Check Point simplifies Internet security for SMEs with Safe@Office 500 Unified Threat Management appliances

Check Point Next Generation (NGX) technology combined with SofaWare`s easy-to-manage architecture offers all-in-one, layered security at a highly affordable price; new features include integrated anti-virus and intrusion prevention.

VAD Africa, a Check Point distributor, announced the new Check Point Safe@Office 500 and Safe@Office 500W Unified Threat Management (UTM) security appliances, offering small businesses unsurpassed network protection against dynamic zero-hour Internet attacks in a single, easy-to-deploy and affordable solution.

"Now, Check Point`s industry-leading enterprise network security is truly within reach for small businesses," said Laura Yecies, vice-president at Check Point.

The Check Point Safe@Office 500 and 500W, powered by advanced technology developed by Check Point subsidiary SofaWare Technologies Ltd, are all-in-one network security appliances featuring a firewall, VPN, anti-virus, intrusion prevention, traffic shaping and Web filtering. The Safe@Office 500W integrates a 108Mbps extended range wireless access point with powerful wireless security and guest hotspot capabilities.

The Safe@Office 500 series supports a rich set of additional online services such as anti-virus, security and firmware updates, providing zero-hour protection against rapidly propagating threats without any user intervention. It also has built-in interfaces that allow outsourcing security management to a trusted third party.

"The new Safe@Office 500 series solves the security dilemma for small businesses," said Liran Eshel, chief executive officer of SofaWare Technologies. "Today`s sophisticated hackers don`t discriminate based upon the size of the target, yet true enterprise-level security has been elusive for these customers. Our new product line was designed to meet the specific needs and limited budgets of small offices without compromising the level of protection and without requiring complex set up and management."

Safe@Office 500 is based on the new Check Point Embedded NGX 6.0, the latest security software platform based on Check Point`s market-leading Firewall-1 and VPN-1, adapted by SofaWare Technologies to fit embedded devices. UTM security appliances are layered network security hardware solutions integrating multiple features - including a network firewall, network intrusion prevention and gateway anti-virus within one box.

Check Point Embedded NGX 6.0 offers the following new benefits:

* Stateful virus protection - High-throughput network-based anti-virus scanner for e-mail, Web, file downloads or any other user defined port. Frequently updated to protect the office network against emerging computer viruses and phishing outbreaks.
* Intrusion prevention - Proactive network and application layer protection based on Check Point`s award-winning Application Intelligence technology protects the network against worms and denial of service attacks and allows fine control over instant messaging and peer-to-peer applications.
* Secured hotspots - Facilitates the creation of managed guest access networks with configurable Web-based authentication, temporary user accounts and RADIUS integration.
* Advanced network monitoring and troubleshooting tools - Built-in traffic monitoring and packet capture tools control and monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to ensure efficient utilisation of the office broadband connection.

Additional security and networking features include:

* Cost-effective secure remote access - Extensive VPN capabilities allowing small businesses to increase productivity by providing remote access to teleworkers and employees on the road as well as securely interconnect remote branches over low-cost broadband connections.
* Reliability and efficiency - Dual WAN, dialup backup and automatic failover between appliances assure that networks are up at all times. TrafficShaper (QoS) assists in optimising traffic flow and allows allocated guaranteed bandwidth for critical applications.

"Many security appliances are difficult to set up and maintain, draining hours, if not days, from a busy, small business environment," said Don Fuller, program manager at 123SECURE.NET, a small business managed-service partner. "Our customers need an all-in-one solution with as little overhead in terms of time and money as possible. Safe@Office simplifies Internet security for our customers, making the entire process truly plug-and-play while offering the best security available today."

The Safe@Office 500 series appliances will be available in January 2006. Pricing starts at R2 800 for the appliance, and as low as R65 annually per user for the firewall and anti-virus subscriptions. The Check Point SecuRemote VPN Client is bundled with the product. For more information on Safe@Office appliances, visit http://www.checkpoint.com/smallbusiness.