Untangle's latest version of its award-winning SD-WAN Router addresses the growing need to secure networks at the edge -- reflecting the rise in distributed and edge computing that's empowering the modern workplace.


Heather Paunet, senior vice president of product and marketing at Untangle, said the added threat prevention capabilities in SD-WAN Router 3.1 enhance the flexible networking and security options for geographically dispersed organisations.


"Our customers requested security features built into their edge devices based on their specific networking needs. We listened and continue to improve our products," she said in the official announcement.


Customers taking advantage of the new capabilities via Untangle’s Network Security Framework – comprising the Untangle NG Firewall, SD-WAN Router and cloud based management tool Command Center – will be able to block any network traffic according to the reputation of the network connection.


SD-WAN Router 3.1 will therefore help SMBs and distributed companies "do more with less", according to Untangle.


"Limited budgets to smaller, if any, security resources [mean that] 38% of SMBs are allocating $1,000 or less to their IT security budget -- in comparison to 29% in 2019 and 27% in 2018.


"Untangle SD-WAN Router 3.1 offers affordable, advanced security features combined with simple set-up," it said.


Highlights include:


  • Low-cost entry package delivering Untangle WAN optimisation
  • New security package to fight malware, viruses, and other malicious traffic
  • Ability to assess and block dangerous types of network traffic -- even encrypted traffic
  • Flexible deployment -- security can be assessed at headquarers or delivered at the network edge


Other products often require CPU-heavy SSL inspection to analyse encrypted network traffic, the vendor said.


Untangle SD-WAN Router capabilities have been recognised in the TMCNet 2021 Internet Telephony SD-WAN Product of the Year Awards.


The announcement follows on the heels of Untangle's first mobile app -- Untangle Go -- for Apple iOS and Google Android devices.


"Untangle GO empowers IT administrators to quickly access critical information about their security appliances and network status, at the touch of a button," according to Untangle.