SmallBizResource Blog -- Security

New All-On-One Panda Security Solution Targets Small Businesses

Posted by Gayle Kesten Friday, Jun 19, 2009, 11:20 AM ET

In the same spirit that multifunction printers consolidate four separate space-hogging machines into a single piece of hardware, unified threat management (UTM) solutions combine multiple types of security products into one package that aim to keep customers' networks safe.

Panda Security, which recently released into beta free cloud-based antivirus protection, has now introduced UTM software specifically for small businesses. Panda GateDefender Integra SB is designed for networks with a maximum of 50 users. The product also comes on the heels of the ProSecure Unified Threat Management appliance from Netgear, also aimed at small businesses.

Panda GateDefender Integra SB protection includes:

• Firewall: Ensures internal and external communication complies with the security policy.

• Intrusion prevention system (IPS): Heads off any attacker that tries to access your network.

• VPN: Protects confidential information transmitted across the Internet.

• Anti-malware filtering: Protects against all types of malicious software and damaging threats, including viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, dialers, jokes, phishing, and hacking tools.

• Content filter: Scans inbound and outbound traffic for dangerous content, and lets you customize the types of files and messages to be filtered.

• Anti-spam protection: Keeps email traffic free from junk mail.

• Web filtering: Restricts access to non work-related Web content.

According to Panda Security, the anti-malware, anti-spam, and Web filtering protection are configured by default, so "you can use them right from the start without needing to dedicate additional time or resources." If you want to customize the settings, the company offers its support service, including a Web-based administration console that lends a hand.

If you think being a small business makes you immune from cybercriminals -- what could they possibly want with you when there are bigger fish to fry? -- think again. Your "treasure trove of valuable data without the sufficient IT and security resources to protect it" makes you quite attractive to the bad guys. And, says TopTenReview's David Aamodt, "recovery costs -- in both actual dollars and time -- can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. "And while dollar loss hurts, the damage done to a business' reputation and client trust is irreparable," he says.

As for Panda GateDefender Integra SB's cost, I'm still waiting to hear from the company. I'll update you when I find out.

2 p.m. update: Panda GateDefender Integra SB costs $1,250 per year, which includes licenses for 50 users, all of the protection modules listed above, and tech support. Clearly the more users you have, the more cost-efficent the solution will be.

Security