18.03.11 - NetPilot v Alternative Solutions

As a user and reseller of NetPilot for over eleven years, we have seen numerous customers replace the NetPilot with an alternative solution from different manufacturers.

This usually happens when there is a special promotion by the manufacturer and it appears to become an offer that is too good to turn down.

Unfortunately for the customer, having committed to the product and special promotion they discover that the new equipment doesn't fulfil the requirement that NetPilot had previously provided,  Resulting in the client opting to go back to using NetPilot 12-months later.

An example of this WatchGuard, whereby a number of clients have replaced NetPilot with a WatchGuard product in recent months because they believe that it'll fulfil the requirements of NetPilot.

Judging by feedback from two of these clients who have advised that they are already starting to discover that when compared with NetPilot, certain protocols wouldn't work properly, in addition to support being non-existent.

One customer of Qubix Technology who's network consisted of version 3 NetPilot's and WatchGuard products to run their wide area network links, recently upgraded their system and replaced both products with the latest v6 NetPilot Vanguard.

The client wanted each site to browse the Internet and receive email, without affecting the business critical VPN links that were in place between each site.  In addition to routing further traffic via another WAN link that was in place.

We installed a version 6 NetPilot Vanguard UTM at each of their three offices throughout the UK and configured them to utilise two broadband links.

One of the broadband lines was used for general web/email traffic, with the second broadband link being used to link each of the sites together via VPN.

Upon completion of the installation, the client discovered that the performance and reliability of the NetPilot was massively improved when compared with the legacy v3 NetPilot and WatchGuard system.

The biggest advantage for the client was the NetPilot's ability to port-forward Windows VPN traffic to their internal Remote Access Server, to allow iPads and iPhones to make a secure VPN connection to their system.

We were advised that apparently the WatchGuard product did not allow for the forwarding of this traffic, because it was responsible for handing Windows VPN traffic and had caused issues in the past for these users.

Therefore, if you are considering replacing your NetPilot with an alternative solution or feel that you are not getting the most out of your NetPilot, please contact us on 0117 957 4250 because a quick phone call could save you thousands of pounds.