The Netgear ProSecure UTM is a lot of UTM in a little box. This product combines a stateful packet inspection firewall, IPS, SSL VPN, IPsec VPN, anti-malware, anti-spam and web URL filtering, as well as controls to block applications, such as Yahoo Messenger, MIRC and MSN Messenger. It also saves bandwidth by blocking peer-to-peer clients, like BitTorrent, eDonkey and Gnutella.
Deployment and configuration of this product is quite simple and straightforward. Once the appliance is connected to the network, the web-based interface can be accessed from any network computer. The first time the interface is launched, a setup wizard guides admins through the initial configuration steps to get the appliance up and running with a simple configuration. This configuration also includes the basic policy settings for network security.
We found this product to be easily configurable and quite flexible for policy configurations. Many of the configurable options can be turned on or off easily and we found the interface as a whole to be quite intuitive and easy to navigate. The interface is designed to mirror other Netgear products, so it feels very comfortable to anyone who has worked with Netgear before.
Documentation included a short installation guide, which illustrates the steps to get the product connected to the network and running with the initial configuration. There is also a PDF reference guide that provides advanced configuration information and describes how to use the product features. Both guides included many screen shots and step-by-step examples in an easy-to-follow format.
Netgear offers an inexpensive support plan that includes 24/7 email and phone support, next-business-day replacement, firmware and software updates - all for just $66 a year after the first year, which is included with the purchase of the product. There is also a lot of no-cost support available on the website, including a knowledge base, technical resources and a user forum.
At a price of just $649 this product is an excellent value for the money. This appliance can provide solid protection for just about any environment without breaking the bank.
