Firewall
A Firewall is a system /a network security device which can be an appliance (Custom Hardware/ Software Combo) or a Software Application residing on a Commercial Server Hardware. Irrespective of the type, they are critical in a Network as it is in the path of the traffic between your Network and the Outside Network. It is going to allow or allow; good and bad traffic.
This Article intends to clarify on few question you may have on up keeping or Maintenance of your Firewall; nothing Technical about it. Following are the Few Frequently asked Questions and Answers, you may need.
Why Licenses/ Firewall Subscription need to be renewed and is important?
The Firewalls / UTMs need support all through the year as the nature and time of attacks are unpredictable. The protection offered under the Subscription must be availed.
Your Firewall or UTM having subscription being current and live is absolutely necessary as it is the first point of protection from cyber-attacks. Like how we usually update our browsers, Operating Systems and apps in our mobiles, in the same way a network firewall should be upgraded which is very important.
You need to renew your firewall subscriptions to receive daily updates incorporating signatures against viruses or other forms of attacks, solutions and current information.
If it is not renewed, your computers/systems will not be able to effectively isolate the external threats and also you will not be able to get latest security patch updates. If your maintenance lapses, you will not have access to technical support, software updates and feature enhancements. If you don’t renew the firewall subscription prioritization support will not be available & also you will not get personalized communications & alerts. So a Periodic renewal as per the OEM terms is mandatory.
What is the difference between License and Subscription in Firewall?
A License is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something whereas the Subscription is an arrangement in which a customer must pay a periodic/ repeated price at regular intervals for access to a product/ services. But OEM Vendors use these terms interchangeably. One has to read and understand what is covered and what is not.
What is RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) for Firewalls?
When you want to replace a defective unit, a case of RMA can be raised which includes the return of a product for a refund, replacement or repair of the product during the warranty period; it allows only defective products to be returned in case of Firewalls.
What are the Types of renewal of Subscription or Licenses to be carried out?
Firewall vendors like Sophos, Fortinet and Sonicwall have two Types of products to be renewed:
1. Security Services. Fortinet calls it as Fortiguard
2. Support Services. Fortinet calls it as Forticare
Sophos calls it by names, Security Services and Support Services.
What does a customer need a Security service or a Support service?
They need both. The choice of packages depends on the type of Enterprise and on a company’s cash budget. By means of subscribing to Security Services, a customer ensures that the Firewall is most recently updated with Signatures and softwares to protect against attacks on their Network. By Subscribing to Support Services, customer can ensure that his device is up and running always with support for hardware with agreed service levels.
Does the Subscription renewal also mean the Hardware replacement or RMA possible?
For Any Vendor, the products have to be under Warranty or in Support Service Contract for RMA or replacement in total.
What needs to be renewed in a firewall for an Enterprise, Subscription of license or Subscription to support?
Both. Subscription of license and subscription to support should be renewed for the smooth working of the Network in any Enterprise. Having one will not help.
What are Fortiguard and Forticare ?
Fortinet has two distinct Service Product Brands: Fortiguard for Security Services and Forticare for Support Services
Fortiguard is required for ensuring Security features are current and live. Forticare is required for hardware coverage, Enhanced support & Firmware & General updates.
Both need to be renewed, the choice under each of these product lines will depend on the Enterprise’s needs.
What are the different options under Fortiguard ?
Fortiguard offers two Service Bundles: for Small businesses and the other for Medium, Mid-Enterprise& Enterprise businesses.
For Small Businesses:
Fortiguard Security Services includes:
· Anti-virus
· Anti-spam
· Next-generation firewall (NGFW) application control and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
· Web Filtering
· IP and Domain reputation
All the above in a single UTM Fortiguard Security Services Bundle
For Medium, Mid-Enterprise & Enterprise Businesses:
Fortiguard Security Services available for the Fortigate includes:
· FortiSandbox Cloud & Mobile Security
· Anti-virus
· Anti-spam
· Next-generation firewall (NGFW) application control and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
· Web Filtering
· AntiBotnet
IP and Domain reputation
What is Forticare and what are the options under Forticare?
Forticare is Support Services for the Products from Fortinet.
For Small Businesses:
Forticare Support Services includes:
· 24/7 Forticare Support Services which includes access to technical support on a 365x24x7 basis
· An advanced replacement service for hardware failures and replacement of defective hardware.
For Medium, Mid-Enterprise & Enterprise businesses:
Forticare Support Services includes:
· All of the services that FortiCare 24×7 service offers, plus providing customers with a recurring health check through a personalized monthly audit report of their FortiGate and FortiWiFi appliances.
· As part of the service, Fortinet will proactively perform device environmental and performance audits for the contracted appliances.
· Based on the audit results, specialized Fortinet engineers will provide recommendations to help customers avoid unplanned service disruptions and detect problems before they affect performance.
If you would like to get Forticare 360 please email at Renewals@fortinet.com to speak with a renewals specialist.
What is Covered under Sophos Security Services ?
Sophos Security Services which is also called as Software Subscriptions, very often includes:
Email Protection:
· Anti-spam
· Anti-virus
· Data Leakage Protection
· SPX (Secure PDF Exchange)
Network Protection:
· Clientless VPN (Virtual Private Network)
· IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)
· Sophos Security Heartbeat
· RED (Remote Ethernet Device)
· ATP (Advanced Threat Protection)
Web Protection:
· URL & Content Filtering
· Anti-Virus
· Application Control
Web Server Protection:
· Anti-Virus
· Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Sandstorm :
Sophos Sandstorm for Web and Email Protection
What is covered under Sophos Support Services?
Sophos has three offerings under Support Services.
Standard:
· It covers technical support (for 8 hours & 5 days), via telephone and email for 90 days,
· 1 year return / replace warranty for all hardware appliances.
· It also covers Security Updates & Patches, for the life of the product if there is an active software subscription.
Enhanced:
· It covers 24/7 technical support.
· It covers Security Updates & Patches, for the life of the product which includes with an active software subscription.
· It also covers Warranty & RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) for all hardware appliances for maximum 5 years depending on the support contract.
· For enhanced support you can contact TAM (Technical Account Manager), a specialized product expert which is optional in your service pack but with extra cost.
Enhanced Plus:
· It covers 24/7 technical support, a target response time, VIP phone number, access to senior support resources
· Remote consultation is included up to 4 hours on your firewall configuration security with a Sophos Senior Technical Support Engineer
· It covers Security Updates & Patches, for the life of the product which includes with an active software subscription.
· It also covers Warranty & RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) for all hardware appliances for maximum 5 years depending on the support contract.
For enhanced support you can contact TAM (Technical Account Manager), a specialized product expert which is optional in your service pack but with extra cost.
What happens if the FortiGuard firewall license is expired or not renewed?
If the license is not renewed, some important features of FortiGuard will stop working. However, if there is Static URL filtering applied, that will be still working as per the configured entries (but refer to Fortinet Website for updated and more accurate information).
What happens if the Sophos firewall license is expired or not renewed?
Once the license expires, all premium features (including WebServer Protection) would be disabled.
Features included in the free Essential Firewall license will continue to work and basic firewall operation continues.
How to Renew Firewall Subscription?
The start date of renewal will be the day after the expiration of the existing subscription. During renewal time you have to ensure that the serial number/ sequential number that was created while registering your order intitially is available that the subscription is running on.
When you renew your signed agreement to license products it will either show a license key (you can use the license key only once) that you need to activate or it will indicate that your renewal has already been activated. Ensure you read the signed agreement when it is sent to you & activate any license keys shown on it.
When to Renew the Firewall Subscription?
It depends on the date you bought your initial license.
Most security resellers/providers offer licenses in terms of one, two or three years. Organizations planning ahead can save money or protect against any increase in charges by buying licenses for a longer term of service, like 3 years.
How about Upgrading License in the middle of the term?
Mid-time period modifications can most effective be used to upgrade a subscription and not to downgrade a subscription.
In case if you want to upgrade/update the products you use in the mid-term, then you will need to request a quote from your reseller.
When a mid-term change is activated, then the brand new subscription will start immediately and the remainder of your present subscription will be dropped/cancelled.
What are the General Benefits of Renewing the Firewall Subscription?
· Anti-Virus protection, Anti-spam, Anti malware, Anti phishing, worms, trojan horses andintrusion protection.
· 24/7 multi-channel support
· Software downloads, updates, & maintenance
· Access to support knowledgebase and support forums
· Warranty & RMA
· Technical Support
· Hardware replacement
· Remote assistance support
· Remote consulting
· TAM (Technical Account Manager)
· Priority case and sample handling
· VIP Access to Senior Technical Resource team
· Front of the line access to product information
· Personalized communications and alerts
· Performance and feature optimization
· Enhanced escalation
· Emergency Onsite Support
Vays Infotech helps customers with configuring and supporting Firewalls and covers/supports security licenses for Sophos/ Cyberoam, Check Point, Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper and Dell Sonic Wall. Vays Infotech can customize Firewall solutions for the clients and handle support for clients in Bangalore.
Know more about our Next Generation Firewall Solution.
Vays Infotech helps customers with configuring and supporting Firewalls and covers/supports security licenses for Sophos/ Cyberoam, Check Point, Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper and Dell Sonic Wall. VayVays Infotech helps customers with configuring and supporting Firewalls and covers/supports security licenses for Sophos/ Cyberoam, Check Point, Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper and Dell Sonic Wall. Vays Infotech can customize Firewall solutions for the clients and handle support for clients in Bangalore.s Infotech can customize Firewall solutions for the clients and handle support for clients in Bangalore.