Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/4636
ILTA White Paper Infrastructure Technologies 34 for each point solution can be expensive and wasteful because of the unused computing power of the hardware appliance. Because these point solutions are often from separate vendors and do not integrate easily, separate hardware or software subscriptions are required, adding more expense. Even if your organization elects to purchase software subscriptions, it is quite possible you will have to run each solution on separate pieces of hardware. Again, this can become costly. Because UTM products integrate network, Web and e-mail security on one hardware appliance or in one software installation, your organization can be sure it is only purchasing and running the amount of hardware and software the network requires. Putting network, e-mail and Web security into a single hardware or software appliance also reduces energy consumption and costs. Many organizations are concerned with creating a more environmentally friendly network, and UTM can help them do just that. The reduced energy requirements of running a single appliance for all an organization's security needs results in a "greener," less expensive datacenter. The Web security features present in many UTM products also allow companies to improve employee productivity by blocking unproductive, non-work related websites. The enhanced security offered by UTM means that less spyware, viruses and spam enter the network, leading to a reduced number of infections on the network. This means network administrators can spend less time cleaning individual machines and more time on revenue-generating or cost-saving activities. But beyond the functional aspects that improve employee productivity, UTM can also significantly improve productivity with network administrators in other ways. THE UTM PRODUCTIVITY BENEFIT Network administrators are often busy fixing issues and have responsibilities outside the realm of network security. In fact, the network administrator is also the general IT manager at many smaller organizations and does not possess in-depth knowledge of security issues and technologies. When organizations elect to implement several point solutions to secure their networks, it becomes necessary for the IT managers and administrators to spend time learning the different interfaces and configurations of each product separately. Once again, this can be a very time-consuming process, and the time spent could be allocated for more productive activities. Because UTM integrates all the security functions necessary to secure an entire network, it is only necessary for IT managers and administrators to learn a single interface. If the product also has an intuitive graphical user interface, similar to Web interfaces, this makes it even easier for administrators to learn how to properly use the product and saves even more time. Implementing several point solutions can be time-consuming, as administrators must ensure each product is configured properly and is working in concert with the other security. Add in the need to update, administer and monitor each application, and suddenly a large percentage of the IT department's time is spent securing the network. Because UTM integrates network, e-mail and Web security into one appliance, it eliminates the need to administer and update multiple products. ILTA