Security vendor SonicWall is drumming up channel business for its latest content filtering appliance, which is tailored to the SME market.

At a partner summit last week, the vendor promoted the channel benefits of its Content Security Manager appliance to more than 50 UK partners.

According to SonicWall, the appliance gives SMEs secure internet access. It can handle up to eight million URLs and categorise them into 55 different flavours.

Kevin Thiele, managing director of SonicWall, said: "In the past, content filtering has been mainly for the high-end enterprise marketplace.

"The technology didn't cater for SMEs because they need a product that is easy to install and well-priced. These companies often don't have the IT resources or skills to cope with an enterprise-sized device.

"Because we have been in the appliance business for a long time and have the channel in place, we have an offering that will appeal to SME customers."

Nigel Arnold, operations director at SonicWall partner Network Unlimited, welcomed the appliance.

"One of the biggest problems smaller firms have is paying for the hardware and software costs," Arnold said.

"The point of this appliance is to offer an easy-to-install product. A partner would have the skills to provide management services at an affordable cost.

"End-users are realising that they can get access to technology that they haven't been able to afford in the past, and we are already seeing great interest in the product from our customers."

sara_yirrell@vnu.co.uk