SmoothWall Product Overview

SmoothWall Guardian web security and content filtering solutions ensure that web browsing is work related and safe from objectionable content. The three SmoothWall Guardian products are:

• Corporate Guardian stand-alone (self contained) system for use with any firewall
• SmoothGuardian add-on module for Advanced Firewall and Corporate Firewall
• SchoolGuardian integrated firewall and web content filtering system for schools and colleges

Unlike most filtering products which rely on web site 'blacklists', Guardian dynamically analyses the content of received web pages, blocking on the basis of what pages actually contain, not where they come from. This is augmented by a database of millions of pre-categorised domains, URLs and IP address, covering objectionable content such as pornography, drugs, racial hatred and violence, as well as non work-related categories such as news and sport that users can be allowed access to on a time restricted basis.

Guardian can also prevent the download of copyright music and video files, together with executable and Zip files that may contain viruses. Likewise the web security features block in-page malicious code such as ActiveX controls, Java Applets and Scripts that are used to spread spyware.

Advanced Firewall was designed to meet the demanding needs of today's enterprise networks - the result is the most versatile network security solution available to fulfil any combination of the following roles:

• Perimeter firewall - multiple Internet connections with load balancing and automatic connection failover
• Internal firewall – segregation of networks into physically separate zones with user-level access control of inter-zone traffic
• VPN Gateway - site-to-site, secure remote access and secure wireless connections
• Web Content Filtering – block access to time wasting, objectionable and malicious content (with SmoothGuardian add-on module)
• Bandwidth Management – maximise the performance of Internet connections (with SmoothTraffic add-on module)

Policy based access control is the key to the operation of Advanced Firewall, with user authentication against a Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory or other LDAP server determining the security policies applied to each user.

Corporate Firewall is a modular firewall and Internet security solution for small to medium sized businesses and organisations. With this innovative software firewall it takes less than ten minutes to convert a standard PC into a dedicated firewall appliance. Corporate Firewall delivers the robust security, sophistication and power of a mid-range hardware solution, yet is easier to configure and install. The use of standard PC hardware provides for a flexible, inexpensive and upgradeable firewall that is infinitely more serviceable than a specialised hardware solution.

SmoothZap is the Anti-Virus and Mail Relay module for Advanced and Corporate Firewall. Using transparent proxies it will anti-virus scan all SMTP and POP3 email passing through the firewall, including any email received form employees' personal mail accounts. SmoothZap defends mail servers against attack by mal-formed email and reports on the number of viruses and email blocked along with emails sent and received per user.

SmoothTraffic is the Bandwidth Management (QoS) module for Advanced and Corporate Firewall. SmoothTraffic is used to prioritise mission critical and interactive traffic such as web browsing and VoIP telephony traffic over background high traffic activities such as file transfers and network backups. This ensures adequate bandwidth for reliable operation and reduces user response times.

SmoothTunnel is the VPN Gateway module for Corporate Firewall that supports both Secure Remote Access for mobile users and inter-office (site-to-site) network connectivity. SmoothTunnel interoperates with the L2TP software incorporated in Windows 2000 and XP to provide a clientless Secure Remote Access solution, which using the SmoothWall L2TP wizard takes the average PC user only a couple of minutes to get themselves connected to their corporate network. IPSec is used for site-to-site connections, using AES or 3DES encryption algorithms, with either pre-shared key (PSK) or x509 certificate authentication in conjunction with the integrated Certificate Authority. Advanced Firewall incorporates all the features of SmoothTunnel. SmoothNode is a companion module to SmoothTunnel, adding a single VPN tunnel capability to Corporate Firewall systems. Typically used at a remote branch office that requires only a single VPN connection to the SmoothTunnel VPN Gateway on the corporate network at head office.

SmoothRule is the Internet Access Control module for Corporate Firewall that enables organisations to control which Internet services its users can access. In addition to blocking time-wasting activities like games and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing. SmoothRule can also restrict access to external SMTP mail servers, to prevent users sending private email to non-company mail servers. Advanced Firewall incorporates all the features of SmoothRule.

SmoothHost is the Multi-Server Support module for Corporate Firewall. It allows multiple web, email and other Internet servers to be located in the Corporate Firewall DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ). SmoothHost allows unlimited public IP addresses to be configured on the firewall’s external network interface and introduces Static Network Address Translation (SNAT) capability. Advanced Firewall incorporates all the features of SmoothHost.

SmoothMonitor is the Reporting and Alerting module for Corporate Firewall. It constantly monitors a Corporate Firewall system, producing regular performance, activity and intrusion attempt reports, with alert messages being sent for events requiring the immediate attention of a network administrator. Alerts can be sent either by email or via SMS text messages to mobile phones. Advanced Firewall incorporates all the features of SmoothMonitor.