Secure Computing snaps into gear

Secure Computing has announced the expansion of its Brisbane-based development centre while launching SnapGear, its first Australian designed, all-in-one SMB network security appliance.

According to Derek Morwood, sales manager for APAC and Japan at Secure Computing, the SnapGear appliance was entirely engineered at Secure Computing’s Brisbane-based development centre and will be used world-wide.

Additionally, the Brisbane research and development centre acts as a support centre for Secure Computing in the region and is set to double its team from four consultants to eight. According to Morwood, the R&D team is also looking to expand.

The applicance is the result of Secure Computing’s 2006 acquisition of Cyberguard, previous owners of SnapGear, and also a former network security start-up from Brisbane.

It features enhanced VoIP capabilities, VPN offloading, connection tracking snapshots, and the ability to deliver customised local-language versions, claimed the vendor.

SnapGear also incorporates global intelligence from TrustedSource, a behaviour-based reputation scoring system for IPs, domains, URLs and email messages.

“We’ve been in the SMB space for a while but not directly, so the acquisition positioned and gave us five years of established channel marketing,” said Eric Krieger, country manager A/NZ for Secure Computing.

“Typically, these businesses [SMBs] are not in a position to employ enterprise-level solutions due to cost and complexity,” he added. “Existing resellers and silver partners now can offer the same levels of security as the bank down the road.”