What is our primary use case?
The main use case for Check Point SandBlast Network is for sandboxing purposes, which means analyzing and detecting zero-day attacks for advanced threat prevention, especially targeting zero-day attacks, ransomware, unknown malware, and file-based exploits. It is a core component of Check Point SandBlast Network solutions that we have used.
A specific example of when Check Point SandBlast Network helped my organization catch and prevent zero-day attacks or unknown malware occurred when we observed files being downloaded from the internet and emails. The sandbox can be integrated with emails, making it possible to analyze them as well.
This use case helps the organization stop questionable files by delivering a clean copy to the user and keeping the original file for further analysis in a virtual environment. By analyzing the file's behavior, we can determine whether it is malicious or clean traffic.
Accordingly, SandBlast takes action on those files and keeps our client environment safe from zero-day attacks. Most often, we see in the logs the presence of phishing mails containing attachments, which behave abnormally and try to execute unauthorized commands. Such malicious activities are observed in the sandbox, effectively preventing cyber threats and keeping us safe from zero-day attacks and unwanted malware.
How has it helped my organization?
Check Point SandBlast Network has positively impacted our organization by reducing incidents, improving user confidence, and saving time since implementing it. With around 2,000 users in our organization, after deploying threat emulation for network security, we haven't seen any incidents, including zero-day or ransomware attacks.
Check Point effectively captures advanced threats, leading to no business disruptions and allowing users to focus on their tasks without interruptions, helping the organization grow economically. While I cannot directly state specific metrics or numbers, it is evident that Check Point SandBlast Network is saving us time, as staying protected from attacks minimizes the need to address issues related to incidents. Since no attacks have happened, there is no business impact, which ultimately allows us to function without disruption.
From user feedback, it is evident that after deploying Check Point SandBlast Network, no attacks have happened, resulting in no business disruptions. Even the potential 1 or 2 hours of downtime could account for billions of dollars, so the organization's ability to go without experiencing cyber attacks is a significant value saved. Users are reassured, knowing that Check Point SandBlast Network handles potential threats, allowing them to work freely on the internet without concerns about file downloads. This builds confidence among users.
What is most valuable?
The best features that Check Point SandBlast Network offers include detecting zero-day attacks, which is most useful for maintaining safety. The Check Point sandbox provides comprehensive security by offering sandboxing capabilities, running files and traffic in a virtual and isolated environment, ensuring minimal disruption. Files being downloaded are delivered as clean copies to users, while the original files are kept for analysis.
Additionally, the solution integrates with other Check Point technologies such as SmartEvent, threat cloud, and Harmony Email and Office, providing real-time protection with threat extraction that delivers sanitized files instantly. Another feature is the deep level inspection using CPU-level emulation, going beyond traditional sandboxing by analyzing how malware interacts with systems at the hardware level.
The real-time protection and threat extraction features have helped my team by allowing us to find and detect zero-day attacks through isolated environment scans. Threat extraction is particularly beneficial because if a file is sent for a scan, it typically takes time to provide a verdict.
Check Point SandBlast Network cleans the file and removes any embedded macros in attachments, sending a clean file to the user. This reduces disruption in file delivery, and the time delay is minimal. The main focus also lies in scanning files for malicious behavior and zero-day or ransomware attacks. This helps the organization receive files promptly, minimizing potential security risks while ensuring timely access to information. Additionally, the real-time threat intelligence that Check Point connects to the threat cloud for global threat data updates helps us stay ahead of attacks.
What needs improvement?
Improvements for Check Point SandBlast Network can be seen in dashboard usability; the threat emulation logs and analysis reports could be made more intuitive and visually appealing. Enhancing the system for granular tuning to reduce false positives and allowing benign files to bypass checks more simply for non-expert users would be beneficial. Additionally, faster emulation times could be achieved by increasing file scanning speed through hardware productivity enhancements. A specific instance where file scanning speed posed an issue was when the time taken depended on the file size. Scanning can take less than a minute or up to 2 minutes for larger files. Enhancing the file scanning time would be a significant improvement to the system.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Check Point SandBlast solutions for the last 2 years in one of my roles.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Check Point SandBlast Network is stable, as I have not encountered any crashes or downtime.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Check Point SandBlast Network meets our organization's needs as we grow with good scalability. Feedback suggests that clients, such as mid-sized organizations, with a hardware threat emulation box for the network experience good load balancing and redundancy.
How are customer service and support?
Customer support for Check Point SandBlast Network is very good, and I have had positive experiences when needing assistance. I would rate customer support a 9 out of 10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used any different solution before Check Point SandBlast Network.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Check Point SandBlast Network is straightforward for engineers with good hands-on experience, but it can be complex for beginners or those new to the system.
What about the implementation team?
The setup is straightforward for engineers with good hands-on experience.
What was our ROI?
The return on investment is apparent as our organization consists of around 2,000 users who are protected from attacks or ransomware. This significantly impacts our operations positively, allowing users to work safely and focus on their tasks, contributing to economic growth.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated several options before choosing Check Point SandBlast Network, as multiple solutions are available in the market. The other solutions considered included Fortinet, which offers FortiSandbox. Ultimately, I chose Check Point SandBlast Network due to its speed and higher rate of threat detection compared to FortiSandbox.
What other advice do I have?
For scanning the files, the volume generally depends on how many users are carrying out file downloads. It can be more than 200 to 400 files scanned daily. The pricing is a bit costly, but for what Check Point SandBlast Network offers in terms of setup features and security, it is acceptable. The initial setup is straightforward for engineers with good hands-on experience, but it can be complex for beginners or those new to the system.
For anyone considering Check Point SandBlast Network, I strongly recommend moving forward with the solution. It is reliable and offers excellent protection from cyber attacks, with a high rate of threat detection that helps stay ahead of potential breaches. I rate it a 9 out of 10 because I believe there are areas for improvement, such as adding AI-driven features in future releases to enhance profile fine-tuning and reduce overhead, along with improving user-friendliness.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises