* Sonic Wall introduces TZ 150
Sonic Wall is introducing a small-office VPN appliance that also filters for viruses and blocks intrusions.
Called TZ 150, the box can set up IPSec VPN tunnels with remote users or with other gateways, and also performs content filtering.
These devices are well suited for small offices or even telecommuter offices of workers of large corporations because they can be centrally managed by Sonic Wall’s Global Management System. GMS makes it possible for network executives to keep a lid on security policies at these sites by forcing all traffic in and out to go through the gateway. And they can do so remotely.
Users with VPN clients and personal firewalls on their PCs can be as protected as machines guarded by the appliances, but more technical end users tend to disable or reconfigure them to suit their own purposes.
There is an entire family of TZ gateway devices designed for different size sites, including some wireless gateways, so the new device could fit into a larger corporate security scheme.
Central management of these devices also makes them suitable as customer premises equipment for managed service providers. They can ship a box, have the customer install it and take over managing it without sending a technician on-site.
The TZ 150 boxes themselves cost $390, but it costs extra to get the anti-virus, intrusion prevention and content filtering. After a free 30-day trial, it costs $300 for a year’s subscription and includes signature and library updates. For the price, they are worth a look.
