Thread: SMEs & Firewall appliances (a bit of market research)

Hi all,

I'm currently devising a business plan to procure old PC and Server-based hardware, and "value-add" to it by installing and configuring a Linux-based "Unified Threat Management" system (Firewall, Content filtering, AV, anti-malware, Proxy and so on), and renting these boxes out to Small to Medium Entreprises. Depending on the 'box provided, and the level of functionality, I would look at charging between $50-$100 per week, which would include the box, the installation and initial configuration and on-going support. (If set up and configured correctly, this support should be limited to periodic updates etc - most everything else should be relatively automated).

I guess I'm wondering - of those who own small to medium businesses - Are you currently running Firewall-type appliances (or something similar), or are you running a variety of different solutions to handle the above functionality? I'm effectively trying to gauge the interest in such a service from the various SMEs around the place.

Note: I'm not actively "trolling" for sales here - the whole idea is still in something of an embryonic stage - just trying to gauge interest.

The silence is deafening.

We run a mobile business, our work computer wouldn't know what the internet is. It is for invoicing and accounting only.

Good luck.
Glenn