Check Point's VPN-1 Line Now Puts Up United Front

Check Point Software Technologies today is rolling out additions to its VPN-1 line that incorporate unified threat management to help solution providers in securing branch office and enterprise networks.

Check Point’s VPN-1 UTM gateway addresses the need for stronger security and management tools in regional and branch offices, while VPN-1 Power is a more powerful gateway designed for enterprise networks, said Bill Jensen, product marketing manager at Check Point, Redwood City, Calif.

In addition to firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention and antivirus features, the new offerings also protect against VoIP, instant messaging and peer-to-peer application threats without affecting network performance, Jensen added.

“UTM is a compelling story for companies that need management simplicity and powerful security features, as well as a solution to the ‘security sprawl’ of multiple devices,” he said.

Both offerings use the same management interface as other products in the VPN-1 line, which enables partners to leverage their existing training investment, Jensen added.Marc Poirier, director of security at ESI Technologies, a Saint Laurent, Quebec-based solution provider, says the ability to manage security features from a central interface is key. “UTM is difficult to do in the enterprise, but the fact that everything is centralized will make a big difference,” Poirier said.

However, some partners believe that Check Point is arriving late to the UTM game and view the appliances as a reaction to its failed acquisition of SourceFire in late March. Check Point on April 24 reported a 16 percent drop in first-quarter revenue vs. a year ago.

“Check Point took a big step back in terms of momentum with the SourceFire deal not going through, and they’re not selling many new firewalls so they’re looking to emerging products as an opportunity to generate new revenue,” said one solution provider partner who requested anonymity.

Said another solution provider who did not want to be named: “The market is large with all the remote offices and users today, and Check Point has lagged behind both Juniper and Cisco in that regard.”

Check Point’s licensing terms could stall partners’ adoption of the UTM appliances, this source said. “On a maintenance contract, when you request a quote from them it automatically goes to the customer. You don’t even get to see it, and that makes it difficult to manage the relationship with the customer,” the source said.Available now, VPN-1 UTM is priced at $2,000, and VPN-1 Power is $3,000. Although both are software-based, they will be available as appliances to Check Point’s appliance partners.