New Check Point Security Software Targets SMB Market

The company is already the leader in selling firewall and VPN software that protects large corporate networks and data from hacking.

The new VPN-1/FireWall-1 SmallOffice Next Generation is targeted at small and home offices, with fewer than 25 workers; small and midsize businesses, with 25 to 50 workers; and remote corporate branch offices, which can have anywhere from one to 50 workers.

The software features Web-based management, automatic security updates and simple installation, says Chip Schooler, senior product evangelist at Check Point.

The company faces formidable competition from SonicWALL in the firewall and VPN market for SMB, which is expected to be one of the fastest growing segments at 40 percent to 50 percent this year, says Sterling Auty, an analyst at J.P. Morgan. One challenge for Check Point is that the company does not have the same brand awareness in the SMB market as it does with large enterprises, Auty says.

Check Point's subsidiary, SofaWare, also is introducing products, called SafeAtOffice and SafeAtHomePro, that allow workers in small and home offices to access corporate networks securely over cable or DSL.

Nokia, Celesix, Intrusion and VPN Dynamics will be delivering security appliances or servers pre-installed with VPN-1/FireWall-1 SmallOffice NG, Check Point says.

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