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Technology Stocks : Check Point Software (CHKP) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: George Sepetjian who wrote (2250)	5/1/1998 3:00:00 PM
From: Maverick	Respond to of 7150

Since the Test Center last looked at the channel program, Digital added turnkey end-user seminars and several promotional deals including one that awards resellers virtual private networking software for selling a certain number of firewalls. This is a good marketing tool for resellers, allowing them to extend into yet another high-profit service field. The Test Center was impressed with a hardware and software configurator that resellers can use with clients in the field as a sales tool. AltaVista FireWall 97 has an elegant interface that is sophisticated without being cluttered, allowing resellers to specify external services. The firewall examines every connection that comes to it, and if the connection does not conform to the established security policy, the firewall rejects it. The firewall uses trusted proxies to control access to services. Raptor, which earned honorable mention from the Test Center previously, again deserves recognition for its product and channel programs. Eagle 5.0 can support a saturated T3 line on an Intel platform, multithreaded application proxies and symmetrical multiprocessing. The proxy-based firewall also does a great job of guiding the reseller through the detection process. Recently acquired by Axent Technologies, Raptor targets high-end security consultant VARs with discount demos, an extensive field-sales force, and rich volume rebates and market-development funds. Raptor provides VARs with an evaluation CD of all Raptor firewalls for a variety of platforms so customers can try out a firewall for 30 days. Other firewalls resellers should consider include Secure Computing's Firewall for NT, which can support up to three network interfaces: one on the internal network, one on the external network and one on the Secure Server Network. Internet Dynamics' Conclave combines firewall, encryption, authentication and antivirus protection, and can be remotely administered from anywhere within the intranet. Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 uses the Cache Array Routing Protocol to provide scaling and efficiency with multiple proxies configured as a single logical cache. NetGuard's Guardian Firewall has a Windows-like interface and allows the management of multiple, isolated security zones. FireWall Plus for Windows NT from Network-1 works in "kernel mode," essentially stopping packets before they enter the NT operating system. CSM Proxy Plus is an effective, inexpensive product but requires a higher level of technical expertise to configure and manage. Computer Reseller News April 27, 1998 Issue 786

To: George Sepetjian who wrote (2250)	5/1/1998 3:04:00 PM
From: Maverick	Respond to of 7150

The CRN Test Center gave its Editors' Choice award to Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. for its FireWall-1, a firewall that uses stateful inspection technology. The product is comprehensive yet simple to install and maintain. Check Point also offers resellers the sales and technical training and channel programs that are so vital to growing in the burgeoning security field. A strong honorable mention is awarded to Digital Equipment Corp.'s AltaVista division for Firewall 97. The winner of last year's Editors' Choice in this category, the product remains technically pure as well as channel-focused. Honorable mention is also awarded to Raptor Systems' Eagle firewall. Although still technically daunting products for resellers, firewalls emerged last year from a glass-house mentality into a mainstream security product. Overall, the Test Center found that channel programs have similarly evolved in respect to joint sales, co-op funds and the all-important lead generation. Probably healthy for the industry is an emphasis on channel programs tiered to the style and expertise of the reseller. Check Point tiers, but the company also does much more: Co-op funds are distributed not only direct to resellers but also to distributors; bonuses are offered for quick follow-up on leads; and an extensive field-sales and engineering force is available. The company also supports a platform of security protocols that allow the reseller to extend beyond Check Point's product, if necessary. Check Point provides a single platform integrating every aspect of network security into an open framework. Third-party security applications can easily plug into the framework via industry-standard APIs and protocols. All applications can be configured and managed from a central location. Resellers can plug third-party security system components. FireWall-1 supports more than 100 predefined applications, services and protocols out of the box. The best lead generator in the firewall niche is AltaVista, which pumps out hundreds of high-quality leads a month from people who have downloaded the firewall. Given the nature of the consumer for this product, these are driven buyers.

To: George Sepetjian who wrote (2250)	5/1/1998 3:05:00 PM
From: Maverick	Respond to of 7150

Check Point FireWall-1 price Price: 25 nodes, $2,995; 50 nodes, $4,995; 100 nodes, $7,995; 250 nodes, $9,995; unlimited nodes, $18,990 Warranty: 90 days Distributors/Integrators: Ingram Micro, Uunet, Westcom Authorization Requirements: Certification required to participate in Check Point Alliance program