Firewall Plus
The modern office with its extensive reliance on the Internet means it has become increasingly important to monitor and keep track of this potentially unproductive working environment. The challenge that HR departments face and that IT managers must support is how to enforce an Internet Acceptable Usage Policy within an organisation.
Firewall Plus is a unique custom built appliance for the South African market, allowing clients to perform firewalling, authentication, caching, proxying, URL (Web site) filtering, virus protection, Microsoft patch updates as well as comprehensive reporting. The device - located on the clients network; permits management from a single interface and offers detailed reports to administrators. Hardware and software are incorporated into the service and managed by IS. In addition, reporting provides administrators with valuable information on Web usage. Detailed pre-defined technical and management reports are emailed to designated individuals. Custom search features are avaialble for detailed information.
Core to the device is the URL filtering and Anti-Virus service that helps reduce legal liability, boost employee productivity and is a mechanism to enforce your existing Internet access policy. As a tool to support company IT and Information policies - which aim to limit misuse of Internet services - the Fierwall Plus is an essential system.
Solution Features
- URL filtering: Companies can configure the solution to block or restrict access to certain Web sites (via a categorised database) and can therefore limit access to high bandwidth sites such as those offering downloadable MP3 files, chat, games and instant messaging as well as bandwidth intensive services such as streaming media.
- Onsite appliance incorporating hardware and software: The solution includes server and software and requires 3U of rack space. These are installed and configured on the client’s network.
- Firewall: A high performance best of breed firewall offering a DMZ interface is incorporated, powered by Fortinet.
- User authentication: The user-authentication feature validates Web users against defined permissions and can be used to properly authorise Web-browsing internally via user names and passwords. Firewall Plus can integrate with a Microsoft domain controller, however it is designed to tranparently authentication to a single domain. LDAP authentication is avaialable for multiple domains, but provides an authentication pop-up.
- Caching and proxying: A proxy/cache engine built into Firewall Plus allows for retrieval of frequently visited Web pages from the cache which manages each browsing request and ‘fetches’ each Web page on behalf of the user. The cache improves Web browsing speeds and saves Internet bandwidth and the proxy affords tighter security and administrative control.
- Anti Virus: All HTTP and FTP traffic is scanned for viruses. If the firewall is confirgured as a gateway firewall, IMAP POP3 and SMTP will also be scanned for viruses.
- SUS updates: Firewall Plus provides Microsoft Software Update Services. With this service Microsoft updates are downloaded once, stored on the Firewall Plus and made available for all users. Firewall Plus can assist with autmatically deploying critical patches where required. Reporting provides network administators with a snapshot of which desktops are updating Microsoft Service packs.
- Bandwidth management: Firewall Plus offers elementary bandwidth management via protocol level. Protocols can be set as a percentage of bandwith from the total line size.
- Reporting services: Firewall Plus will provide administrators with valuable information on security, anti-virus, Microsoft updates, employee Web usage and general internet usage and trends.
- Integrated support and response: The service incorporates 24x7 availability monitoring of the service and unlimited 24x7 support.
Solution Benefits
- Outsourced security: This managed service is specifically designed for organisations that want the comprehensive coverage of a fully managed onsite security service.
- Protect your network with an award winning firewall: The award winning Fortinet appliance provides the highest levels of security with superior performance and robustness.
- Monitor, track and control employee Internet use: Organisations can configure the solution to block or restrict access to certain sites, examples of which are gaming, pornographic, chat/messaging and music download sites. Permissions are highly configurable and detailed usage reports are available on-line. All users need to be authenticated before they can browse.
- Enforce and manage IT and Information Use Policies easily: Firewall Plus provides a simple IT solution for supporting an organisation’s HR policies via a customised and fully managed device.
- Use bandwidth more effectively: Clients can limit access to high bandwidth / non-business. The cache stores Web pages locally and saves bandwidth. In the South African context, with our high bandwidth charges, restricting use of this precious resource is essential. Acting as a Microsoft SUS (Software Update Server) Firewall Plus downloads patches once for the entire organisation. Traffic shaping is incorporated via protocol level.
- Fully supported, integrated and managed solution: The solution incorporates all software and hardware and management of the service. The device is monitored remotely for availability.
Pricing
| Firewall Plus | |
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| Setup Cost | R9,120.00 |
| Monthly Cost | R5,130.00 |
Pricing Details
- Terms and conditions apply.
- Includes rental for all hardware (min. specification: HP DL380 1GB RAM, 4x Hard Drives - RAID 5) and software (Firewall, OS, URL Filter, AV,Cache and Proxy and SUS), 24x7 Support and Response, server monitoring and hardware replacement plus software management. Solution includes full set up and configuration plus on-site installation.
- All pricing excludes VAT and is valid for 30 days from the date of quotation.