The iNetSec Smart Finder from PFU systems is an excellent network access control system for organizations of any size. Don't let the Smart Finder's small size fool you, it is packed with functionality. It is an agentless policy-driven solution making it easy to deploy and transparent to endpoints. It also boasts high-end security features (like behavioral malware detection), and can notify the administrator of infected machines or block them from the network altogether. Because of its small footprint it can be deployed anywhere, and several can be managed at a time allowing for scalability. One sensor can monitor up to three access ports or it can be run in VLAN mode with the ability to connect 16 VLANs.
When we removed it from the box, we had to head for the manual right away because it wasn't immediately clear how to set the device up. The setup proved to be fairly involved, but the manual did provide help. The physical device is just a sensor, all of the software that makes it tick lives on a Microsoft IIS server. We started by installing Windows Server 2008 R2 onto a virtual machine in our lab. After we had the initial setup complete, we followed the steps outlined in the Smart Finder's manual to install IIS as well as .Net. After that, the supplied software disk took over. We followed through its prompts as the software installed Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2. After that, it loaded the website into IIS. The whole setup process took about two hours to complete. At that point, we still had to configure the sensor, which required another trip to the manual. We set our IP address manually and then connected directly to the front of the sensor, where we logged in and set the proper IP address. Finally, we gave the sensor the IP address of the virtual machine where we installed the software, and initial setup was complete. This part of the setup was confusing and the manual jumped around a bit.
After we had it set up, the Smart Finder was pleasant to use. After it had established contact with the web server for the first time, it did a quick firmware update and it was ready to go.
The unit came with a few pieces of paper, but no documentation. It took us a minute to find it on the included CD. While we loved the product, the documentation could use some work. The manual did not cover some of the setup very well, and was unclear at times, though it did come with plenty of pictures.
As far as support goes, PFU has one option: Standard support includes eight-hours-a-day/five-days-a-week phone and email assistance and is available in increments of one and three years. Regardless of the duration, both options include access to all software and malware dictionary updates, as well as access to the web support portal. One year costs $1,399 and three years costs $2,098.50.
All said and done, the iNetSec Smart Finder is a great buy, but the documentation could use some work. Once you have it set up, it is very easy to use and comes in at an excellent price point. This product has tons of features that can usually only be found for twice the price.
