Zyxel’s USG Flex appliances are excellent for SMBs with a geographically unfold-out workforce. They provide sturdy network protection at very affordable rates, with quick support for remote places of work and dwelling personnel – and because Zyxel a short while ago extended its Nebula Regulate Centre (NCC) assistance, all Flex styles can now be cloud-managed.
We tested the USG Flex 200, which prices £569 exc VAT and will come with a first-year membership to Zyxel’s UTM security pack. This supplies web filtering, software and email security, IPS and anti-malware companies, as well as Zyxel’s SecuReporter web-primarily based analytics and reporting assistance subsequent membership renewals price tag £234 per annum.
Enabling cloud administration is straightforward. You just need to have to register for an NCC account, then create a prime-degree organisation and internet sites under it. You can then incorporate the equipment to a site by entering its MAC addresses and serial selection in the web page perspective – or you can use the NCC cellular application to scan the QR code on the box. We tried using this on an iPad and had the equipment added to our web page with two faucets.
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It is the same procedure if you want to deploy the Flex 200 to a distant office environment. Simply deliver the box to its destination, and when it connects to the internet it will immediately choose up your configurations. The portal on a regular basis checks the firmware of all related devices, and can apply updates in the track record or at particular times.
It’s really worth noting that, when the standard NCC cloud company is absolutely free, logging is restricted to 7 days. That will not be an issue ideal away, however, as a one-calendar year Professional Pack subscription is involved with the appliance, which ups logging to 365 times and adds characteristics this kind of as email alerting and auditing – and renewing it prices a mere £43 for each 12 months.
The many security services can all be accessed and configured from a solitary web page in the NCC console. To be exact, we must say “almost all” as the NCC portal does not currently guidance the email security ingredient – that is only out there when the Flex 200 is functioning in standalone mode. Every thing else is listed here, even so.
For web filtering, you can browse 103 distinctive groups of website, and make a decision whether to make it possible for, block or log accessibility to each and every a person. Zyxel’s DNS-based content material filtering provides more regulate above encrypted connections with no requiring SSL inspection.
The software patrol support does a great deal the exact work for software program it lets you regulate entry to 1000’s of apps, sorted tidily into 26 categories. Meanwhile, the URL risk filter, IDP and anti-malware companies are every enabled with one particular click on, with the latter offering a alternative of stream and specific modes, for either thorough or rapid scanning.
As we have mentioned, there is specific aid for distant employees – a valuable feature in the current age. Personnel just will need to set up an NCC-compatible Zyxel AP in their home this then routinely makes a tunnel to the USG Flex equipment to present protected internet access.
Zyxel can even enable neutralise hazards from rogue BYOD users. The Collaborative Detection & Reaction assistance retains an eye on people that fall in with unmanaged devices: you can probe them with the malware, IDP and web danger expert services, and products that set off warnings can be warned or quarantined.
NCC’s reporting features are pleasingly in depth. From the SecuReporter website you can entry in-depth reports for all your Flex devices its dashboard gives a prosperity of information and facts about web, application and menace activity, whilst the investigation internet pages supply deeper insights into security issues. Each day, weekly and month to month studies are routinely produced, and can be distributed to a number of email addresses.
The USG Flex 200 delivers a good assortment of security expert services, and by means of NCC it can guard your personnel no make a difference exactly where they’re based. It’s a well timed and successful answer to a perennial trouble, and the selling price is uncomplicated to swallow far too.
Zyxel USG Flex 200 specifications
Chassis
Fanless desktop chassis
Network
7 x Gigabit Ethernet (2 x WAN, 4 x LAN, SFP)
Other ports
2 x USB-A 3, serial console port
Administration
Web browser administration, 1yr UTM security pack licence
Proportions (WDH)
272 x 187 x 36mm
Guarantee
5yr minimal warranty
Some sections of this report are sourced from:
www.itpro.co.uk