Unified Threat Management

When it comes to maintaining a safe and secure network, Canadian companies face an ever-growing challenge of handling multiple types of attacks, from worms, to viruses, phishing, spyware and spam. In addition these attacks are more complex and money driven, increasing need for processing power to keep security protection levels up, while making network security more difficult to manage.

Many security solutions are primarily focused on a single form of attack, like firewalls; however, to be truly protected, companies need a more comprehensive security solution.

What is Unified Threat Management?

Unified Threat Management, which is also known as UTM, is an all-in-one network security solution that builds upon more traditional firewall solutions by adding a number of security options, including:

Essentially, UTM brings multiple security components together in one solution that can be applied to an entire network, rather than incorporating each solution piecemeal. Through a UTM solution, computer networks are protected against intrusions, employees have secure lines of communication, confidential data and information is protected, and Websites are free from spam and inappropriate content.

UTM solutions exist for specific business networks such as those of SMBs, remote offices and large enterprises, as well as service providers that experience higher volumes of network traffic.

Pros and cons of UTM

Unified threat management helps to simplify an organization’s security by only requiring one piece of hardware and software and management console. The solutions can be monitored and configured to meet the specific needs and design of your company’s wired and wireless network. This provides a number of pros and cons for organizations using UTM.

Pros:

• Centralized management: Companies can manage all of their security needs from one location.
  
• Configuration and maintenance: Many solutions are ready to use out of the box and are significantly easier to install and maintain when compared to a multiple security device set up. Multiple solutions also do not need to be integrated.
  
• Reduce ramp up time: Users only need to learn how to use a single product.

Cons:

• Network infiltration: If there is an issue with your unified threat management solution, the network is left open to vulnerabilities.
  
• Network traffic issues: With UTM there is a single point of failure for network traffic.
  
• Bandwidth use: Companies could develop bandwidth issues if the UTM solutions has difficulty keeping up with traffic on the network.