Content

AppGate Security Server (AGSS) and Device Firewall (DFW)

AppGate Security Server (AGSS) and Device Firewall (DFW) is an offering of multiple utilities tied into one package. One unique aspect is that the AppGate Security Server comes pre-installed on Sun hardware. The offering is a three-tiered product with the AppGate Security Server as the head end, a management console as the middleware, and the device firewall, which is installed on the client.

As opposed to other products in this category, the AppGate Security Server protects the endpoints through firewall and intrusion protection type features.

The AppGate server comes pretty much preconfigured, so installation begins with the policy manager. There are several hardware and operating systems supported by the management console. The policy manager can use Windows, Unix, Linux with Java 1.4, or later. The policy manager sets the configuration for the device firewall. Endpoints can have multiple firewall configurations. For example, an endpoint can have one policy when the endpoint can communicate with the AGSS, and a separate policy for when the machine is out of contact with the AGSS.

The Device Firewall is easy for end-users to install and is ideal for servers as well. The configuration allows for granular control of permitted and denied traffic. The Device Firewall has no graphical user interface, making it much less likely that a user will try to change the firewall configuration.

The installation of AppGate Security Server and Device Firewall posed no problems.
The documentation can certainly be improved on, however. The product shipped with very little printed material and the website offers no public support. The only documentation we could find was basically product data sheets.

Support is offered through pay services only, and the fee is listed at 20 percent of the product purchase price. Phone, email and website support are all available.

The pricing for the AppGate Security Server and Device Firewall is $23,780, plus 20 percent for support (includes Sun hardware, 25 DFWs and one policy manager license), making this product an average value for the money.
Product title
AppGate Security Server (AGSS) and Device Firewall (DFW)
Product info
Name: SS and DFW Description: Price: $23,780, plus 20 percent for support
Strength
Provides protection from network-based attacks, as well as some other protection mechanisms.
Weakness
This product is similar to other products in this category. The price may keep this product out of the SME market.
Verdict
AGSS is a distributed endpoint protection package, which is very similar in features to other products in this category.

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