Computer security giant McAfee has upgraded its enterprise firewall products for the business sector.

A new generation of capabilities will help customers increase network security, and lower their compliance and operational costs, in both physical and virtual network environments.

Known as McAfee Firewall Enterprise (formerly Sidewinder), McAfee Firewall Enterprise Control Center and McAfee Firewall Enterprise Profiler, the products can be run alongside McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator software. And it can also be used with McAfee global threat intelligence.

McAfee Firewall Enterprise currently protects more than 15,000 customers worldwide. These include governments, top companies and leading financial institutions.

Dan Ryan, executive vice president and general manager of the Network Security business unit at McAfee, said: “Last generation firewalls are simply too hard and expensive to manage, and in reality, don’t effectively enforce relevant business policies. Mobile users, modern web-based applications and ever more sophisticated cyber criminals have combined with the economic environment to create the perfect storm. With this release, we’re delivering next generation firewall capabilities that improve network security while lowering compliance and operational costs in both physical and virtual network security environments.”

Firewall advancements include management capabilities hybrid delivery options and integrated layers of threat protection. When added with McAfee Firewall Profile, McAfee Firewall Enterprise is application and identity aware.

Particular noteworthy is that McAfee Firewall Enterprise uses global reputation-based technology, the first and only one to do so.

McAfee Firewall Profiler employs very sophisticated technology to analyse how firewall rules changes when viewed against application availability, usage and security.

The McAfee Control Center and Firewall Reporter have been revised, allowing more accurate audit and compliance reports.

Such sophisticated technology doesn’t come cheap and much depends on the exact specification. McAfee Firewall Enterprise appliances start at $4,900. The McAfee Firewall Enterprise Virtual Appliance starts at $4900 per VMWare ESX instance. McAfee Firewall Profiler appliance starts at $19,500 and Firewall Enterprise Control Center starts at $6,900.

Guest Article by Neil Camp