NAI, Check Point Team on Appliance

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.

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.