SonicWALL extends simple, secure remote acess range with streamlined SSL VPN appliance for small networks

The SonicWALL SSL-VPN 200 meets the previously underserved needs of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) for simple, secure remote and mobile access to network resources without license restrictions on the number of concurrent users.

The new appliance enables smaller businesses to balance a growing trend towards remote and mobile working with increased need for effective network security within and beyond the network perimeter. In 2004, approximately 99.2% of firms worldwide were categorized as small businesses, according to AMI Research Partners.

The SSL VPN 200 allows remote and mobile users to connect to their network from any location and any computer using only a Web browser, securely accessing resources such as e-mail, files, intranets and applications. For even more powerful capabilities such as seamless, secure access to corporate servers or complex applications, the appliance transparently pushes a downloadable thin client (NetExtender) to the user's desktop or laptop.

When used in conjunction with a SonicWALL PRO or TZ series firewall, the SSL-VPN 200 provides enhanced dynamic threat protection by routing traffic for scanning through the firewall's deep packet inspection engine. The appliance also interoperates with the majority of third party firewalls.

"With the growth of the mobile workforce, SMBs are increasingly focused on securing communications from outside the firewall without adding to IT support headaches," said Shahnawaz Sheikh, SonicWall Regional Sales Manager Middle East and Africa (MEA). "Our SSL VPN product line resonates with SMBs because it exemplifies our strategy of taking complex, expensive technologies and creating a cost-effective implementation that every business can afford. We believe this approach will enable SonicWALL to gain a strong unit share position in SSL VPN among the 78 million small businesses worldwide."

"SMBs cannot afford to lag behind their larger business competitors in providing their mobile workforces with secure and controlled information accessibility," said Meenakshi Sundaram, Network Consultant, International Information Technology Company (IITC), SonicWALL's Silver Partner in Oman.

"There is definitely a market for SSL VPN offerings that are specifically designed to meet the needs of SMBs at prices that are not budget busters. SonicWALL is right on track in delivering to SMBs a SSL VPN product that works within their financial and administrative constraints, and does not compromise on core functionality."

SonicWALL's SSL-VPN 200 appliance is simple to deploy and even easier to use, costing a fraction of the price of other SSL VPN solutions. Unlike solutions that charge a per-tunnel licensing fee, SonicWALL SSL VPN appliances have no restrictions on the number of concurrent user tunnels, allowing organizations to scale their remote access connectivity as they grow. Designed for networks of under 50 users, the SonicWALL SSL-VPN 200 is recommended for networks using a maximum of ten concurrent tunnels in normal circumstances, or five concurrent tunnels in heavy usage scenarios.

SonicWALL's 2005 survey of over 1,000 IT administrators indicated that more than 80% believed that existing SSL VPN access solutions were too expensive for small and mid-sized companies. In response, the company launched its first SSL VPN appliance, the SSL-VPN 2000 supporting networks of 1,000 users or less, in September, 2005. The introduction of the SSL-VPN 200 allows SonicWALL to penetrate even further within the SMB market, where demand for SSL VPN remains as high as with mid-sized organizations.

Administrators will find the SSL-VPN 200 and SSL-VPN 2000 very simple to deploy and manage. Ease-of-use features including an intuitive graphical interface and 'getting started' guide make SonicWALL's SSL-VPN appliances simple for network administrators to deploy and manage. The solution also provides the capability for granular policy configuration to give the administrator complete control over individual users' access to specific network resources.