Fortinet and Linksys have formed a new partnership to enable enterprise organizations to support and secure work-from-home networks. Linksys Home WRK for Business | Secured by Fortinet is the first enterprise solution to provide secure network connectivity for both corporate and personal needs in a single, easy-to-install unit optimised for business applications and collaboration tools such as Zoom. The announcement underscores both companies’ long-term commitment to delivering enterprise-grade performance and security for the hybrid era, and it comes on the heels of Fortinet’s investment in Linksys and the launch of Linksys Home WRK for Education | Secured by Fortinet to provide students with reliable connectivity and security at home.
Enterprise IT teams are battling to enable their workers to work successfully from anywhere while still protecting their organisation from security concerns posed by home networks, such as ransomware, malware, and phishing assaults. “Only 1 in 5 firms are totally convinced that their infrastructure security can enable long-term remote work,” according to a recent Sungard Availability Services survey.
Cybercriminals are continuing to take advantage of the larger attack surface; according to the latest FortiGuard Labs Global Threat Landscape Report, average weekly ransomware activity was more than tenfold higher in June 2021 than it was a year earlier. Enterprise IT teams are also faced with the difficulty of providing at-home employees with a simple plug-and-play solution that provides connection that supports all of the capabilities available in the office.
Fortinet and Linksys have launched Linksys HomeWRK for Business | Secured by Fortinet to help enterprise IT teams of all sizes provide enterprise-grade security and high-performance connectivity for remote and hybrid workers at home. Fortinet’s mission to building a safer Internet by protecting people, devices, and data everywhere is reflected in this product, which provides the following major benefits for enterprise organizations:
Linksys HomeWRK for Business | Secured by Fortinet allows high-performance, secure business and personal networks for users at home via a single device, thanks to the newest Wi-Fi 6 tri-band technology and Linksys’ powerful Velop Intelligent Mesh software. According to enterprise IT teams, employees may easily replace their existing home router with provision-free hardware to construct both business and personal networks. Employees may enjoy a fast and steady whole-home Wi-Fi connection without worrying about a weak signal or dead spots thanks to a blanket of mesh Wi-Fi coverage.
Fortinet and Linksys have partnered up with Zoom, a video communications leader, to give the greatest video conferencing, voice conversations, and screen-sharing experience possible. Users can be confident that their next meeting, webcast, or remote interview will go off without a hitch thanks to quality of service (QoS) networking technology that prioritizes and optimizes traffic for Zoom and other business collaboration applications, even during times of high non-critical traffic like gaming or video streaming.
The solution is integrated with industry-leading Fortinet protection to protect against cyber dangers posed by home networks, which automatically blocks suspicious software, stops intrusions, filters hazardous content, and more. This combined solution exemplifies the power of Security-Driven Networking; by putting security on the device itself in the home office – merging networking and security – it provides a much-improved user experience.
The zero-touch provisioning solution streamlines the employee onboarding process with easy plug-and-connect devices that don’t require physical help from corporate IT professionals to install. A guided app is also included in the solution for optimal node placement at home.
The solution will be natively integrated with Fortinet management systems, allowing existing Fortinet customers to manage their networks even more efficiently. Enterprise IT managers may use a single portal to monitor and diagnose the performance of all devices linked to the corporate network in real time, thanks to a straightforward management panel. Employees can also administer their own network from a separate panel, giving them visibility and control over all their own devices.
Support for several networks for distinct personal use protects the privacy of remote personnel. While the IT staff manages the corporate network, employees have complete control over their personal network and security settings, allowing all members of the home to benefit from a fast and secure connection for non-company devices like laptops and game consoles. Corporate and personal networks are kept separate, with corporate IT teams having no visibility or access to personal data.
This joint venture, and the ensuing joint solution, brings together proven technology from two industry leaders to address some of the most pressing difficulties in enabling remote and hybrid work efficiently. Linksys HomeWRK for Business | Secured by Fortinet delivers a networking environment at home that is akin to being at the office by combining proven Linksys Wi-Fi 6 mesh technology with industry-leading enterprise-grade security from Fortinet on the same device.
The collaborative solution will be available in the United States in Q4 2021, and globally in Q1 2022, on low-cost hardware-as-a-service subscription plans with no upfront commitment for enterprise IT teams. Enterprises can assist their remote and hybrid workers using two levels of service: Basic consists of two nodes with standard Fortinet security, whilst Advanced consists of two nodes with advanced Fortinet security. Nodes to extend coverage can be purchased separately.
“Our goal was two-fold. First, make it very simple for anyone to set up a fast and reliable home Wi-Fi network. Second, provide enterprise IT with the ability to secure and manage the business aspects of that work-from-home Wi-Fi network just as they do with any other device attached to the network. The Linksys and Fortinet joint venture is not just a simple OEM agreement of two distinct parties, and it’s the start of a completely new market.”-John Maddison, EVP of products and CMO at Fortinet
“Last year, companies and their employees were catapulted into a remote work era with little to no preparation. In that time, they’ve done what they can to make it work. It’s clear that remote work is the future of work, and through Linksys HomeWRK for Business | Secured by Fortinet, we are not simply providing a solution to make it work. We are providing companies a way to enable employees to securely and safely connect to their work, thrive in remote environments, and operate with peak productivity and efficiency.”-Harry Dewhirst, CEO at Linksys
“We’re entering a phase of reopening where the hybrid model is becoming increasingly prevalent, and even in this new era of work, the importance of efficient and effective collaboration remains top of mind. Fostering collaboration starts with a reliable and safe network, and for organizations building forward, empowering employees with holistic solutions that yield fast and secure connectivity and optimization for collaborative tools will be key.”-Pat Jensen, Distinguished Architect, Zoom
“Today’s enterprises are accelerating strategies to support their hybrid workforce, enable remote work, enhance connectivity, maintain a strong security posture, and optimize the employee experience. The market is looking for solutions that provide the home worker with simplified access to business applications while also giving enterprise IT teams an easier way to manage and protect their remote users. The ability to deliver a seamless work experience at a higher level of performance assurance with enterprise-grade security in a single device for corporate and personal needs is something truly unique.”-Mark Bowker, senior analyst at ESG
