Netgear Looks To SMBs With ProSecure UTM5 Solution

Netgear is looking to cater for small offices, after its specialised network security brand (ProSecure) unveiled the ProSecure UTM5 gateway security appliance.

The UTM5 is a strongly differentiated gateway security appliance that extends UTM (Unified Threat Management) technology to small businesses, home networks for telecommuters and small branch offices around five users in size. Distributed via the company’s channel partner program, the ProSecure UTM5 appliances come with subscription options without any per-user licensing.

The ProSecure UTM5 is an extension of the ProSecure UTM10 and UTM25 Unified Threat Management series, and is designed to help small companies protect themselves using an array of defences including firewall, SSL and IPSec VPN, URL filtering, network antivirus and anti-spam. The company said IT departments can also use the UTM5 to protect the home networks of telecommuters, as these remote employees often share connections with other endpoints that may not be as secure as a corporate laptop.

The ProSecure UTM5 utilises security technologies from security partners Sophos, Mailshell and Commtouch, as well as Netgear’s patent-pending Stream Scanning technology. The ProSecure UTM5 is available currently through value-added resellers and partners such as CDW for an estimated US street price starting at $275 (£172), with the option of bundling one-year subscriptions for web security, email security, support and maintenance to bring the total to $399 (£250).

“The small office and business have traditionally been underserved – gateway security for these situations has typically involved consumer-class gear which can’t keep up with sophisticated attacks which threaten businesses of all sizes,” said Jason Leung, Netgear’s senior product line manager for SMB Security. “ProSecure is bringing our award-winning UTM technology – technology that has been proven to stop more threats than the competition – down to an acceptable price point and easy-to-use format for these entities.”

In January, Netgear announced a family of ProSafe Wireless Management solutions to help meet the demands of SMBs (small and midsize businesses), schools and enterprises with up to 1,500 users and featuring secure wireless LAN functionality, as well as the ability to configure, control and manage seven different access points ranging from SoHo-class IEEE 802.11g APs to professional-caliber dual-band IEEE 802.11n APs.