WatchGuard ups SMB channel proposition

Security specialist WatchGuard has bolstered its small business product line with the launch of UTM appliances aimed at that market segment to meet the demand from smaller firms for greater protection, writes Linda Endersby.

The vendor has taken the wraps off WatchGuard XTM25 and XTM26, with features including full HTTPS inspection, VoIP support and options for Application Control.

"Small businesses need more from their firewalls today than ever before," said Tim Helming, WatchGuard director of product management.

Other WatchGuard security services including web and spam blocking services, antivirus and IPS are also installed.

Helming continued: "The new appliances give small businesses enterprise-class protection and advanced business productivity features that are typically seen only in appliances that cost thousands of dollars more.

"Small businesses face the same challenges as large organisations - how to keep data, applications and their network safe," he added. "With WatchGuard, it doesn't matter if your business has 10 or 10,000 employees - they all get the same levels of advanced, next-generation threat protection."