ServGate Unveils Monitoring Tool For MSPs

The tool, dubbed ServGate Global Manager (SGM), was released on Tuesday, and is designed to work with the Milpitas, Calif, .company's flagship EdgeForce management platform.

According to Senior Product Manager Matthew Dreyer, the manager eases implementation tasks, reduces costs and ensures that a common security policy is in use at each location secured by EdgeForce. By fully integrating configuration and monitoring functions into a single software platform, he said, the SGM obviates the need for complicated installation of additional hardware and expensive database licenses.

"Unlike other tools, ours doesn't require a three-tiered, multi-server approach," he explained. "You can bring this thing up, install it on Windows software, and begin configuring devices almost immediately."

Specifically, the SGM features a VPN wizard that allows network administrators to create secure site-to-site VPN links quickly and painlessly. It also boasts an integrated Syslog server that facilitates reporting and remote management across multiple units.

The device additionally incorporates a security update feature that enables resellers to assure end users the latest spam- and virus-screening capabilities from McAfee.

All of these benefits appeal to ServGate channel partners, who noted that in the realm of managed services, the name of the game is convenience. David Balcar, president of Network Design and Integration, Houston, said he thinks the tool will enable him to reassign some of his client-side network engineers to more mission-critical responsibilities such as monitoring the reseller's Network Operations Center (NOC).

"The [SGM] frees us up so we don't have to populate policies across a ton of boxes," he said. "It saves us time, and time is money, so we think it's great."

Pricing for the SGM begins at $4,995 for ten devices, and varies depending on EdgeForce configuration and geographic region.