The 10 Coolest Network Security Products Of 2015 (So Far)

Stepping Up In Security

The year is already off to a rough start from a security perspective, with mega data breaches rippling through headlines and hitting companies and the federal government alike. However, both startups and traditional vendors in network security are stepping up their game big time in 2015 so far, launching new products and making key acquisition additions to their lineups.

Take a look at some of the coolest network security products recommended by analysts and solution providers alike for the year, so far.

For more on the "coolest" of 2015, check out "CRN's Tech Midyear In Review."

LightCyber Magna Active Breach Detection

Being hit by a data breach is inevitable, experts agree, but a company can prevent a breach from becoming a catastrophe by ramping up its detection capabilities. That's exactly what LightCyber offers, with its easy-to-deploy breach detection solutions for both the network and the endpoint under its Magna Active Breach Detection platform. The company recently got a big buy-in from Check Point Software Technologies founder Schlomo Kramer, who made a personal equity investment and joined the Los Altos, Calif.-based company's board of directors in June. He called the company's technology the "next frontier of network security."

Barracuda Security Suite

Launched in the fall, Barracuda Networks' Security Suite includes its Firewall, Web Filter and Spam Firewall. The Campbell, Calif.-based company has continued to make enhancements to the solution this year, which is targeted primarily at the SMB market. Those enhancements include improvements to the company's Web Application Firewall and features for customers looking to move to Microsoft Azure. Partners praised the solution for its technical capabilities and price point, particularly around company's NG Firewall solution and backup line. The company also recently rolled out a new, revamped partner program to better tailor resources to grow partner sales.

PAN-OS 7.0

Launched in June, the PAN-OS 7.0 version of Palo Alto Networks' security platform added new capabilities around applications and breach prevention. In particular, Palo Alto added an Automated Correlation Engine, enhancements to its WildFire threat intelligence capabilities, high-capacity Network Processing Cards, and more advanced policy management capabilities. Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Calif., has been recognized by partners and research firms in the market, with solution provider partners around the country saying they see the vendor displacing more traditional competitors in the field and Gartner yet again naming it as a "leader in enterprise network firewalls.

CylanceProtect

A perennial favorite on CRN lists of emerging vendors, hot security startups and more, solution providers named Irvine, Calif.-based antivirus vendor Cylance as their security startup standout for 2015. Branding itself as a next-generation antivirus solution, CylanceProtect is an advanced threat detection and antivirus solution based on machine learning and artificial intelligence. Partners praised the startup as a great alternative to expand their portfolio beyond the traditional cast of antivirus vendors on the market.

i boss FireSphere

Launched in the fall, iboss FireSphere is an innovative advanced persistent threat solution for malware detection using continuous infection monitoring, base-lining anomaly detection, behavioral sandboxing and an integrated Threat-SIEM console. The San Diego-based company upgraded the solution this year to add network anomaly monitoring technology. It also added a new advanced threat research center and notched a partnership with Hewlett-Packard around its SDN Ecosystem. Jane Wright, senior analyst at Technology Business Research, praised the solution, saying its dual sandboxing capabilities added "more flexibility to customers that are looking to balance security and performance," as well as its "very extensive" emulations of environments in the sandbox for detecting more advanced malware.

Check Point Next Generation Firewalls

In 2015 so far, Check Point has been holding on to its spot at the front of the firewall pack with its Next Generation Firewall line. The company was named a leader yet again in this year's Gartner Magic Quadrant for enterprise network firewalls and has been making big moves in recent months to build its network security portfolio. In April, the company acquired Lacoon Mobile Security to bolster its mobile security portfolio and in February the Tel Aviv, Israel-based company acquired advanced threat detection company Hyperwise. The result is a company that is becoming even more-well positioned in the market, with strong technical capabilities and proven sales capabilities in the enterprise, Gartner said.

Cisco OpenDNS

This year, Cisco Systems said it was getting serious about security and it already has started to build on that "Security Everywhere" strategy with the June acquisition of OpenDNS. The San Francisco-based company is a cloud-based security specialist, with particular expertise around advanced threat protection and enhanced visibility solutions. The solution will be integrated with San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco's own advanced threat protection capabilities to build a cloud-delivered security platform and drive threat intelligence and visibility across the network, executives said.

McAfee Next Generation Firewall

The McAfee Next Generation Firewall, now part of Intel Security, features integrated application control, IPS, advanced evasion protection, centralized management and more. That technology is proving valuable as Intel Security pushes forward in the Internet of Things and wearables. In June, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company announced its NGFW would be part of a partnership with Honeywell around securing the industrial Internet of Things. The move comes as Intel Security looks to deepen its integration of security products across the Intel portfolio, an integration that was fully completed July 1 as part of an Intel reorganization.

Hillstone Intelligent Next-Generation Firewall

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Hillstone Networks' Intelligent Next-Generation Firewall got a boost this year with its February addition of behavioral intelligence to detect anomalous behavior on the network and provide real-time visibility into the network and applications. Technology Business Research's Wright gave kudos to the solution's "very extensive set of intelligence," including behavioral information, statistical algorithms and forensics insights. That level of intelligence helps make the solution more effective in fighting back against the onslaught of advanced threats attacking network infrastructures, she said.

CounterTack Sentinel

Named one of CRN's 10 Coolest Security Startups of 2014, solution providers said CounterTack deserved a mention this year on our list of coolest network security products so far. The company's Sentinel product offers advanced threat detection and response at the endpoint, using behavioral monitoring and analytics to detect an attack. Part of an emerging category of vendors focusing on threat detection at the endpoint, partners praised this tool in particular for its monitoring capabilities as well as its interface. Last year, the company launched a new channel program focused on highly technical partners and MSPs. More recently, the Waltham, Mass.-based company landed $15 million in Series C funding in June to help continue driving its growth trajectory in the market.