WatchGuard Launches Fireware 9.0 - Major Release of Firebox X Core and Peak Security Appliance

Friday, 18 May 2007 13:12

SYDNEY, 18 MAY 2007– WatchGuard® Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of network security solutions, today announced a new major release of Fireware® 9.0, the software that propels their Firebox® X Core™ and Peak™ security appliances for mid-sized businesses.  Fireware 9.0 dramatically increases the functionality and performance of the Firebox X Core and Peak security appliances to give network administrators a new found level of granular control and stability. This release introduces a robust set of advanced networking features, each integrated within the system manager, including VPN failover, support for IKE 3rd party certificates, drag-and-drop VPN tunnel creation, policy-based routing, VLAN, QoS, multi-WAN failover, load balancing, and high availability with firewall rules.  

Robert Ward, product marketing manager for Firebox X Core and Peak said, “With Fireware 9.0, WatchGuard has delivered a quality appliance that matches or exceeds competitive offerings. We delivered Edge with a unified threat management (UTM) suite in December. This restored the company’s position of leadership in security appliances for small businesses. With Fireware 9.0, we believe WatchGuard can now resume a position of competitive leadership for security appliances for the medium-sized enterprises.”

Firebox X Core appliances are ideal for small and mid-sized enterprises with 50 to 750 users and are capable of 300+ Mbps of firewall throughput. Firebox X Peak appliances can support 500 to 2000 users with 2.0 Gbps of firewall throughput.  Both appliances offer complete UTM solutions including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, intrusion prevention, and URL filtering.

Most Firebox X Core and Peak appliances can easily be upgraded to higher models in the product line by the simple application of a license key. This allows an organisation to adapt and expand, meeting the evolving needs of its business. Every Core and Peak e-Series appliance is environmentally friendly, meeting European RoHS requirements.

WatchGuard Firebox X Core appliances with Fireware 9.0 start at $2205 excluding GST for the wired X550e model. Brand new reduced pricing for the UTM bundles for Core appliances start at $4530, excluding GST.   The new solutions are available through WatchGuard distributors in Australia, including WhiteGold and Firewall Systems.

WatchGuard was privatised in October of 2006, when the company was purchased by the leading private equity firms Francisco Partners and Vector Capital, who combined, have US$5.5 billion under management. The company has been undergoing numerous changes to restore growth and profitability to the firm. This new major release of Fireware are the latest of these significant improvements.   

About WatchGuard
WatchGuard has been delivering industry-leading network security appliances since 1996. The company’s upgradeable appliances deliver the performance, functionality, and security strength to meet the needs of SME organisations. WatchGuard’s Intelligent Layered Security protects against emerging threats and provides a platform to integrate additional services offered by the company. All WatchGuard products include 90 days of the LiveSecurity® Service subscription for vulnerability alerts, software updates, expert security instruction, as well as individualised and self-help customer care. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.watchguard.com.