Network Protection Gets Physical

Surprisingly, a key element of a secure solution is often overlooked—physical security. Protecting network systems from hackers, code thieves, scammers and data theft is only half the problem. To offer complete protection, the physical aspects of a customer's network must also be secured. NetBotz specializes in security appliances that monitor the physical environment around network components.

The NetBotz appliance acts as a physical security guard for expensive IT equipment, offering video surveillance, audio, environmental and physical entry-point monitoring, as well as options such as GPS and wireless integration.

The NetBotz solution is scalable, and offers three different appliance options: the NetBotz 320 for entry-level monitoring of small data centers, the NetBotz 420 for midsize data center security, and the NetBotz 500, a unit designed to monitor large data centers, including warehouses and loading docks.

CRN Test Center engineers evaluated the NetBotz 500 and were impressed with the robustness of expansion and monitoring options. Setup was simply plug-and-play. An IP address was entered and the unit plugged into the network. All other set up chores took place through a browser-based interface. Initial setup does require a serial interface, however, which could be a problem for those using notebook computers with USB ports only.

The management console offers easy access to both control and monitoring functions. With those two elements readily handled, solution providers should focus on the monitoring options offered by the NetBotz 500.

The wall-mountable unit offers temperature, humidity, air flow, dew point, audio and video sensors that monitor the entire data center environment. Solution providers can build upon those basic functions by adding external sensors attached to the unit's USB ports. These external sensors extend monitoring beyond the data center and can incorporate all of the standard sensors, along with a door switch to monitor entry and exit points.

The NetBotz appliance can also monitor warehouses and loading docks, thus improving ROI by reducing inventory shrinkage due to theft. This can result in lowering a company's insurance rates. For businesses that deploy multiple NetBotz units, the company offers NetBotz Central, a centralized management appliance for all deployed NetBotz security units. NetBotz Central is invaluable for managing multiple units in multiple locations.

What's more, the product offers historical logging and reporting capabilities and one-touch programming, which pushes control policies to a group of units simultaneously.

NetBotz's single-tier Partner Advantage program requires a $125,000 annual revenue commitment, sales and technical certification and purchase of demonstration equipment. In return, partners receive a margin of 25 percent to 30 percent with an additional 10 percent margin on qualified and registered products. Marketing collateral and access to sales and technical support are available on a dedicated partner Web site.

The program also provides monthly Web-based training, update training and priority access to technical support. Regional sales managers and inside sales teams are available to offer pre- and post-sales support.

Solution providers will find that NetBotz's products are an ideal avenue for tapping revenue from physical security services, opening the door beyond the typical IT integration and support business model.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>NetBotz 500

COMPANY: NetBotz, Inc.
Austin, Texas
(512) 439-5800
www.netbotz.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Alternative Technology, Anixter, Tech Data
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

Note: Recommended status is earned with a score of eight stars out of 10