All-in-one Next-Generation Firewall and UTM
Next-Generation Firewall for Small and Medium-sized Businesses
Kerio Control (A GFI Software product) is a unified security appliance, available as a software appliance, Kerio or OEM hardware appliance, or virtual appliance, designed to protect networks from threats and manage Internet access. It combines multiple security features, including a next-generation firewall, intrusion prevention system (IPS), antivirus, VPN server, and web/content filtering, into a single, easy-to-use solution.
Purpose-built for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Kerio Control allows organisations to detect threats, block viruses, control traffic, and monitor web activity, all while keeping deployment simple. The Starter appliance can be plugged in and running with basic security policies in less than 30 minutes, requiring minimal IT knowledge. By unifying these key areas of security, it protects SMBs from the majority of malicious hacking attempts, supports secure remote work, and helps companies avoid downtime or revenue loss caused by cyberattacks.
Kerio Control is value-priced for SMBs, giving organisations essential protection without unnecessary complexity or cost, ensuring that even businesses with limited IT resources can maintain strong network security.
| Secure Internet Access | Provides a secure and reliable internet connection, protecting you from online threats like viruses, malware, and phishing attempts. Ensures you can browse the web and access online resources safely. |
| Protection from Threats | Blocks malicious traffic and intrusions, preventing attacks from reaching your computer and the network. Reduces the risk of data breaches, ransomware, and other security incidents. |
| Reliable VPN Access | Allows secure remote access to company resources when working remotely through Kerio or Microsoft VPN, ensuring you can access necessary files and applications as if you were in the office. Maintains productivity and data security when outside the office network. |
| Faster Browsing (potentially) | Bandwidth management and traffic shaping features can prioritise important traffic, potentially leading to a smoother and faster browsing experience for essential applications. Prevents non-essential traffic from consuming excessive bandwidth. |
| Reduced Exposure to Inappropriate Content | Web filtering features can block access to inappropriate or unproductive websites, helping to maintain focus and productivity during work hours. Can also protect against accessing malicious websites inadvertently. |
| Stable Network Connection | By managing network traffic and preventing malicious attacks, Kerio Control contributes to a more stable and reliable network connection, minimising disruptions and downtime. |
| Seamless Access to Resources | Generally operates transparently in the background, ensuring that you can access the internet and network resources without significant interruption or noticeable impact on your workflow. |
| Recurring Revenue Stream | Kerio Control’s subscription-based licensing model provides a consistent and predictable revenue stream for resellers through annual or multi-year renewals. Builds a stable and sustainable business. |
| Value-Added Security Solution | Enables resellers to offer a comprehensive and robust security solution to their clients, enhancing their product portfolio and increasing their value proposition. Helps attract new clients and strengthen existing relationships. |
| Easy Deployment and Management | Kerio Control is known for its relatively straightforward deployment and intuitive management interface, reducing the support burden on resellers. This allows them to manage more clients efficiently and potentially with less specialised technical expertise. |
| Manage, Monitor, and Deploy Anywhere | Simplify your Kerio deployments with MyKerio: control multiple systems from a single dashboard, access real-time network and system alerts 24/7, get mobile notifications, and deploy appliances remotely. |
| Strong Security Features for SMBs | Provides clients with a robust set of security features specifically tailored to the needs of SMBs, addressing their critical security concerns without excessive complexity. A strong offering builds trust and client satisfaction. |
| Unified Threat Management (UTM) | Offers multiple security features in a single solution, simplifying the IT infrastructure for clients and making it easier for resellers to manage and support. Reduces the need for multiple point solutions. |
| Competitive Pricing for SMB Market | Often positioned as a competitively priced option in the SMB firewall/UTM market, allowing resellers to offer cost-effective solutions while maintaining healthy margins. |
| Multi-Platform Support | Available as a software appliance, Kerio or OEM hardware appliance, and virtual appliance, providing flexibility to meet different client infrastructure needs. Expands the potential customer base. |
| Integrated VPN Capabilities | The built-in VPN server allows resellers to offer secure remote access solutions to their clients, addressing a crucial need for many businesses. |
| Partner Program Support (Typically) | GFI likely offers a partner program with resources, training, marketing materials, and technical support to help resellers effectively sell and support Kerio Control. Provides the necessary tools and knowledge for success. |
| Opportunity for Service Offerings | Resellers can offer services around deployment, configuration, ongoing management, and support of Kerio Control, creating additional revenue streams and strengthening client relationships. |
Kerio Control’s licensing is primarily based on a per-user subscription model:
- Subscription Term: You purchase a subscription for a specific period, typically 1, 2, or 3 years.
- Number of Users: The core licensing metric is the number of users who will be protected by Kerio Control. This includes employees, contractors, or anyone who needs access through the firewall.
- Hardware/Software/Virtual Appliance:
- Software Appliance: You purchase a software license that you install on your own hardware.
- Hardware Appliance: You purchase a pre-built appliance from Kerio or an OEM with the software pre-installed. The appliance cost is separate from the user subscription.
- Virtual Appliance: You purchase a license to deploy Kerio Control as a virtual machine on your existing virtualisation infrastructure.
- Optional Add-ons/Features: While the core license covers the essential security features, there are optional add-ons or premium features available for an additional cost (e.g., specific reporting modules, advanced threat protection).
- Support and Maintenance: The subscription includes access to technical support and software updates during the subscription period.
- Trial Period: GFI offers a free trial period, allowing potential customers to evaluate the software before committing to a purchase.
Pricing depends on the number of users, the subscription term, the type of deployment (software, hardware, virtual), and any additional features.
To obtain accurate pricing, please contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our authorised resellers.
Kerio Control competes with other unified threat management (UTM) appliances and SMB firewalls. Here’s a comparison with some key competitors:
Product |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerio Control (GFI) | User-friendly interface, ease of deployment and management, comprehensive feature set for SMBs, good value for money, multiple deployment options (software, Kerio or OEM hardware, virtual). | Might not have the same level of advanced features or scalability as some enterprise-grade solutions. Market awareness might be lower compared to some larger vendors. | Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking for a comprehensive, easy-to-manage, and affordable UTM solution. |
| Sophos Firewall | Wide range of features, strong threat intelligence, flexible deployment options, integration with other Sophos security products, strong reputation. | Can be more complex to configure and manage compared to Kerio Control, potentially higher cost, some features might require separate licenses. | Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and mid-sized organisations looking for a feature-rich and scalable UTM solution, potentially those already invested in the Sophos ecosystem. |
| Fortinet FortiGate | High performance and scalability, comprehensive feature set, strong security effectiveness, wide range of models to suit different sizes, strong market presence. | Can be complex to configure and manage, steeper learning curve, licensing can be intricate, potentially higher cost, more geared towards larger SMBs and enterprises. | Mid-sized to large enterprises and organisations with demanding performance and security requirements. |