Check Point Software is introducing a set of security appliances for midsize businesses and branch offices of larger businesses bent on reducing the clutter of devices and the cost and hassle of dealing with multiple vendors.

The company is introducing three new members of its UTM-1 line of multifunction security devices as well as a new category of appliances called Power-1, which doesn't handle as many functions but is designed as a high-performance perimeter gateway.

The UTM-1 devices support firewall, IPSec VPN, intrusion prevention, network-layer SSL VPN, SmartCenter central management and its portal-based adjunct SmartPortal, and access to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol user stores. (Compare  UTM products.) 

Users can opt to buy antivirus, URL filtering, e-mail filtering and SmartDefense advisory services to go along with their UTM-1 gear.

The company will add more functions later this year, says Bob Egner, Check Point's vice president of marketing, but he would not specify what they will be.

The three new models are the UTM-1 270 (with a 400Mbps firewall), UTM-1 570 (with a 1.1Gbps firewall) and UTM-1 3070 (with a 4.5Gbps firewall). Prices start at $4,800, $8,500 and $24,000, respectively. The 3070 raises the firewall speed of the company's UTM-1 offerings from a previous high of 2.4Gbps.

The new Power-1 devices support firewall, VPN and intrusion prevention with CheckPoint's SmartDefense services. The company says they are meant for perimeter security in large enterprises. (Compare intrusion-prevention products.)

The Power-1 5070 has a 9Gbps firewall and eight onboard Gigabit Ethernet slots, with an expansion slot that handles four more. Pricing starts at $36,500. The Power-1 9070 has a 14Gbps firewall, eight onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports and slots to add eight more. Pricing starts at $49,500. Both models include gigabit sync ports and management ports.

The UTM-1 devices and Power-1 appliances are due to become available May 1.