Check Point Software is announcing at ISPCON a new version of its Safe@Office small business appliance that contains an advanced ADSL2/ADSL2+ modem in addition to numerous other features.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Managing Editor [May 16, 2006]

Ramat Gan, Israel-based Check Point Software is announcing a new version of its Safe@Office small business appliance that contains an advanced ADSL2/ADSL2+ modem that supports PPPoA, PPPoE, and EoA. It also has an Ethernet WAN port for cable or other deployments.

In addition to the DSL modem, the appliance also comes with:

• Wireless AP functionality supporting 802.11b/g/super-G, multiple SSIDs, and WPA2
• USB print server
• Traffic shaper and monitor
• Unified Threat Management (UTM)
• Firewall
• VPN

The device can be managed remotely, enabling large service providers to update and monitor large scale deployments.

A bundle of services
Liran Eschel, CEO of SofaWare Technologies, a Check Point subsidiary (also based in Ramat Gan, Israel) that focuses on delivering solutions to small business customers, touts the all in one device, all in one company solution. "Check Point is the only vendor, as far as I know, that has a leading desktop and network solution. Many companies use a third party application for the desktop."

Check Point bundles a desktop solution from its San Francisco, Calif.-based Zone Labs subsidiary.

Eschel adds that many features in the Safe@Office appliance have long been available to large enterprises but not to small businesses. For example, the wireless AP allows the company to have a public wireless LAN, where each user has an individual password, and a private wireless LAN with more secure EAP 802.1x authentication.

A valued channel program
Check Point also takes care of its channel partners, most of whom are VARs. The locator may show a VAR in your area.

Every ISP, MSP, or VAR needs to use Check Point's management system, but Check Point is able to host the management system for its smaller customers. Larger customers, such as Bell Canada, the ISP customer announced at ISPCON, prefer to run their own.

ISP-Planet has argued for some time (for example, in our Editorial: ISPs Can Survive) that ISPs need to develop VAR skills or merge with or partner with a VAR. ISPs need to provide more to business customers than just the internet connection.

Appliances such as Safe@Office allow ISPs to provide security as well as high end services that many small businesses believe they cannot afford.

Pricing and availability
The product is available now. Pricing ranges from $300 to $1,000 per unit, depending on options selected. Volume discounts are available.

Pricing for the management system was not disclosed.

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