| Overall ease of use and configuration according to users<\/td> | Some users wanted more detailed reporting options <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFeatures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Reporting for networks and application behavior<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Web gateway policy controls<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sandboxing designed to identify zero-day threats<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Optional modules for Wi-Fi connectivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Threat intelligence reports <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Key Features of UTM Devices and Software<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe feature sets of UTM products vary somewhat, but there are a few key features to look for when your team is beginning the buying process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Antivirus<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAntivirus software helps protect networks and computer systems from malicious software, constantly scanning for threats. UTM tools should block viruses when they locate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VPN<\/h3>\n\n\n\nVirtual private networking creates secure tunnels so computer and network users don’t have to worry about an attacker spying on their session. UTM products often include IP Security (IPSec) VPN tunneling, Site-to-Site tunneling, or Secure Socket Layer (SSL) VPN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web or URL Filtering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nURL filtering allows IT and security teams to block specific websites’ URLs if they’ve determined the sites are dangerous or compromise the business’s overall security. These filters should be highly customizable and easy to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Application Control<\/h3>\n\n\n\nApplication control in a UTM identifies applications based on their standard traffic on the network and then blocks applications based on the UTM’s policies. Enterprises might set policies to block applications that carry certain security risks or applications that consume too much network bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quality of Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\nQuality of service technologies help IT and security teams optimize the network resources, like bandwidth, that they can dedicate to processing traffic. For example, QoS in a UTM might limit the bandwidth that one application can consume during 3 PM on weekdays so another critical application has plenty of resources around that time. Teams can use QoS to prioritize particular applications and jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>How to Choose the Best UTM Product for Your Business<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen you’re narrowing down your list of options \u2014 some may be on this list and some may not \u2014 take the following points into consideration. They apply to all UTM solutions, not just the ones we’ve listed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pick a Few Must-Haves<\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe UTM product that fits your team expertise and budget may not have every feature your IT and security teams dream of, but it should meet a few needs you’re really prioritizing. Make a list of three to five non-negotiable features and only consider products that offer those. This will help narrow your selections and put more helpful products at the top of your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look at Coverage<\/h3>\n\n\n\nUTM products are generally designed to meet all cybersecurity needs for SMBs, so they don’t have to worry about managing multiple security products (and footing the bill for them). But not all UTM products may have the coverage a larger business needs; make sure your team has the budget for other tools if the UTM you choose lacks certain security functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider Scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\nIf your SMB is set to scale rapidly in the next few years, choose a UTM or NGFW that can continue to meet your team’s technology needs at the end of that time period. You want to invest in a product that will take you far, not have to replace the solution within a couple of years. Even if making a strong investment requires purchasing a slightly more expensive product, talk with your buying committee to see if that’s an option. You want to save money in the long run rather than having to buy multiple products in a short period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Communicate with the Vendor<\/h3>\n\n\n\nMake sure you communicate extensively with a vendor once you’ve narrowed down your options to determine whether they’d truly be a good fit as a long-term partner. Additionally, consider how much customer support you’ll need. This partly depends on your team’s expertise \u2014 a junior team may need a vendor with extremely responsive customer support and a simple user interface, but experienced personnel may have more flexibility to do things on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>How We Evaluated UTM Devices<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe evaluated the UTM solutions using a product scoring rubric. In our rubric, we weighted criteria and features according to the percentages listed for each below, and that weighting factors into the total score for each product. The six products that scored highest in the rubric made our list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that the score each product receives is only based on whether it meets the criteria we set for the analysis rubric. All these products have had success in this category, but their score here analyzes how well they met our specific criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pricing Transparency & Trials | 10 Percent<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe evaluated whether the vendor was transparent about pricing, whether buying was an option from resellers, and whether the product had a free trial, including how long the trial lasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Core Features | 35 Percent<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe evaluated the most important features for UTM products,, like antivirus software, VPNs, URL filtering, and quality of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional Features | 20 Percent<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe evaluated nice-to-have features like sandboxing, logging, and deep packet inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ease of Management | 20 Percent<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe evaluated availability of knowledge bases, availability of policy management and reporting tools, and whether the product had multiple deployment options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customer Support | 15 Percent<\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe evaluated phone and email availability, product demo availability, and whether technical support teams offered a 24\/7 option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/span>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPeople often ask the following questions about UTM products and their role in the security industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How Is UTM Different From NGFW?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nInitially, unified threat management was developed as an all-in-one security solution for smaller organizations. They often included firewalls along with other features. In recent years, UTM products have been marketed less frequently, and next-generation firewalls \u2014 which serve a similar purpose, but sometimes are marketed to larger teams \u2014 have gained popularity. However, many NGFWs actually act as UTMs, and vice versa. Many of the products on this list are identified by the vendor as both UTM and NGFW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Threats Do UTM Systems Protect Against?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nUTMs should protect businesses from the majority of cybersecurity threats, including malware, malicious network traffic, and even ransomware. Because UTMs combine a wide range of security functions, they’re designed to identify and halt many different attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is UTM Hardware?<\/h3>\n\n\n\nA UTM hardware appliance is the device on which all the UTM management software runs. Some vendors offer a virtual UTM appliance, which runs in a virtual environment atop a hypervisor. But other than virtual products, the majority of UTM products include both hardware and software. Many give your team the option to manage the solution in the cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n |