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The security
appliance consists of hardware with a hardened operating
system (OS), a limited applications set. Security
appliances originally were restricted to firewall/VPN
functions, but now there are appliances available for
almost all security functions, including but not limited
to intrusion detection and prevention, antivirus, secure
content management, authentication, vulnerability
assessment, and security event management. Security
appliances have been popular because they can solve pain
points for customers, managed service providers,
resellers, and product vendors.
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Benefits to Customers
• Turnkey solution: Security
appliances are plug-and-play and take very little technical
knowledge
to install. By using a Web browser for device management, end
users can
easily
manage remote locations.
• Total cost of
ownership: Software solutions can quickly drain IT resources
with prolonged installation, education, and maintenance
costs . even more so when the costs of purchasing the
hardware to load it on are factored in.
• Performance: Security
appliances have a specific level of imbedded performance with
customizable features based on hardware/operating
system/database packaging, while software solutions depend
on whatever hardware configuration the reseller or customer
uses.
• No operating system
or database licensing: Customers do not need to license an
operating system or database when using a security appliance,
as it is an integrated component of the solution.
•
Security hardened: Security appliances are hardened, which
negates hacks and eliminates other applications from running
on the same appliance.
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