Crossbeam, which builds multifunction security boxes that run name-brand security applications from respected vendors, is introducing two new hardware platforms.

The devices, which support Check Point's NGX firewall/VPN software, are designed for branch offices of large corporations where customers might want VPN support as well as anti-virus software and URL filtering. These new boxes would enable them to do this.

The Crossbeam C2 is designed for sites with up to 25 workers and the C6 is designed for sites with up to 100. Crossbeam's former smallest box, the C10, supports 500 users and more.

With these smaller boxes, the company is also introducing a management system that allows connecting to the boxes and sending patches in bulk, for example. Before, with larger hardware platforms, most customers had just a few of the devices and accessed them individually. The smaller platforms mean larger deployments where global management tools can significantly reduce the time it takes to distribute changes.

One of the debates about multifunction boxes is whether it's worth it to trade off between having a single hardware platform and having multiple best-of-breed software on separate devices. By collaborating with partners that specialize in different security software platforms, Crossbeam hopes customers will view its gear as supplying both. Its software partners include Check Point, Alladin, Trend Micro, SourceFire, Enterasys, WebSense, Secure Computing, PortWise and Denyall, among others.

The debate will rage on, but these smaller boxes will likely catch the eye of current customers that have many smaller sites and to smaller businesses with a single site.

The C2 costs $2,625 and the C6 costs $5,250. Both are available Nov. 7.

Tim Greene is senior editor at Network World.