XTM as the next wave in multi-functional security

Kilpatrick: XTM provides excellent future-proofing for larger organisations

The first eXtensible Threat Management (XTM) appliances have now arrived in this country and they present some great opportunities for the channel, particularly in larger companies and enterprises.

XTM is a superset of Unified Threat Management (UTM). It provides functionality more relevant to the continually changing threats affecting enterprises. XTM offers additional security features, networking capabilities, and management flexibility.

It also provides excellent future-proofing, and you can bolt on new security functions as the need arises.

With UTM, the range of security functions varied widely. Some suppliers offered much more functionality than others. Some had outdated solutions.

XTM is superior functionality-wise to UTM, which IDC back in 2003 defined as a firewall, intrusion detection or prevention system, and gateway anti-virus in one integrated network security appliance.

UTM was popular with SMEs, and, as performance increased, with larger companies to secure branch and remote offices, as well as alongside existing gateway firewalls, for the extra functionality.

XTM suits higher-end applications particularly because of its broader functionality, as well as reporting and centralised management. In larger organisations, event correlation is crucial, and they also want to minimise staff time and training costs.

UTM may remain the primary security solution for distributed environments, but within the enterprise it will evolve into an XTM platform. XTM takes security appliances further by vastly expanding security features, networking capabilities and management flexibility.

IDC has said that future XTM appliances should provide automated processes – such as logging, reputation-based protections, event correlation, network access control and vulnerability management.

Adding to the networking capabilities will be management of network bandwidth, traffic shaping, throughput, latency and other features, including unified communications.

Clients want protection from a much greater range of threats. Remote access has grown massively and businesses have security issues around that. They also look for protection for developing applications such as VoIP. Compliance issues have become more important too.

Organisations need to minimise costs and achieve return on investment (RoI), while implementing strategic solutions, increasing security and trying to be green. XTM helps you deliver solutions that meet all these requirements.

You can sell XTM into enterprise and public sector accounts. Enterprises are looking to achieve or maintain PCI compliance and reduce their carbon footprint as well as cutting costs.

Ian Kilpatrick is chairman of Wick Hill