Purchase CacheGuard

When implementing CacheGuard as a Gateway, the number of users that need to be supported is a critical consideration. Below, you can find some explanation about the concept of users:

1. Unnamed Users:

   • Users are mainly considered unnamed in the pricing model, meaning the pricing is based on the number of connected devices (such as computers, phones, etc.) rather than individual users.

2. Concurrent Users:

   • Concurrent users refer to the total number of devices connected to the system, regardless of whether they are actively generating traffic.

   • This includes devices that may be idle or inactive but are still part of the network.

3. Simultaneous Users:

   • Simultaneous users are actively generating traffic at the same time. These are the devices that are currently using network resources (for example, browsing the internet or downloading files).

   • The number of simultaneous users is critical because these are the active devices that directly affect the performance of the appliance.

4. Selecting the Right Number of Users:

   • When purchasing CacheGuard Gateway, you need to estimate how many devices will be connected (concurrent users) and how many of those will be active simultaneously.

   • Choose the appropriate plan based on your estimate of simultaneous users to ensure optimal performance. If your number of simultaneous users exceeds the purchased plan’s capacity, performance degradation can occur.

5. Performance Risks:

   • Overloading the Appliance: If you exceed the installed capacity, CacheGuard might slow down or block network traffic to avoid overloading the system.

   • It’s important to underestimate carefully based on your growth projections to avoid performance bottlenecks.

6. Impact on Pricing:

   • Pricing scales based on both the number of concurrent and simultaneous users.

   • The more simultaneous users you need to support, the higher the license cost will be.

How to Avoid Issues:

• Accurate Estimates: It’s important to accurately estimate the number of simultaneous users based on your organization’s traffic patterns to avoid service interruptions.

• Capacity Planning: Ensure you select a plan that matches both current and future usage to accommodate growth without performance compromises.

When implementing CacheGuard as a UTM, Web, or WAN Gateway, it’s important to consider the total number of users in your network. Here’s how the system handles this and what you should keep in mind during your purchase:

Key Points to Understand:

1. Total Number of Users:

   • The total number of users refers to all the devices connected to the network that will be passing through the CacheGuard appliance.

   • This number includes both active and inactive users, regardless of whether they are currently generating traffic.

2. Capacity Manager:

   • CacheGuard-OS includes a Capacity Manager that optimizes system performance during installation based on factors like the estimated number of users and system resources such as CPU, RAM and disks.

   • The Capacity Manager assumes that only 20% of the users will be simultaneously active at any given time.

     • This means, for instance, if you have 100 users, the system will assume that about 20 users will be generating traffic simultaneously, and it will optimize the appliance to handle that load.

3. Purchasing Consideration:

   • When purchasing CacheGuard UTM, Web, or WAN Gateway, the total number of users should be considered in order to select the correct system capacity.

   • It’s important to estimate the number of total users accurately, even though the system assumes only 20% of them will be active at the same time.

4. Risk of Overuse:

   • Exceeding the system’s capacity: If the number of simultaneous users exceeds the system’s capacity (based on the total users and the 20% active assumption), the appliance will either slow down or block traffic to prevent overload.

   • Performance degradation can occur if your network exceeds the calculated limits, impacting user experience and network performance.

5. Optimized Performance:

   • By accurately estimating your total number of users and considering the 20% active-user assumption, you can ensure that your CacheGuard Gateway operates at optimal performance without risk of blocking or slowing down traffic.

Example:

• If you have 500 total users in your network, the system will assume that 100 users (20% of the total) will be active at the same time.

• Plan accordingly: Ensure that the selected CacheGuard Gateway plan supports at least 100 simultaneous users to avoid performance issues.

When implementing CacheGuard WAF (Web Application Firewall), the key factor to consider is the number of simultaneous connections to your Web servers. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and how to select the right CacheGuard WAF plan based on your needs:

Key Considerations for CacheGuard WAF:

1. Simultaneous Connections:

   • The number of simultaneous connections refers to how many users are actively interacting with your Web servers at the same time.

   • Unlike other types of gateways (like UTM or Web Gateway) where the focus is on the total number of users, with WAF, it’s about how many of those users are actively connected at the same time and generating traffic.

2. Impact of Connection Load:

   • The CacheGuard WAF needs to handle the traffic from these simultaneous connections efficiently.

   • If the number of simultaneous connections exceeds the installed capacity of the CacheGuard appliance, the system could slow down or even block traffic to avoid overload and ensure security.

3. Purchasing Consideration:

   • When purchasing CacheGuard WAF, make sure you estimate the number of simultaneous connections your Web servers are likely to handle at peak times.

   • This estimation is critical to ensuring that you choose a CacheGuard WAF plan that can handle the traffic without compromising performance.

4. Risk of Overuse:

   • Exceeding the appliance’s capacity: If you push the appliance beyond its capacity, Web traffic could be blocked or slowed down, which may impact the availability and responsiveness of your Web applications.

   • Be cautious with traffic spikes or heavy traffic periods. Ensure that the system has enough resources to manage it smoothly.

5. Optimal Performance:

   • CacheGuard WAF is designed to provide robust security for your Web applications. However, this security can only be effective if the system is running within its capacity limits.

   • Accurately estimate the simultaneous connections and ensure that your CacheGuard WAF plan is sufficient to meet these demands.

Example:

• If your Web server typically handles 500 simultaneous connections during peak times, you’ll need a CacheGuard WAF plan that can accommodate at least 500 active connections without degrading performance.

Summary:

• For CacheGuard WAF, always focus on simultaneous connections rather than the total number of users.

• Make sure to estimate the maximum simultaneous connections that your Web servers will handle to choose the right CacheGuard WAF plan.

• Exceeding the system’s capacity can lead to traffic blocking or slower performance, so plan accordingly.

The CacheGuard Gateway Manager (or simply CacheGuard Manager) pricing is based on the number of Gateways you need to manage. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the pricing model:

Pricing for CacheGuard Manager:

1. Number of Gateways:

   • The price of CacheGuard Manager is determined by how many Gateways you need to manage centrally.

   • Each Gateway that you wish to manage with the Manager may add to the cost of the subscription.

   • The more Gateways you need to manage, the higher the subscription cost will be.

2. Master and Slave Managers:

   • If you need High Availability for the CacheGuard Manager, you can implement a backup Manager to ensure continuous operation if the master Manager goes down.

   • The backup Manager requires a dedicated subscription.

   • Therefore, if you’re planning on using a backup Manager alongside the master, you’ll need to purchase an additional subscription specifically for the backup Manager.

3. Subscription for backup Manager:

   • A backup Manager is not included in the regular Gateway Manager subscription. It requires a separate subscription that mirrors the master Manager‘s features, ensuring seamless failover and service continuity.

4. How the Pricing Works:

   • Base Subscription: Covers managing a set number of Gateways.

   • Additional Costs: Additional cost may apply for each Gateway added to the system.

   • Bakup Manager Subscription: A separate, additional subscription is required if you wish to implement a backup Manager.

Example Pricing Scenario:

• Master Manager: You purchase the base subscription for managing 20 Gateways.

• Backup Manager: You purchase an additional subscription to implement a backup Manager for High Availability (HA).

CacheGuard offers URL Blacklists and Extended Antivirus Signatures as an optional download service, which is tied to a single CacheGuard appliance identified by its unique Serial Number (S/N). This service is available exclusively through our subscription plans.

Key Details of the Service:

1. Download Limits:

   • Each CacheGuard appliance can access one download per day, per blacklist category and per public IP address.

   • The service is intended to be used for valid purposes under the honor system.

2. Service Delivery:

   • The URL Blacklists and Extended Antivirus Signatures are available for download only to users with an active CacheGuard subscription.

   • Access to updates for blacklists is provided regularly and is limited to one download per day for each category.

3. Honor System:

   • Our URL Blacklists service operates on an honor system. We trust our users to comply with the download limits.

   • Abuse of the service will result in the termination of access.

4. Subscription Requirement:

   • You must have an active CacheGuard subscription to access the URL Blacklists and Extended Antivirus Signatures.

   • The subscription ensures that each CacheGuard appliance is properly linked to the unique S/N for correct usage.

How It Works:

• Once you have an active subscription for your CacheGuard appliance, you will be able to download URL Blacklists daily and Extended Antivirus Signatures several times a day.

• One download per day will be allowed, for each category of URL Blacklists, and will be limited by the public IP address of the CacheGuard appliance.

Pricing & Availability:

• Optional Service: This is an add-on service, so it is not included by default in all CacheGuard subscriptions.

• If you’d like to access this service, you’ll need to add it to your subscription.

Abuses:

• Misuse of the service, such as exceeding download limits or using the service for purposes other than its intended use, will result in service suspension (or cancellation).

• CacheGuard Technologies reserves the right to enforce the system rules to ensure fair usage.

When you purchase a CacheGuard subscription, you have the option to select from three support levels.

1. Basic Support

• Support Access: Available via CacheGuard Help.

• Included Features:

  • Self-service support through our knowledge base and frequently asked questions (FAQ).

  • Community-driven responses to technical questions.

  • General troubleshooting and guidance on common issues.

• Who It’s For: Ideal for users who need basic, non-urgent support and are comfortable navigating online resources.

2. Standard Support

• Support Access: Available via CacheGuard Support Portal.

• Included Features:

  • Includes the Basic Support (described above).

  • Access to our support portal for direct interaction with CacheGuard experts.

  • Email support for technical queries and issues.

  • Response times during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9:00 AM – 05:00 PM CET).

  • Quick access to CacheGuard patches and updates.

  • Basic troubleshooting and configuration guidance.

• Who It’s For: Suitable for organizations with moderate support needs that require timely help but can manage some self-service troubleshooting.

3. Premium Support (Support Portal + Priority)

• Support Access: Available via CacheGuard Support Portal with priority access.

• Included Features:

  • Includes the Standard Support (described above) + Priority:

    • 24/7 access to our expert support team (for critical issues outside of business hours).

    • Fast-track issue resolution with priority response times.

    • Phone support for urgent issues.

• Who It’s For: Best for businesses that rely heavily on CacheGuard for their operations and require fast, dedicated support for mission-critical environments.