A unified threat management (UTM) system is a combination of numerous types of security solution such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, anti-malware solutions, antivirus software, internet protocol security, web filtering, and other network security products in a single solution.
Combining many different types of security, UTM solutions offer substantial benefits like:
- Cost savings
- Reduced complexity of security solutions
- Improvement in flexibility of use
- Streamlined management
- Reduced requirement for multiple software
- Reduced need for technical training
- Regulatory compliance
The combination of these different types of security product in the UTM solution, not to mention the list of added benefits, has resulted in increased popularity among end-users, which is a big reason why the Global UTM Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.52 percent from 2013-2018.
But are the key things that end-users need out of a unified threat management system?
Need for Consolidation of Security Solutions
There are many security solutions available in the market today and choosing the right solutions for a specific purpose and implementing these individual solutions is time consuming and expensive for end-users. Therefore, there is a need to consolidate security software into a single solution. UTM solutions combine multiple security technologies into a single network device. This provides companies with advantages such as the ability to easily deploy and manage multiple network security devices.
Furthermore, the consolidation of security technologies such as firewalls, intrusion prevention, and web filtering addresses multiple security attack vectors by cyber criminals. Moreover, the consolidation of security technologies helps reduce power consumption. Most importantly, a single company can be made responsible for all the support and transaction activities relating to network security.
Need for Better Protection Against Security Threats
As a result of the complexity of cyber-attacks, the market is witnessing an increase in advanced persistent threats (APTs). Unlike traditional threats, APTs have the ability to disrupt the entire IT infrastructure of an organization. Further, APTs are targeted at critical installations such as government departments, web servers, and customer databases, and are far more harmful than other threats.
Attackers with strong networking knowledge try to carry out advanced threats such as APTs, and these threats are detected only after the attack, which can have a disastrous effect on organizations. Hence, to better secure their networks, companies across many industries adopt UTM solutions, driving the growth of the Global UTM market.
Need to Comply with Multiple Regulatory Standards
Another major driver that will contribute to the market’s growth is the need to adhere to stringent regulatory standards. Failure to comply with these regulations can attract hefty penalties from the government. Companies have to comply with multiple regulatory requirements in addition to following their internal compliance procedures.
Companies such as those in the BFSI and Healthcare sectors are among the most regulated companies in the world. These companies usually have multiple regulations to follow and the failure to adhere to such regulations may result in fines running into millions of US dollars. Therefore, to cope with the number of regulatory requirements, end-users increasingly implement IT security products such as UTM solutions.
Need for Solutions Designed for Complex Networks
Organizational network infrastructure is a combination of different types of networking devices and solutions, and its complexity increases with the adoption of different networking devices. For example, employee mobility has increased the presence of companies in various geographies and the employees need to stay connected across corporate networks.
To allow employees to stay connected with their organizational networks through wireless devices such as smartphones, netbooks, and other mobile devices, companies adopt a number of networking devices, resulting in an increase in network complexity. Therefore, to secure their networks from mobile device-specific security threats, companies adopt security solutions specific to their networks.
