WatchGuard Technologies has announced that its Unified Threat Management (UTM) and Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) appliances now allow users to deploy, configure and manage both wired and wireless network security through a single appliance in a “single pane of glass” view.
This enhanced wireless functionality – made possible by the release of WatchGuard’s Fireware 11.9 operating system – eliminates the need for additional wireless network management solutions, and gives IT professionals a unified Web interface for managing and monitoring their entire network in real time.
“Today, wireless is an extension of an organization’s wired network. Yet, IT professionals are often forced to use separate tools and complex solutions when securing and managing those networks,” said Scott Robertson, APAC vice president at WatchGuard Technologies. “The latest update to our platform is a significant step forward and an industry first. It will save customers time and money by allowing them to consolidate management and security around their wired and wireless networks.Set your policies once and they apply to all traffic, wired and wireless alike.”
The enhanced functionality of 11.9 gives IT professionals the ability to quickly map wireless Access Points (APs) and coverage, change both wired and wireless security policies simultaneously, and to enforce traffic, coverage and security standards across the entire network infrastructure.
The organization can also evaluate traffic and channel conflicts, identify vulnerabilities, manage bandwidth prioritization and even map all wireless activity on neighboring networks sharing the same frequency. This insures that all traffic and security issues are apparent and can be addressed in real time, including rogue APs that may mimic others on the network.
Version 11.9 of WatchGuard’sFireware operating system includes other Best-of-Breed services such as: AntiVirus, AntiSpam, Application Control, Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) and Data Loss Prevention (DLP).
Fireware also integrates WatchGuard Dimension, the company’s big data visibility tool, through any WatchGuard threat management appliance.
Leader in UTM
WatchGuard also announced that it has been recognized as a leader in three categories of Frost & Sullivan’s recent 2014 Global Analysis of UTM (Unified Threat Management) and NGFW (Next Generation Firewall) Marketresearch study.
The categories where WatchGuard outperformedother vendors include: Management and Usability, Flexibility, and Value. WatchGuard was also noted in the areas of Performance and Scalability, and Roadmap.
“WatchGuard is an established competitor in the UTM and NGFW market with a legacy of demonstrating an ongoing commitment to product development. Their product strategy focuses on visibility, performance and integration of best-of-breed technologies that are simple to use and provide great value,” said Chris Rodriguez, senior industry analyst for network security at Frost & Sullivan.
