Firewalla has announced the Firewalla Gold Plus SFP, a high-performance cybersecurity and networking appliance designed for advanced users, professionals and small businesses building multi-gigabit networks.
The Gold Plus SFP combines up to 5 Gbps of firewall processing with a flexible mix of 10 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps network interfaces, including a 10 Gbps SFP+ port. The new model is designed for customers who want to connect multi-gigabit equipment while maintaining centralised visibility, security and control across their networks.
Gold Plus SFP is aimed at a broad range of users whose networking needs have outgrown conventional consumer routers. As Internet services move beyond 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet becomes increasingly common, many users are building networks that mix copper Ethernet, fibre, and different generations of networking equipment. Gold Plus SFP gives those users another option for connecting and securing their networks without requiring a traditional enterprise firewall.
"Multi-gigabit networking is no longer limited to large enterprises or data centres," said Jerry Chen, co-founder of Firewalla. "We are seeing advanced home users and small businesses build networks around 2.5G and 10G equipment, fibre connections and high-speed local services. Gold Plus SFP gives them the connectivity flexibility to build those networks while keeping Firewalla's security and visibility at the centre."
A key feature of Gold Plus SFP is its combination of copper and SFP+ connectivity. The appliance includes two 10 Gbps RJ45 ports, two 2.5 Gbps RJ45 ports and one 10 Gbps SFP+ port.
The SFP+ port allows customers to choose the connection technology that best fits their network. Depending on the compatible module or cable, it can be used with fibre, a direct-attach cable or an RJ45-based connection.
Gold Plus SFP is built around Firewalla's software platform, which brings security, network management and monitoring capabilities together through a single system.
The platform provides intrusion detection and prevention, intelligent threat filtering, network segmentation, VLAN support, multi-WAN configuration, VPN capabilities, traffic monitoring and granular policy controls.
Rather than requiring users to manage separate security appliances, monitoring tools and networking systems, Firewalla integrates these functions into a single platform.
For advanced users, the result is detailed visibility into what is happening on the network, including devices, applications, traffic and potential threats. For small businesses, it provides capabilities traditionally associated with more complex enterprise networking equipment in a form that can be managed without specialised networking staff.
Gold Plus SFP also benefits from Firewalla's software development model. New capabilities can be delivered through software updates, allowing the appliance to gain functionality over time rather than remaining tied to the feature set available when it was purchased.
For professional users, the appliance can serve as the security and routing foundation for networks incorporating 10G switches, NAS systems, high-performance workstations, media servers and multi-gigabit Internet connections.
For businesses and professional environments, Gold Plus SFP can provide centralised network security and management while supporting a mixture of high-speed wired connections. Its combination of security controls and network visibility is intended to help administrators understand not only what is connected to a network, but also how those devices are communicating.
"People don't always upgrade their entire network at once," Chen said. "They add a faster Internet connection, replace a switch, install a new server or run fibre to another part of the building. Gold Plus SFP is designed for that. It gives customers more ways to connect today while leaving room for the network they will build tomorrow."
The company's software platform continues to expand with capabilities focused on threat protection, device management, VPN networking, network segmentation and visibility. This approach allows Gold Plus SFP to function as more than a traditional firewall, giving users a central point from which to manage and understand their networks.
