Check Point Software Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKP) executives say that next year, the company will focus its efforts on the virtualization and endpoint spaces, particularly in the data centre realm.
Kellman Meghu, Check Point’s security engineering manager for Canada, said as more companies look to virtualize their IT infrastructures to save power and be more environmentally friendly, it’s important that partners and end-users realize that security policies and procedures that work well in a physical environment don’t always work the same way in a virtual world.
“There are no new threats in a virtual world, but what has changed is the way in which they protect their infrastructures,” he explained. “You can’t replicate what you’re doing (for security) in the physical world and expect that to work the same and scale in the virtual world. There are more policies and extra layers that need to be looked at in a virtual environment.”
Where Canadian channel partners can add value is around services and expertise, especially in the SMB market space, Meghu said. Partners can help customers implement and support solutions while also tying services sales around it, he added.
This year, Check Point introduced a new feature in its Endpoint Security product, better known as WebCheck. This new feature helps enterprises protect their endpoints from Web-based threats. If a user unknowingly downloads something that’s malicious, it will be locked into a sandbox so the user can keep working on the machine, without it disrupting any work, Meghu explained.
For virtual environments, the company also introduced its VPN-1 VE (virtual edition) solution, which is specifically designed for virtualized infrastructures. The solution protects users from internal and external threats by combining firewall, VPN (virtual private network) and intrusion prevention capabilities in a single interface.
To address the needs of mobile workers and security policies, Check Point has its USB1 solution, which provides end-users with a virtual, secure, desktop workspace environment. The company partnered with SanDisk to create USB sticks ranging from 2GB to 32GB capacities. USB1 targets users across vertical markets and is meant to provide a secure work environment using a USB stick. This solution will be a push for the vendor next year, he added.
Ben Khoushy, vice-president of endpoint security at Check Point, based in the company’s Tel Aviv, Israel headquarters, said the USB stick ensures no data is leaked or lost on the user’s machine because USB1 protects anything that goes in or out from the stick.
“Heavy travelers could use this solution to plug the stick into any PC,” Khoushy said. “This would also be good for companies that may have restrictive computing policies such as in a military environment.”
The solution is currently in its early availability stage now and is set for general availability in Q1 of next year. The company currently distributes its products through a channel consisting of distributors such Ingram Micro, Tech Data and Westcon Group Canada, in addition to delivering solutions through its community of resellers.