Efficient and matured network security is imperative for all businesses, corporate and personal users as the entire economic infrastructure relies on the Internet and centralized communications. Every industry is susceptible to network threats. Both network system security and data security is a significant concern. It is critical to put a high value on the usage of best network security software solutions to ensure smooth running.
But, are the following questions popping up in your mind?
- Why network security?
- What are the key factors that affect the cost of network security solutions?
- What are the best network security software solutions?
No worries!
The content below will help you understand the importance of network security, key factors affecting the network security cost, and also clarify on some of the best network security software solutions available in the market.
Why Consider the Network Security Software Cost In Your Corporate Budget?
That’s the question clients of software companies frequently ask. Especially, seeing the cost for the protection of their services in their bill.
And my instant answer is: yes, that’s totally worth it.
And my main argument is: consider the catastrophic losses your company will experience in the case of a successful cyber attack.
Any cost of network security software can’t overcome the sum you’ll need to pay after the operational and reputational destruction – which, in its turn, is a logical consequence of a single collapse in the whole informational environment. To recover and bring everything back to normal, you’ll need lots of time, attention, and money to cover numerous fines. And an even longer process of bringing back the trust of your customers, whose personal information falls as the victim of a cyber attack.
In sum, Data Breach Study (research released by IBM Security in cooperation with Ponemon Institute) estimated all these losses in 3.86 million dollars.
In the given circumstances, maybe that’s easier to protect your business operations and reputation in advance? In fact, the prevention costs are much less. According to another recent report, the average large-scale company spends around $345.700 annually to ensure full protection of its sensitive data – which is much more affordable than millions invested in business recovery.
So, if you also agree with the feasibility of an enterprise safeguard, this article is designed to help in calculating the exact network security software cost and avoid the common pitfalls on its way.
What Does the Basic Network Security Cost Mean?
If you take into consideration all the options currently presented on the market, the network security software cost can be totally free of charge or make $24,000 per year. Notwithstanding such a great range in terms of money, there are some typical features in this package. Within the services delivered, everything starts with a network security audit – meaning applying in-depth system scans and “white hat” hacking, among all. After that, the investigation of internal mechanisms (including physical security assessments) takes place and reveals the vulnerabilities in the network design.
Among the other things to expect, get ready that the cost of network security software differs year by year. The novelty of the cybersecurity sector, in general, facilitates entering the sphere for small enterprises. In other words, most vendors unlock the capabilities of network security software at the lowest cost available on the market. But with time this sum can increase significantly, involving the costs on human resources and support of the existing software security ecosystem. Moreover, the enhancement of cyberattacks calls for more expensive measures to prevent multimillion harm they may bring.
Among the cheapest solutions for network security software, email protection and launching corporate VPN are the options affordable for everybody. Moreover, phishing scams are the most popular threats addressed at the lowest network security costs. So, I recommend starting from these network security software solutions to check the basic features of the service and enjoy their perks.
Why Few Network Security Software Solutions are Costly?
Commonly, the most expensive network security software is a package of the products designed to facilitate monitoring within an enterprise. In this context, all the processes and peculiarities of the business are taken into consideration – and addressed within a highly customized solution, designed as the network security software.
But why companies choose to pay more? In general, this decision is justified by the greater value for a dollar that comes with the increase of network security software cost. In other words, the higher cost of network security software enables protection from the most dangerous and large-scale malicious attacks.
At the same time, the final decision of the exact sum paid for network security management software depends on the peculiarities of the organizational structure. In other words, each cybersecurity solution is a use case that should be accurate, among all, to all the existing processes in a company. It isn’t a single tool that looks more attractive and complete in a shop. And so, if your company doesn’t need the full package of network security software as a business giant does – that should be addressed in the solution delivered.
In any case, a full audit, which includes protection, network performance evaluation, and compliance with the main services, is always more preferable (and expensive – from several thousand to millions of dollars) than partial fixes. And it costs some money.
Types of Network Security Software
According to Cisco, network security includes the following areas:
- Access control – managing the accessibility of your networks and tracking each user and device attempting to enter them,
- Antivirus and antimalware software – protection from viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware,
- Application security – identifying and covering possible holes in application design,
- Behavioral analytics – distinguishing normal and abnormal activities and neutralizing the latter,
- Data loss protection – keeping sensitive data within an enterprise network,
- Email security – establishing protection from sophisticated phishing campaigns,
- Firewalls – the barriers put between the trusted internal network and suspicious outsiders,
- Intrusion prevention systems – scanning of network traffic,
- Mobile device security – the protection designed for mobile devices and apps,
- Network segmentation – checking the endpoint identity of users interacting with the network (based on the factors of location, role, and level of access),
- Security information and event management – information integration for easier identification and responding to threats,
- VPN – connection encryption over the Internet,
- Web security – controlling all the appearances of web usage,
- Wireless security – exploit prevention from the more dangerous wireless connection (in contrast to wired networks).
Among the specific groups that differentiate within the network security elaborations, there are nine basic things designed to protect websites. In particular, they are:
- Computer antivirus (yes, antiviruses are everywhere) – to make sure that the threats from your computer will not bring harm from the backend,
- Network security – includes measures like encrypted Wi-Fi, antivirus, and network firewall security software,
- SaaS security – cloud technology protected by encrypted CRM, marketing automation platform, and lead generation tools,
- Content management system – the variety of up-to-date platforms for secure content storing,
- e-Commerce software – ensuring PCI compliance and a secure shopping platform,
- Payment getaway software – finishing securing e-Commerce operations by introducing PCI DSS compliance for payments,
- Content delivery network – enhancement of website loading speed (especially relevant for the websites with large traffic),
- Bot mitigation – an improved system of protecting the website from bots and spamming,
- Monitoring tool – the ongoing checking of all the suspicious activities and vulnerabilities.
To simplify this, we can consider five features of network security software:
- Firewalls – prevention from authorized access into the network,
- Antivirus – prevention from malicious code,
- Antispyware – prevention from thefts done by unauthorized software,
- Home computers – the desktop level of PC protection,
- Network security – bringing protection to the level of the network created by several computers.
Business Network Security Software: Common Concerns
In certain cases, the network security software you’ve carefully chosen can reveal its total inconsistency.
Let’s clarify what may happen on the way of protecting your information environment:
- Neglecting the human aspect in network security cost. When a company decides to build in the system of tracking malicious attacks, there arises the need to take care of it with time. And to make it right, you’ll need to hire professionals. That’s why this factor increases the expenses on network security each year. Being not ready for this change leads to the collapse of any newly established network management security software. Among the key dimensions of the human aspect that affects the software cost problem, there is security alert triangle, rebuilding infected machines, emergency patching, and outside expenses.
- Keeping application and VM isolation. This is one of the important factors to get attacked, due to which, the absence of integration within security system causes lots of problems. In this context, the concept of zero-trust networking, if applied correctly, significantly minimizes the number of cyber attacks. In particular, companies should consider the possibility of providing access to machines if only needed. Otherwise, the threats from the environment can reach the sensitive data and destroy the network monitoring security software.
- Lack of complex approach. In fact, the proper protection of business environment is the mix of technology, procedure, and education. And the network security software cost should include all these aspects – otherwise, the effectiveness of applying it raises significant doubt.For example, installing an antivirus program is mostly ineffective – so, it is essential to understand the purpose and learn to incorporate it into the existing business processes is a must. Moreover, the application of various monitoring tools and physical firewalls should also have one and only aim – data protection.
Key Network Security Software Factors That Affect Its Price
Basically, the exact network security cost model depends on the approach chosen. In this context, there exist differences in the price of a license, the number of users, amount and appearance of devices, and the availability of a tied package.
Specifically, license, if included in the full-range network security cost, brings an additional $1,000-2,000 into the bill. At the same time, the price can be much lower if to add licensing to separate features only – for example, the cost of network security software for an email program is only $30. On the contrary, compliance with HIPAA and ITAR regulations increases the complexity of the safeguard – and its price simultaneously.
Furthermore, each user and device will add around $45 per month in network security management software bill. Also, each new feature for your business needs increases the cost – with the starting budget of $500. Because of that, the size of an enterprise is one of the key factors affecting network security cost.
Besides, the exact region of a software developer’s residence affects the price significantly. Specifically, ordering from the USA and Western Europe is much more expensive than from Eastern Europe and Asia (especially, in the case of in-house development). Moreover, the size and popularity of these vendors also affect network security costs spent by their clients. In this context, the solution addressing a specific threat is more expensive than the package that covers universal dangers in terms of cybersecurity. Code analysis is also a factor that increases network security software cost (precisely, depending on the size of a code source, the price can increase even higher). In its turn, the industry in which the ordering company operates can be an important factor – since healthcare and retail work with the information of the highest sensitivity,
Finally, there exists a categorization of the service delivered within the network security software that affects the sum paid for installation. Precisely, the expenses are higher and higher starting from:
- Basic package: antiviruses, firewalls etc.,
- Off-the-shelf prevention: firewalls, load balancers, intrusion systems,
- Website/server testing,
- Applying social engineering (checking people’s work),
- Constant consulting on all the stages of implementing the network monitoring security software,
- Introducing a bespoke software (an enhanced version of the off-the-shelf prevention adequate for the needs of big companies
- Developing cryptographic solutions: consulting, research, or specific algorithms.
Best Network Security Software in 2019 – And Its Cost
So, after distinguishing the basic factors affecting the price of network security software, let’s refer to the most popular vendors of these solutions in the market.
Here is a short presentation of each Network Security Monitory Software, its main features and its prices.
#1 QuickLaunch – the simplest network security monitoring software
As the most prominent characteristic of QuickLaunch, an ability to use a single sign-in attracts many enterprises and encourages them to use the service. Specifically, this network monitoring security software allows keeping peace in mind concerning the users and devices connected to the informational environment of the company. Enhancing the effectiveness and productivity, it applies cloud technology to enable proper work of Password Manager – a digital solution capable of fixing the log-in problems, creating security questions, and renewing passwords.
In other words, the software works on a one-click basis, making it possible to simplify the authorization process to one and only inputting of the credentials’ set. Moreover, QuickLaunch creates a single dashboard where you can update passwords, create notifications, and restrict access to some users.
In terms of money, this software is comparatively cheaper. Precisely, one user will cost a company $1.12 per year. Adding Password Manager to this sum is possible for $0.6. Other features are also available for less than a dollar annually: Multi-Factor Authentication costs $0.8 and Identity Provider functions for $0.6.
#2 NordVPN – network security management software for VPN protection
Being both home and corporate network security software, NordVPN contains all the features needed to protect online activities of any appearance and scale. These characteristics include in-built encryption, strict no-logging policy, and an ability to block tracking of Internet activity from outside.
As a know-how relevant for business purposes, NordVPN offers market analysis and testing of products. In this context, confidentiality of personal data is a must for this service. Even if the workers use public Wi-Fi, the information about customers will remain safe.
To order NordVPN services, clients have four package options. First, Simple Package costs $11.95 per month. The second variant is titled the Standard Plan – it’s relevant for one year and requires a monthly payment of $5.75. Furthermore, the Best Offer is a 2-year plan that costs $3.29 per month. Finally, the customized Business Package cost is negotiated by referring to the service provider directly.
#3 Mailbox Exchange Recovery, network security scan software for mailing
Mailbox Exchange Recovery is a service relevant for the B2B market actors. As a network security scan software, it enables managing e-mails, calendars, attached files, and other elements either built in or integrated into a corporate mailbox. Moreover, it unlocks manual control over the restoration process, which is highly helpful in managing important conversations.
Precisely, the software offers two types of network security scan software. On the one hand, quick checking fixes instant problems that occurred in a mailbox. On another hand, the software’s extensive scan is a deep investigation of the serious issues – like mail inbreak and file corruption.
Before ordering the service, it’s possible to try a free trial version. Later, Mailbox Exchange Technician plan comes for $399, while an enhanced Mailbox Exchange Platinum version requires paying $599. Besides, an option of a lifetime license is also available. To get more details, you can contact Mailbox Exchange Recovery team directly.
#4 ManageEngine, network firewall security software – and much more than this
By referring to ManageEngine brand, you get the chance to receive various services for your business needs. For example, in ManageEngine Key Manager Plus product, the main idea is to facilitate the integration of Secure Shell (SSH) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates under one solution. Therefore, administration of users’ activity along with accurate and timely reporting on it.
In its turn, ManageEngineADSeol Service Plus is a platform that enables easier password reset and independent account unlocks. Working in Microsoft Windows Active Directory, it provides updates in all the details of personal information (like addresses and communication channels) independently.
As a network security firewall software, ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer investigates logs and notifies possible problems. Supporting more than 50 firewall vendors, it attracts clients by being accurate and effective in managing security issues.
As for the price, ordering ManageEngine Key Manager Plus or ManageEngineADSeol Service Plus requires sending a personal request to the company (even for checking a free trial version). As for the starting price for ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer, it costs $1,499 per year.
#5 SolarWinds RMM – one of the most popular corporate and home network security software solutions
Working as a remote platform for observing and controlling network security, SolarWinds RMM offers its clients the greatest toolkit for safeguarding various kinds of IT operations.
Because of that, some experts title it as the best home network security software choice. Thanks to the highest level of enhancement in terms of product features, SolarWinds RMM can replace the majority of other solutions available in the market. And so, guarantee the fullest package of network security software for home. For businesses, the inclusion of all activities within customer relationships becomes possible – regardless of platforms and technologies used.
To order SolarWinds RMM, get ready to request a quote – all he prices are hidden.
FireMon Security Manager, GFI LanGuard, Vectra, AlienVault USM are other solutions that you can consider.
So, What Are The Main Rules Of Ordering Corporate Network Security Software?
As you can notice in this overview, there are numerous cases when one can get the exact cost for corporate network security software as per the demand placed. Very often, the clients’ requests bring too much unpredictability and volatility to set the price right away. Depending on the layers of security that your business demands, you can get the prices going up or low.
And so, be ready to talk to the representatives of a software development company. Initially, they can give you a rough estimate and then as you get closer to the process, you can get the actual cost and workarounds. Also, it is crucial to request the launch of a demo or a free trial version before you purchase one. Finally, check the special offers and discounts as this can be of great help in reducing the network security costs. Interestingly, there are plenty of options for free and open source network security software too. Pick one of them, if you have a budget concern.
Apart from the above-listed network security software solutions, you can even consider referring to this all-inclusive list of best network security software solutions that will give you more options to choose from to protect everything right up to your reputation.
Good luck!
