The best firewall is ....

Network Box RM-300

Contents
Introduction
Cyberguard SG710
Fortinet FortiGate 200A
Juniper ISG1000
Lucent Brick 150
Netgear FVX538
Network Box RM-300
SonicWALL PRO 5060c
Symantec SGS 5420
WatchGuard X1000
Specifications
How we tested
Editor's choice
About RMIT

Looking for a solution that is out of the box? The concept behind Network Box is a security service system managed remotely. Network Box sends and engineer on-site who delivers, sets up the device and performs an initial configuration, then leaves. But that is far from where Network Box's involvement in ends.

Everything else security wise is managed, monitored, updated and configured remotely by the Network Box operation centres (see their Web site for more details and NOC locations). Being an Internet connected device the NOC's can really be anywhere. If a business feels that their IT department is simply unable to keep up with the latest security threats and mitigation technologies -- or perhaps external security consultant costs are piling up then perhaps it is time to call Network Box.

Not only does the Network Box device act as a firewall, it also can perform gateway anti-virus scanning, gateway anti-spam, intrusion detection, VPN connections and content filtering.

Although someone else is assuming the responsibility and management of the gateway security, it is still worthwhile performing routing security scans and checks to ensure that everything is in order. It is also advisable to regularly check the reporting interface provided. It is easily accessed via a secure internal browser based address.

A managed security service may be worthwhile for small to medium enterprises aware of the damage a security breach could wreak, yet unsure or unable to adequately protect and defend their network. Even organisations wishing to add another layer of security to their existing infrastructure might be interested.

Product RM-300
Price AU$15,840
Vendor Network Box
Phone 1800 638 269
Web www.networkbox.com.au
 
Interoperability ½
Good range of features.
Futureproofing
Good levels of management available as well as a decent range of options.
ROI ½
Good pricing considering available options and features and the fact that this is a managed/monitored service.
Service
Replacement warranty for the length of the managed service contract. Excellent.
Rating
Network Box RM-300

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Talkback 26 comments

    Checkpoint Anonymous -- 09/08/05

    How can you test all firewalls and leave the marketleader out ? All these are toys ! :)checkpoint rules

    Hardware firewalls Craig Ringer -- 10/08/05

    This review appears limited to dedicated hardware firewalls.

    That's not the extent of the offerings available. In particular, *BSD and Linux have very useful built-in firewalls that can be used to protect a network. You spend more time setting it up, but get more control and pay less for the hardware.

    There are NO such things as Hardware Firewalls Craig S Wright -- 05/09/05 (in reply to #120120028)

    There are NO such things as Hardware Firewalls

    Just pre-packaged boxes. Even the PIX is just an Intel based host with an OS

    Rubbish... Anonymous -- 15/10/05 (in reply to #120120706)

    The Juniper range contain dedicated purpose built chips.

    Hardware Firewalls Donovan Marsden -- 21/05/07 (in reply to #120120706)

    There are such things as hardware firewalls This prepackaged boxes contain firmware (hardware) not software so hardware firewalls refers to media. Not to mention that all it's electronics are dedicated to the firewall job!

    Mr. Craig Wright.... U. R. Stupid -- 14/08/09 (in reply to #120120706)

    .....equates to an idiot!

    ISA Firewall? Anonymous -- 15/08/05

    Excuse me, but where was the ISA firewall in your test? Was there a reason for leaving the ISA firewall out?

    ISA Firewall? Anonymous -- 15/08/05

    Excuse me, but where was the ISA firewall in your test? Was there a reason for leaving the ISA firewall out?

    Talk is only about Hardware firewall. Vijay -- 18/05/07 (in reply to #120120153)

    here the talk is only about the hardware firewall not about the software firewall...

    ISA 2000 till 2006 plays good role in application layer firewalls, when u talk about the hardware level, packet filtering and ip spoofing etc we need to go for hardware based firewall...

    ISA Appliances Gladys I. Rodriguez -- 03/08/07 (in reply to #320079571)

    I think everyone forgets that ISA is also is also sold as an appliance: http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/howtobuy/hardwaresolutions.mspx, because people say well in runs on top of Windows OS. But Cisco runs on top of their IOS, Juniper has DX OS, WatchGuard has Firebox X, etc. Microsoft just provides the extra control for what type of box the users choose to run their Firewall.

    Why didn't you guys include th ...Anonymous -- 22/08/05

    Why didn't you guys include the Check Point offering in your comparison of Firewall products? They have a very good end to end security offering and they play very hard in the enterprise space (and have also brought the same technology down to the mid tier and SMB products as well)

    Astaro Firewall not listed?! Anonymous -- 29/08/05

    I can't believe you would do a round up with out including Astaro Firewalls in the mix. They are by far the most powerful and flexible for business.

    www.astaro.com

    Cisco Anonymous -- 29/08/05

    WHAT ABOUT CISCO'S PIX???

    No Kickbacks from the Big Guns! Anonymous -- 08/09/05

    noice, no checkpoint, pix nor isa. What creditability does this mag have?

    Software firewall packages Anonymous -- 25/11/05

    would have been nice to see products like smoothwall, included.

    Checkpoint Anonymous -- 09/07/07

    I'm glad some of you are getting Checkpoint to work. I can't get onto the net, firmware upgrades have now prevented me from talking to the firewall. I using a $10 hub, seems to work better. Asking for an RMA right now.

    Sonic What, Watchguard!?!?! Anonymous -- 04/09/07

    Can't believe watchguard was even mentioned this cannot even be compared to the likes of Juniper ISG, Checkpoint and ASA/PIX in a corporate environment.

    AS
    Sell my house
    www.cheshiremoves.com

    Symantec Anonymous -- 11/10/07

    Has anyone ever tried to contact Symantec about the Symantec SGS 5420?

    I've tried many times and no one there knows anything about it - they just transfer me to some guy in an Indian call centre trying to sell me antivirus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    anyone got a real number to call?

    Cheers

    Justin

    Symantec support Anonymous -- 18/02/08 (in reply to #320087646)

    Dont waste your time, they are dropping firewall support in 2009.

    Symantec SGS - What to do with old box? Anonymous -- 27/09/08 (in reply to #320087646)

    We have SGS v3.x appliance which will be retired next year. Is it possible to install some thing like 'Astaro' into the box since Symantec only believes in 'end-point' security?

    no Cisco? Anonymous -- 29/05/08

    there are probably more Cisco firewalls installed in the world than all other brands combined. Not to say Cisco firewalls are the best, but to ignore the biggest player?
    btw, I have ASA 5505 at home, loving it.

    Cisco ASA 5505 Anonymous -- 25/06/08

    Most of us can't afford a $600+ firewall at home.

    Cisco are behind... A. NetworkAdmin -- 09/05/09 (in reply to #320104946)

    Cisco waited too long to re-code their IOS to support deep packet inspection (all 7 layers) and left other players take the lead in the market. This doesn't mean you should get rid of your faithfull PIX, but if a PIX was to break (which is not often), I would shop for another brand. If the criterias of the survey is that they must have DPI, then Cisco is behind in the race.

    Good Firewall, {The Best} Pat Cormier -- 12/10/08

    Why don't someone mention [Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall} I've been using it for years, and I find it better than any of the rest.

    Checkpoint - Market Leader Anonymous -- 21/03/09

    I ditto the comments already made. I have worked with no less than ten firewall vendors over the past 15 years for financial and ecommerce firms - yet there was no mention or testing with certain market leading products?

    Checkpoint is the worldwide market leader for enterprise firewalls. They weren't even mentioned? They make both appliance as well as software (for several platforms) so they could have been included in several categories. Cisco PIX was also not mentioned (though while inexpensive is inferior to Juniper and Checkpoint products).

    ISA is not as full-featured as many but since its software only I can see why they didnt test it. Simply put - you will rarely see any of the firewalls they did mention protecting significant assets, for too many reasons to include here.

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