UTM (Unfied Threat Management)

UTM brings together three main ideas: multiple threat mitigation features, integrated on top of a mature firewall, deployed in an appliance form-factor. In 2004, International Data Corp. research analyst Charles Kolodgy first described a UTM appliance as any single device comprising firewall, VPN, IDS or IPS, and antivirus services. UTM appliances resonated strongly with managers commanding small and medium-sized business (SMB) networks, where UTM firewalls -- called such because the firewall is the undisputed lynchpin of the UTM product -- have quickly become a standard offering from every vendor. In this market space, UTM firewalls, with combined features that typically include anti-malware protection, content filtering, anti-spam and intrusion prevention built in to the same appliance, both reduce costs and simplify configuration.

Additional resources

UTM thwarts blended attacks.

UTM firewalls: Ready for the enterprise
Our testing shows that unified threat management appliances aren't just for the SMB market anymore.

UTM buyer's guide
Detailed info on UTM products.