Blue Coat Offering ProxyOne Web Security Appliance for SMBs

Blue Coat is stepping up its security game in the SMB space with its new ProxyOne security appliance. I spoke with Sasi Murthy, senior director of product marketing at Blue Coat, about the new features and channel applications of the 1U unit. Here’s the scoop …

Blue Coat’s mission is “bringing web security to businesses with limited IT resources,” Murthy said, and ProxyOne is designed to be a robust web security gateway with enterprise-level features without an enterprise-level price. Evolving malware and sophisticated web threats were the motivations behind developing ProxyOne. So what’s inside the box?

Integrated web filtering, along with inline malware and virus scanning come standard, along with Web 2.0 filters for social network sites and advanced web page attacks. ProxyOne was designed to be deployed easily, with only six steps needed to set up the appliance. There’s also a built-in ability to identify infected end users (after deployment) and new “stream-splitting” technology for video floods that may bog down network performance.

ProxyOne also can protect mobile computers in a corporate environment using client-side software that connects to the gateway. Computers living inside the corporate network are secured via ProxyOne without having to install any special client-side software. The hybrid ProxyClient software comes standard with ProxyOne and can help IT managers who normally would have to micromanage and secure laptops.

ProxyOne, which is available now, starts at $8,999 for 100 users. That includes the appliance, software licenses, automatic security updates and 24×7 support for one year. Should the customer need it, ProxyOne can support up to 2,000 users.

What’s more, Murthy said VARs have access to demos unit for $500, so they can in turn offer their customers 30-day evaluation packages. If the customer wants to purchase the technology after the 30-day period, VARs can make the same margin they normally would on the new appliance. If the customer wants to return it, the VAR gets a credit for the return of the ProxyOne.

“We’re helping VARs get some traction in this segment. It’s a product they’ve been asking for,” Murthy said.

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