Network Resource Group Offers Managed Security Service Based On Astaro

Virtualised Astaro Security Gateways Provide Comprehensive Security-as-a-Service Offering Across Network, Email and Web

December 08, 2009 (Wilmington, MA) – Astaro Corporation (http://www.astaro.com), a leading network security vendor, today announced that Network Resource Group, a leading IT consultancy and network integrator, is using Astaro Security Gateways to deliver a managed security service. Based on virtualised ASG appliances, Network Resource Group offers customers network, email and web security services that can be monitored and controlled centrally by the partner.

Astaro’s all-in-one security products provide a comprehensive breadth of functionality to customers, allowing them to choose the level of security that meets their business requirements cost-effectively. By using Astaro virtual appliances alongside its other virtualisation offerings, Network Resource Group can meet customer requirements extremely quickly; additional services can be opened up as customers require them, and for as long as they are necessary. Customers pay for the services on a monthly basis, as they are needed; this opens up enterprise-level security for customers without a large capital investment.

“Delivering security services in today’s environment is all about flexibility and being able to meet customer demands,” commented Andrew Fourie, UK sales director for Astaro. “Network Resource Group’s approach, based on Astaro virtual appliances, means that they can offer a complete stable of security functionality using one product, while customers can pick and choose what they need and have experts manage it on their behalf. This model of supplying security as a service is proving to be very popular, as it allows customers to avoid the upfront costs of buying in their own solutions while still benefiting from best of breed technology, support and management.”

Stephen Young, managing director of Network Resource Group, said, “Our primary markets are the not-for-profit and housing association sector, and corporate SMB environments. The IT teams are normally small and responsible for managing a large range of IT projects and responsibilities. Using the Astaro virtual appliances, we can deliver a full range of managed security services that scales to meet the requirements of the business with no upfront charges. This new range fits in well with the other managed offerings that we have.”

Astaro Security Gateways are available as software, hardware or virtual appliances, and can provide all the required functionality to protect IT networks from malicious threats within one easy to use product. The Astaro Command Center (ACC) supports the installed Astaro Security Gateway products with centralised management and reporting facilities. “Monitoring this service to a large group of customers meant that we had to have a solid management platform in place. Because the ACC is available for free as a virtual machine, this meant that the level of investment required from us is lower, enabling us to provide the service at a competitive price-point,” commented Young.