Once the device is fully configured, administrators can turn to the browser-based status screen to keep an eye on things. The status screen supports drilling down into individual management objects and can launch reports and process notifications via e-mail or other methods. Solution providers can remotely monitor and manage the device, perhaps rolling the product into an SLA (service-level agreement) or managed services offering. Either way, the USG100 offers plenty of administrative capabilities to make it easy to manage and monitor.

Extensive logging delivers management reports that can be used for technical as well as administrative and management information. Administrators can generate reports showing traffic, blocked sites, VPN usage and so on, allowing them to quickly demonstrate ROI of the device and associated services.

For end users, the implementation of the device is seamless. All the typical desktop user will notice is a lack of virus infections, a reduction in spam and an increase in WAN reliability. What's more, the content filtering engine can be set up to offer "nonjudgmental" warnings about accessing unapproved sites and can have a positive spin based upon protecting the user from dangerous content.

Administrators will appreciate how straightforward the setup of rules, policies and filtering is. That ease of use also applies to traffic management, where definitions can be quickly done to maximize VOIP (or other) traffic to prevent lost packets or slow performance for mission-critical applications. That "traffic shaping" can be based upon user, destination or type of traffic encountered, a truly flexible way of handling something as critical as network traffic. Using Zyxel's Application Patrol configuration allows traffic shaping to be driven by specific applications, allowing administrators to further fine-tune performance for line-of-business applications.

The product's implementation of dual virus scanners helps administrators take a layered approach to protecting users and the network from malware. Zyxel's own anti-virus engine helps to keep things safe at the edge of the network, while the bundled Kaspersky Lab anti-virus engine serves as a catchall for anything that may get past the edge and attempt to infect endpoints inside the network.

All things considered, Zyxel offers an excellent alternative to the mainstream products on the market for protecting the small business network or branch office from the ills of the Internet. The USG100 proves to be affordable, reliable and easy to use and would be a welcome addition to any small network seeking enterprise-level protection. The company's commitment to the channel ensures that plenty of qualified dealers and installers are available and that the product should be easy to purchase and deploy for end users.