Two of the industrys largest security vendors are getting together to offer an all-in-one security appliance, and in so doing will join what is already a crowded market.
Network Associates Inc. and Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. last week announced a new partnership under which NAI will contribute some of its anti-virus technology to an existing Check Point appliance. The two companies plan to develop and market a solution that will be based on Check Points Safe@Office appliance, which is targeted at small businesses. The solution will include firewall, content filtering and VPN functionality, as well as NAIs McAfee VirusScan ASaP online anti-virus protection.
This agreement is part of a partner program built around NAIs new intrusion prevention strategy. Other new partners include Counterpane Internet Security Inc., ArcSight Inc., Guardent Inc. and NetForensics Inc.
| Security appliance options Product Features NAI-Check Point VPN, firewall, anti-virus, content filtering Symantecs Gateway Security VPN, firewall, anti-virus, content filtering, high-speed encryption Crossbeams X40 VPN, firewall, intrusion detection system, anti-virus, URL filtering ISS Proventia series VPN, firewall, IDS, anti-virus, anti-spam, content filtering | Security appliance options | Product | Features | NAI-Check Point | VPN, firewall, anti-virus, content filtering | Symantecs Gateway Security | VPN, firewall, anti-virus, content filtering, high-speed encryption | Crossbeams X40 | VPN, firewall, intrusion detection system, anti-virus, URL filtering | ISS Proventia series | VPN, firewall, IDS, anti-virus, anti-spam, content filtering | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security appliance options | ||||||||||||||||||
| Product | Features | |||||||||||||||||
| NAI-Check Point | VPN, firewall, anti-virus, content filtering | |||||||||||||||||
| Symantecs Gateway Security | VPN, firewall, anti-virus, content filtering, high-speed encryption | |||||||||||||||||
| Crossbeams X40 | VPN, firewall, intrusion detection system, anti-virus, URL filtering | |||||||||||||||||
| ISS Proventia series | VPN, firewall, IDS, anti-virus, anti-spam, content filtering | |||||||||||||||||
This interest in small business is new for Check Point, which has sold its products mainly to large enterprises. Still, the Redwood City, Calif., companys Safe@Office appliances and other efforts have brought it within reach of smaller businesses. NAI, based in Santa Clara, Calif., has a sizable consumer anti-virus business but has historically concentrated its enterprise sales efforts on larger companies.
The NAI-Check Point appliance will face myriad competitors. Everyone from Symantec Corp. and Internet Security Systems Inc. to smaller players such as Crossbeam Systems Inc. has a multifunction security appliance on the market. All the boxes include basic functions such as firewall, VPN and anti-virus capabilities, and many also have content filtering and other higher-level security capabilities.
However, observers say the new partnership brings some unique qualities to the game.”You stop viruses at the perimeter, and Check Point has a big presence there,” said Pete Lindstrom, and analyst at Spire Security LLC, in Malvern, Pa. The solution is slated for availability early next year.