
Untangle
Untangle offers a comprehensive network security solution combining firewall, VPN, threat prevention, and content filtering in a single, unified platform designed for small to medium businesses and distributed enterprises. Developed by Untangle, Inc.
About Untangle
- Integrated Threat Prevention: Combining Virus Blocker, Spyware Blocker, and Malware Blocker to protect against a wide range of malicious software.
- Web Content Filtering: Granular control over accessed websites using categories and blocking specific sites, enhancing productivity and security.
- VPN Connectivity: Supports OpenVPN for secure remote access and site-to-site connections.
- Application Control: Identify and manage network bandwidth usage by specific applications.
- Reporting and Analytics: Detailed visibility into network traffic, security events, and policy enforcement.
Untangle is designed to be a central control point for network security, reducing complexity and improving threat response.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Modular design allows customization of features.
- Comprehensive suite of security applications.
- User-friendly web-based management interface.
- Strong reporting and analytics capabilities.
- Active community and good documentation.
Cons
- Cost of individual modules can add up.
- Configuration complexity can be challenging for beginners.
- Performance is dependent on underlying hardware.
What Makes Untangle Stand Out
Unified Threat Management
Consolidates multiple network security functions into a single, easy-to-manage platform, reducing complexity and cost.
Modular Application Suite
Allows users to select and deploy only the security applications they need, providing flexibility and cost efficiency.
User-Friendly Interface
Offers an intuitive web-based management console that simplifies configuration and monitoring.
What can Untangle do?
Review
Untangle NG Firewall Review
Untangle NG Firewall presents itself as a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for network security, particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses and distributed environments. Its core strength lies in its modular architecture, which allows administrators to deploy a suite of security applications tailored to their specific needs. This is a significant advantage over traditional monolithic security appliances, as it avoids unnecessary complexity and licensing costs associated with unused features.
The installation process is relatively straightforward, and the initial configuration wizard helps in getting the basic network setup up and running quickly. Once installed, the web-based management interface is logically organized and generally intuitive. Navigating between different security modules, such as the Firewall, VPN, Web Filter, and Virus Blocker, is smooth. The dashboard provides a useful overview of network activity, traffic, and security events, offering a quick glance at the network's health.
Key Modules and Performance
The Firewall module is robust and provides the granular control expected from a modern firewall. Rule creation is flexible, allowing for policies based on various criteria including source/destination IP, ports, protocols, and even users or groups when integrated with Active Directory. Performance is generally good under typical loads, although performance will naturally scale with the underlying hardware.
The VPN capabilities, including support for OpenVPN and IPsec, are essential for remote access and connecting disparate locations. Configuration is well-documented and integration with clients is straightforward. For organizations relying on secure remote work or inter-office connectivity, this is a critical and well-implemented feature.
Untangle's threat prevention suite, encompassing Virus Blocker, Spyware Blocker, and Malware Blocker, provides a multi-layered defense against malicious software. The integration of multiple scanning engines enhances the likelihood of detecting various threats. The Web Filter is another powerful tool, offering granular control over internet access based on predefined categories and custom rules. This is invaluable for enforcing acceptable use policies and preventing access to undesirable or potentially harmful websites. The ability to create different policies for different user groups or time periods adds to its flexibility.
Application Control is a standout feature for understanding and managing network bandwidth. Identifying which applications are consuming the most bandwidth allows administrators to prioritize critical applications or limit recreational ones, improving overall network performance. The reporting engine tied to this module provides detailed insights into application usage patterns.
The reporting and logging capabilities across all modules are comprehensive. Administrators can generate detailed reports on network traffic, security events, blocked content, and application usage. This data is crucial for identifying trends, troubleshooting issues, and demonstrating compliance. The ability to export reports and configure email alerts further enhances administrative oversight.
Ease of Use and Management
While the interface is generally user-friendly, the sheer number of options and configurations available within each module can be intimidating for administrators new to network security appliances. However, Untangle provides extensive documentation and a supportive community forum, which can help in navigating the complexities. The ability to create custom profiles and policies for different groups streamlines management in larger environments.
Overall Impression
Untangle NG Firewall is a strong contender in the unified threat management space. Its modular design, comprehensive feature set, and user-friendly interface make it a compelling option for organizations seeking a flexible and effective network security solution. The ongoing development and regular updates from Untangle ensure that the platform stays current with evolving threat landscapes. While the cost of the full suite of applications can add up, the ability to choose only necessary modules offers cost control. For businesses needing a centralized platform to manage firewalling, VPN, threat prevention, and content filtering, Untangle is certainly worth serious consideration.
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