communication, and an array of new security threats, it has never been more important, or more difficult, for an IT department to gain full control across the corporate network, execs say.

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However, that kind of control is easier said than done, Kuhn said. Gone are the days that enterprises set up their businesses like a fortress, guarding only against external threats from the outside, Kuhn said.

"More attacks are happening internally," said Kuhn. "It's this growth in Web 2.0 and SaaS, that's driving this de-perimeterization.

The NSA Series provides sophisticated intelligence and monitoring capabilities that help protect midsize organizations against a wide range of viruses, spyware, worms, Trojans, phishing attacks and other malware. The device uses multi-function protection technologies that include intrusion prevention and advanced file and content antivirus/ anti-spyware inspection, as well as a combination of assembly-free DPI and purpose-built, multi-core acceleration hardware, which are also present in the E-Class appliances. The RFDPI engine can also inspect unlimited file sizes without putting contraints on processing time, execs say.

In addition, the application firewall features easily-configurable tools preventing content and data leaks while providing application control that can be set per user, e-mail user, per schedule and per IP subnet levels. It also features multi-core performance architecture designed for high speed internal and external network protection, as well as clean VPN, VoIP capabilities, secure distributed wireless LAN services, advanced routing and networking features and a global management system.

Plus, the wizard-driven device enables a quick start-up and easy access for all types of users, execs say. And built-in reporting capabilities will provide administrators crucial information about their network, such as the number of applications and types of threats that are being blocked, how much time users spend surfing the Web and the sites visited.

"It allows administrators to understand what applications are being used internally," said Kuhn. "Most people don't have the ability to look at what their users are doing. If they can position that control point, they'll typically win that deal."