Content

Astaro Mail Gateway 3000

Astaro's Mail Gateway 3000 is an appliance-based email security solution that protects inbound and outbound messaging in a variety of configurations. The device can be deployed as a transparent bridge or as a single interface 'bounce' point that redirects to the primary messaging server. The appliance offers protection for SMTP messages, as well as remote connections back to the corporate mail server via secure VPN tunnels.  

Installation of the appliance in our test environment was very easy and straightforward. The interface of the device takes a small learning curve to get used to, but after a few minutes you realize there are several keyboard shortcuts, as well as some drag-and-drop functions that are used to configure and manage the device. After awhile, the interface becomes fairly intuitive.

As we used the product, one thing became very apparent: the Mail Gateway device is one of the most administrative-friendly devices we've seen. It has several granular options to manage several key network and system settings. This includes dashboard components that report on the health of the device itself. With regards to the amount of focus that's given to the core functionality of securing email, an equal amount is dedicated to logging, auditing, high availability, automated reporting, alerting and other key administrative tasks. Furthermore, multiple Mail Gateway devices can be managed from one central management console.
 
All of the typical bells and whistles exist within the product, including encryption, content filtering, IP and sender reputation, anti-malware, anti-spam and other key elements. A unique feature is the ability to drill down on the statistics of specific email activity and view security alerts, reports and other granular details.

Documentation is excellent. Everything needed is contained within a few PDF files, which are located on the installation media.

Basic 10 hours a day/five days a week support is included in the price for 90 days. This includes software updates and hardware replacement if needed. Additional packages include gold and platinum levels that offer expedited support and are available in one, three and five year contracts.
Product title
Astaro Mail Gateway 3000
Product info
Name: Mail Gateway 3000 Description: Price: $3,495
Strength
Very easy setup. Numerous security and administrative features.
Weakness
Documentation not available on the device itself.
Verdict
An excellent value for many organizations looking for a powerful enterprise-class device.

Get daily email updates

SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news

By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.