Pete Finalle, security research manager at IDC, emphasised the importance of securing branch offices, noting that they often represent weak points in enterprise security.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. has announced significant upgrades to its Quantum Force Security Gateways, introducing new AI-powered Branch Office Security Gateways that promise improved threat prevention performance.
This launch comes in response to the increasing number of cyber threats targeting branch offices, which are often the most vulnerable points in an organisation's network.
The new Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways offer up to a fourfold increase in threat prevention performance compared to previous models. These devices are designed to enhance security for enterprise-level firewall applications while optimising for Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN).
According to Check Point Research, branch offices now face an average of 713 attack attempts weekly, reflecting a 36% increase from the previous year. Moreover, 50% of these locations experience attempts to exploit vulnerabilities from external sources, underscoring the urgent need for robust security solutions.
Nataly Kremer, chief product officer at Check Point, highlighted that the new firewalls are built for both speed and simplicity. Existing users of Quantum Force will also benefit from a 15% to 25% performance boost through a software update, requiring no hardware changes. This development aims to streamline operations and improve the overall security posture of branch offices.
Branch offices serve as critical touchpoints for customer engagement but often link directly to the public cloud and internet, exposing them to various cyber threats. The rising number of attacks, reported to have surged by 44% year on year, necessitates the implementation of strong enterprise firewalls that can defend against these threats without compromising network performance.
Chris Konrad, vice president of global cyber at world wide technology, remarked on the importance of these new gateways for protecting clients across diverse industries, including financial services and healthcare. He noted that the enhanced AI threat prevention capabilities of the Quantum Force Branch Office Security Gateways allow organisations to mitigate risks and maintain security across hybrid environments.
The capabilities of Check Point’s new branch office security gateways include:
- Enhanced Threat Prevention: A significant boost in threat prevention throughput, achieving a 99.9% block rate according to Miercom's 2025 security benchmark report.
- Optimisation for Cloud Applications: Improved performance for SaaS applications and expanded network connectivity.
- Unified Management: A comprehensive management solution for enterprise, campus, branch, and cloud environments, supporting a zero-trust policy framework.