ControlScan Offers Cost-Effective Cybersecurity Services to National Benefit Programs Members

Payments industry partner program passes along savings
to providers and their merchants

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ControlScan, a leader in managed security services specializing in compliance, detection and response, now offers the National Benefit Programs (NBP) member base of nearly 200,000 businesses a 10 percent discount on a range of cost-effective cybersecurity services.

“Being a part of National Benefit Programs’ offerings is a great way for us to continue adding value to the payments community and the small businesses they serve,” said Matt Loos, EVP Business Development, ControlScan. “Our goal is to have their backs so they can conduct business without worrying if they are secure or compliant.”

Through NBP’s Business Discount Plan portal, members can access the following ControlScan solutions:

Managed Firewall Service – A firewall is an essential tool that protects the business by stopping unwanted activity from getting into its network. ControlScan will set up the firewall and provide 24x7 support.

Advanced Security Threat Protection – The ControlScan Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service proactively blocks malicious security threats such as ransomware. The ControlScan 24x7 Security Operation Center also actively detects and mitigates network and endpoint attacks.

Security Consulting Services – ControlScan helps proactively identify and address security vulnerabilities and compliance shortcomings to ensure that sensitive data is well protected. These point-in-time consulting engagements can include penetration testing, PCI and HIPAA compliance assessments, and general security advisory consulting.

“NBP is pleased to have added ControlScan as a new, exciting partner in our benefits program,” said Terry Sheff, Manager of Client Relations, National Benefit Programs. “The team at ControlScan is just as intent as we are about helping the small business market thrive through pandemic and beyond.”

To learn more about ControlScan and its solutions, visit ControlScan.com. For more information about National Benefit Programs, visit NationalBenefitPrograms.com.

About ControlScan
ControlScan managed security and compliance solutions help secure IT networks and protect payment card data. Thousands of businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada partner with us for easy, cost-effective access to the expertise, technologies and services that keep cyber criminals and data thieves at bay. With highly credentialed cybersecurity and compliance experts; 24x7 managed detection and response; managed UTM firewall services; ASV vulnerability scanning; security penetration testing; PCI compliance programs and validation services; QSA and HIPAA assessments; and more, we’ve got your back. For more information visit ControlScan.com.

About National Benefit Programs
National Benefit Programs (NBP) has been assisting ISOs, Acquirers and Payment Processors to deliver Value Beyond Processing™ since 2009. NBP provides value to US customers by offering a whitelabel offering to our partners and unparalleled savings on products and services your customers use every single day. NBP actively pursues new vendors to meet the ever-growing market needs. National Benefit Programs, LLC is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information please visit https://www.nationalbenefitprograms.com/.

Press Contact
Stacey Holleran
Director, Corporate Communications
678-694-0654

How ControlScan and Chesapeake Payment Systems Collaborated to Achieve a Mid-90s Portfolio Compliance Rate

Chesapeake Payment Systems Achieves Merchant Portfolio Compliance Goals with ControlScan.

Helpful tools, responsive service and simplified security make ControlScan a preferred partner. Read all about how it was done HERE.

From Verizon's 2018 Data Breach Investigations Report...

“Protecting your good names comes down to two things:  defense and response.  You should build defenses that are strong enough to send cyber-criminals in the direction of an easier target.  But no defense is 100% effective. Should an attacker get through, you need to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively.”

ControlScan can help.

• Managed Security and Compliance   https://www.controlscan.com/
• MDR  https://www.controlscan.com/security/managed-detection-response-mdr/
• UTM Firewall   https://www.controlscan.com/security/paysafe-utm-firewall-service/
• Partner Program   https://www.controlscan.com/partner-program/pos-reseller-isv-partnership/

Contact me today.

A PaySafe Success Story from Skurla's Point of Sale Solutions

Check out the Skurla's blog here.

To learn more about ControlScan's security and compliance solutions

and our partnership program, contact me today.

Partnering with ControlScan

I am a ControlScan Channel Sales Manager based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

ControlScan offers solutions that protect networks and payment card data - everything from our security solutions like PaySafe Connect to our compliance services highlighted by our PCI 1-2-3 Self-Assessment…and much more.

If you are a POS VAR (or any provider) that serves SMB merchants who need affordable, easily-managed solutions for security and compliance, partnering with ControlScan would greatly benefit your customers.  And when your customers benefit – you benefit!

Click here to learn more about our partner program or contact me today to learn more about our solutions and our partner program.

Who is ControlScan?

ControlScan offers security and compliance solutions to help organizations safeguard their IT networks and protect payment card data. We currently provide a variety of managed security services, including:

• Advanced Endpoint Security Service: Uses multi-faceted activity analysis and tracking, behavioral blocking and deep process inspection to protect organizations against cyber threats.
• File Integrity Monitoring: Notifies an organization any time that files are created or files are viewed, deleted or modified, and when group ownership of files has been changed.
• Security Awareness Training: Offers web-based security training to help an organization keep its employees up to date about evolving cyber threats.
• Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewall: Delivers a single security appliance that can detect and prevent cyber threats from entering an organization’s network.
• Vulnerability Management Service: Automatically scans an organization’s network assets and prioritizes and reports on security vulnerabilities.

ControlScan also provides PCI and HIPAA compliance solutions, including gap analysis and security risk assessment offerings.

Increase your marketplace reach and merchant stickiness with high-value managed security and compliance services.

The ContolScan POS Reseller, ISV and MSP Partnership Program

Partner with a cybersecurity industry leader.

ControlScan has served as a security and compliance program partner to the payments industry since 2007. Over the years, we've earned the trust of organizations like yours to become a leader in delivering comprehensive solutions to merchants' PCI and cybersecurity-related challenges.

Here are just a few ways ControlScan differentiates itself in the marketplace:

• User-Friendly Technology: We design and build solutions that help merchants make sense of their PCI obligations and what they must do to meet them, as well as how to increase their overall security posture.
• Security-as-a-Service: Our managed security services provide easy access to innovative, best-of-breed security solutions that also satisfy specific PCI DSS requirements.
• Award-Winning Support: Our highly-trained teams of security experts and compliance support professionals provide a responsive, engaging customer experience that creates long-term success and loyalty.
• Deep-Seated Expertise: We possess a depth and breadth of expertise that makes our managed security, PCI-QSA and security testing services second to none.

Merchants rely on their service providers for guidance and technology solutions to make their lives easier. Partnering with ControlScan solves your merchants' security and compliance challenges, adding tremendous value to the relationship you share.

Provide high-value managed security and PCI compliance services.

At its core, your business may be about increasing merchant engagement, driving sales or ensuring business continuity. You don't want to specialize in security and compliance any more than your merchants do! However, as a POS reseller, ISV or MSP, your business is in a unique position to provide these high-value services.

ControlScan partnerships bring together PCI compliance programs and managed security services to deliver a win-win scenario for your business and the merchants it serves:

• Easier security and compliance for them = Increased customer retention for you
• ControlScan-driven support for them = Less support time and dedicated resources for you
• Single-source product/service access for them = Additional installation income for you
• Plus, your business gets residual income on all ControlScan referrals

Let's talk.

Ready to discuss how a ControlScan partnership can benefit your POS reseller, ISV or MSP business?  Contact me today.

Partner with ControlScan

If your business serves SMB merchants that need affordable, easily-managed solutions for security and compliance, partnering with ControlScan would greatly benefit your customers.  And when your customers benefit – you benefit!

ControlScan offers a wide range of solutions, from our compliance services highlighted by our PCI 1-2-3 Self-Assessment to our security solutions like PaySafe Connect…and much more.

Contact me today to learn more about our solutions and our channel partner program.

ControlScan and P97 Networks Partner to Enhance Mobile Commerce Security for Fuel and In-Store Transactions

Fuel retailers gain more secure transactions

than any other payment method

ATLANTA, Oct. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ControlScan, a leader in managed security and compliance solutions that help secure networks and protect payment card data, is partnering with P97 Networks, the leader in cloud-based mobile commerce, in-vehicle payments and digital marketing solutions, to provide enhanced security controls for mobile payment services in the convenience, fuel retailer, quick-serve restaurant and related industries.

“Securing financial transactions is a primary focus for consumers, card issuers, merchants, oil & gas companies, and other value chain providers,” says Margaret McDonnell, Vice President of Customer and Credit Card Services at Gulf Oil. “We are proud to work with P97 Networks and ControlScan in delivering Gulf Pay to the marketplace in a safe and secure manner that protects consumers’ personal and financial data.”

The P97 PetroZone® platform connects merchants to their consumers by enabling payments and digital offer campaigns from any device or connected car. PetroZone provides merchants with mobile commerce capabilities that their prime buying demographics expect. By easing and securing the purchasing process, merchants benefit from increased sales, greater brand loyalty and lower operating costs.

ControlScan delivers site-level security with the PaySafe UTM Firewall Service, a managed security solution that actively protects the IT network perimeter from malicious activity. The two integrated solutions are Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant. PetroZone is also Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II compliant.

ControlScan and P97 monitor their systems in real-time, 24/7/365, and ControlScan-provisioned, LTE cell backup connectivity ensures payments continue to run—even when the Internet does not—keeping all mobile services connected to the cloud where above-site payments process. Additionally, ControlScan accelerates mobile payment deployment at managed sites, making the process seamless and efficient.

“The ControlScan-P97 partnership adds an important security component to today’s integrated business operations including mobile payment acceptance and customer loyalty programs,” Mark Carl, CEO, ControlScan said. “Together, we provide easily implemented, cost-effective solutions that increase revenue while ensuring that customer data remains secure.”

“P97 PetroZone employs a highly secure, defense-in-depth strategy that protects payment transactions and data,” Don Frieden, founder and CEO, P97 Networks said. “Our platform addresses vulnerabilities that expose traditional payment methods to card skimming and other forms of fraud. ControlScan is an integral part of our overall security strategy, and we are proud to partner with them in the market.”

For more information on ControlScan managed security and compliance services, please visit ControlScan.com. For more information on P97 mobile commerce, please visit P97.com. Both companies can also be seen at NACS Show 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 8-10 (ControlScan in booth 6372 and P97 in booth 6322).

About ControlScan
ControlScan managed security and compliance solutions help secure networks and protect payment card data. Our elite cybersecurity professionals leverage best-in-class security technologies to support thousands of businesses with a single goal: To stop cyber criminals in their tracks. As both a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) and an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), we also deliver a full suite of Payment Card Industry (PCI) services, including strategic PCI compliance programs that help processors, acquirers, ISOs and payment facilitators manage cyber risk and strengthen merchant relationships. For more information about our company and its solutions, please visit ControlScan.com.

About P97 Networks
P97 Networks provides secure, cloud-based mobile commerce, in-vehicle payments, and digital marketing solutions for the convenience retail, fuel, and vehicle manufacturing industries under the brand name PetroZone®. P97’s mCommerce solutions enhance the ability to attract and retain customers by securely connecting millions of individual mobile phones and connected cars with merchants using identity, geolocation-based software that creates a unique mobile consumer experience. For more information follow us on Twitter @p97networks or visit www.p97.com.

Contact:
Stacey Holleran
Director, Corporate Communications
678-279-2645

PaySafe UTM Firewall Service from ControlScan

Fully managed, cloud-based networking and security.

Designed to protect your business.

The Business Owner's Security Challenge

The IT threat landscape is more complex than ever before.  Hackers have become increasingly sophisticated in their attacks and employ a variety of techniques - including malware, viruses, and phishing schemes - to target their victims.  Ensuring that your business is secure and protected against outside threats is not just important - it is essential to surviving in today's business world.

• 47% of all breaches are caused by malicious or criminal attacks.
• In 2015, 430 million new, unique pieces of malware were discovered.
• The average cost of a data breach is $170 for each record compromised.

Improperly or mismanaged firewalls continue to be one of the easiest ways for attackers to enter your network and wreak havoc.  It is critical that network firewalls are properly managed, maintained, and monitored.  This requires an IT resource with specialized skills and the bandwidth to keep rules and configurations up-to-date while monitoring traffic and alerts.

Introducing Your Business's New Security Team

ControlScan takes the headache out  of maintaining your crucial first line of defense against malicious threats with our next generation PaySafe Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewall Service.  We will ensure that critical environments containing sensitive information and payment card data are well protected.  Your PaySafe UTM Firewall Service will be configured correctly, continually monitored, and be in compliance with standards such as PCI DSS and HIPAA. You'll also enjoy critical security features such as:

• Anti-virus/phishing:  to detect and black malware, trojans, and phishing websites
• IDS/IPS:  to alert to and prevent suspicious network traffic
• VPN:  to ensure secure, encrypted traffic between locations
• Content filtering:  to filter URLs using locally downloaded or full hosted database ("top sites")

Take security off your to-do list.  Let us manage it for you.

With ControlScan's PaySafe UTM Firewall Service, you add a solution and a skilled support team that:

• Ensures firewalls are implemented for maximum security as well as straight-forward compliance with standards like PCI and HIPAA
• Updates and upgrades firewall firmware to protect against the latest threats
• Remotely monitors all firewalls for alerts and unexpected events
• Maintains firewall rules to keep pace with changes in you network
• Delivers analysis on what's happening in your network and whether you should be worried
• Provides a full lifetime hardware warranty with next-day advanced replacement.

An MSSP That's Got  Your Back

The ControlScan PaySafe UTM Firewall Service is the best of breed managed security solution tailored for your organization.  ConstrolScan is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) and specializes in delivering technical expertise and security know-how required to keep your organization secure and compliant.  We offer custom solutions and additional features - including wireless access points and 3G/4G fail-over service - to accommodate the unique needs of your practice or organization, regardless of size.

As your MSSP partner, we alleviate the administrative burden resulting from the ongoing management of a UTM firewall device and work to ensure the security of your network.  The Management Service benefits of ControlScan PaySafe UTM Firewall Service include:

• Decreased network management costs
• Ongoing monitoring and real-time response to alerts and threats
• Reduced risk of malware exposure to critical systems
• Limited transaction loss through up-time monitoring and fail-over internet connections
• Reduced scope of compliance by isolating systems within the network

About ControlScan

ControlScan is the Managed Security Service Provider with a difference: We take a proactive approach to protecting businesses from cyber threats while helping ensure their compliance with security and privacy standards like PCI DSS and HIPAA/HITECH. Our unified security and  compliance services deliver confidence to millions of businesses as well as the IT professionals who serve them. Merchant service providers and web hosting companies also partner with us to reduce cybercrime-related business risk. Based in Atlanta, ControlScan is supported by a worldwide base of customers, partners and strategic alliances.

To learn more, contact me today.

Kerio Control for the Yacht and Vessel Industry - The Perfect Fit

There are unique internet connectivity challenges on a yacht:

• You're moving....on water!
• Necessity varies by role.
• Speed and capacity vary.

On a yacht, no physical wiring provides a consistent connection. You are entirely reliant on wireless technologies. Furthermore, internet resources can be scare as your location becomes more remote. In terms of speed and connectivity type, you might be in port with WiFi access, along the coast with 3G/4G/LTE signals, or out on open sea with nothing but VSAT available to you. As you move, these connections may come and go arbitrarily - causing disruption in service. Looking at this another way:  not only to connections coma and go; but, when they do, the speed and bandwidth go with them!

The slower the connection, the more contention there typically is. That is often unacceptable to certain audiences. You typically have a varied audience onboard the ship at any given time. The more important the person or persons, the greater the need for availability and speed. Groups may include emergency equipment onboard, the owner(s), VIPs, officers, crew, guests, etc.

Kerio Control is the perfect solution for this industry.

• Firewall, Router, IPS/IDS
• Anti-Virus
• Web & Content Filtering
• QoS
• Usage Reporting
• Secure VPN
• Flexible Deployment
• Simple to use.

Kerio Control excels in:

• User and Device Groupings
• Load Balancing and Traffic Rules
• Three Use-Case Scenarios (VIP on board)
• Drawbacks
• Alternatives
• Rapid Configuration Changes (3rd-Party)
• Bandwidth and Time Management
• Reporting

User and Device Groupings

Using a group approach, everyone needs to identify themselves with a userid and password.  An IP Address approach allows you to set up a VLAN, for example, that owners my use at all times.  That way, there is easy identification.

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Load Balancing and Traffic Rules

"Per Host" is preferable to "Per Connection" when you have multiple internet links.  Otherwise, it can look like you are executing a DoS attack. Destination websites and applications prefer to have client/visitor requests come from the same IP address.  If they see multiples (from all three interfaces), they may falsely assume there is an attack underway.  Maintain communication through a single link throughout the session using "Per Host" balancing.

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Scenario 1:  In port with a VIP present.

With the initial load balancing scheme in Interfaces, the entire audience has five chances to end up on WiFi while at Port - one chance for 3G and one chance for V-SAT.  Ideally, you provide VIP’s with WiFi any time it’s present (and reliable) and then balance the load of remaining groups using the weighting scheme within Interfaces.

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Scenario 2:  Coastal with VIP Present

When WiFi drops, the previous traffic rule still tries to push VIP traffic through the enabled WiFi VIP Traffic Rule.  The Weight of one for both 3G and V-SAT then results in a 50/50 distribution of VIP traffic (WiFi is down).  This is because the Traffic Rules are evaluated from top-down and our WiFi rule is a match, so no other rules are evaluated.  To force VIP’s through 3G, you have to disable the VIP WiFi rule in Traffic Rules.

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Scenario 3:  Open Sea with VIP Present

When both the WiFi and 3G become unavailable, our 3G Traffic Rule is still enabled and tries to force VIP’s through 3G.  Interfaces determines that 3G is down and will automatically push VIP traffic to V-SAT (the only available link).  In other words, it makes no difference if the VIP WiFi or 3G Traffic Rules are enabled as only one Interface (V-SAT) is active.

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Drawbacks to Scenarios 1 through 3

Because the weighting scheme is still in play for all other traffic (other than VIP’s), you end up with a somewhat undesirable situation where large amounts of Officer & Crew traffic is routed through the most desirable links/interfaces.  It may be desirable to fully reserve the desirable link/interface for the highest priority group (VIP’s for example).

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Alternative Solution:  Tie Groups to Interfaces

This will push ALL traffic through V-SAT…unless there is a Traffic Rule that specifies otherwise.

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Here, we’ve used Policy-Based-Routing to override the Interface load balancing scheme that routes all traffic through V-SAT and instructed Kerio Control to push VIP Traffic through WiFi (if available) or 3G (if available).  Officers, Crew, etc. will NEVER go through WiFi or 3G in this case.  Only through V-SAT.  VIP’s will ONLY go through V-SAT if the other links are down.  

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Example:  Rapid Configuration Changes (3rd Party)

I mentioned that it is desirable to disable some traffic rules occasionally when they are forcing specific traffic through an interface which no longer has a reliable Internet connection.  

KNAVAL is an iPad app that was developed by a 3rd party (Freelands in Italy).  It allows you to rapidly turn interfaces and traffic rules on or off by swiping between up to 4 different modes.  Port, Coastline, Open Sea, and Custom.  You can see the app in action in the bottom right and the results on the Kerio Control server within the browser window on the left.  All configuration changes are initiated from the iPad.

Bandwidth and Time Management

Kerio Control offers other ways to limit or reserve bandwidth on multiple interfaces.  Here’s an example of some QoS rules.  Rules are evaluated top-down and applied if there’s a match.  If no match, the next rule is considered, and so on until the list is exhausted.

To configure this, define the speed of your interfaces, define the type/source of traffic that your rule will apply to, whether you are setting a minimum amount of bandwidth (reserve) or setting a maximum amount of bandwidth (limit) rule, what interfaces does it apply to (all, Wifi, 3G, VSAT, etc.), and during what time (if applicable).

Let’s look at the 2nd rule in detail.

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If there is no traffic from Owners/VIP’s or Officers AND no VPN or Email traffic from any group – even during the Monday & Friday meeting times.  The Crew would *could* consume the full bandwidth just watching YouTube videos.

The reservation rules are only enforced if there is actually a contention/demand situation.

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Reporting

This is USER-based reporting rather than device-based.  It doesn’t matter if I use one device or 10 devices.  All of my traffic will be aggregated into my user profile statistics.

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To learn more, contact me today!

Kerio Technologies Launches Two New WiFi Enabled Network Security Appliances

New hardware appliances provide convenience of all-in-one network security and wireless access point.

San Jose, Calif., February 28, 2017 – Today Kerio Technologies announced the launch of two new network security WiFi enabled hardware appliances, adding to its popular NG Series.

The Kerio Control NG100W and NG300W appliances are full-featured Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions, which include comprehensive next-generation firewall and router, intrusion detection and prevention, gateway antivirus, VPN and content filtering, with integrated WiFi.

“We’re helping SMBs maximize today’s high speed Internet, whilst better protecting their network, users and assets,” said Heather Paunet, VP Products. “They can benefit from all-in-one security and wireless access in a single device, with great performance capabilities and more.”

The high-performing appliances support WiFi frequencies of 2.4GHz and 5GHz, support the 802.11ac wireless networking standard, include a 64-bit architecture with increased throughput speeds, fanless design and come with an unlimited user license option. Both appliances can be securely managed anytime, anywhere, through Kerio's cloud-based MyKerio dashboard.

The Kerio Control NG100W, suitable for small businesses with one office, branch offices or for remote workers is $780 USD with unlimited users. 1 year software maintenance is $195 USD/€170 EUR. Extended warranty starts from $95 USD. Kerio Control NG300W provides growing businesses the security and protection they need and is available with a 25 user limit or unlimited users. Prices start from $1,460 USD.

For more information and technical specifications on the Kerio Control NG Series visit

www.kerio.com/ng-series.

Released Today, Kerio Control 9.2 Better Protects Smaller Businesses with Improved Performance

Today, Kerio released Kerio Control 9.2, enhancing our all-in-one network security solution for small and mid-sized businesses.

Release Highlights

• Kerio Control 9.2 provides faster throughput and better protection of the network, users and company assets without restricting bandwidth, and also provides filtering of incoming network traffic by country.

Key new features:

• Faster throughput speeds
• Optimizations to the software running on Kerio Control appliances has significantly improved throughput to ensure full utilization of service available from today's elite Internet Service Providers. Whilst internet speeds are getting faster all around the world, Kerio Control ensures customer networks have the same level of protection with full access to faster throughput.
• Traffic filtering by country
• A new Geo-IP filter gives administrators the ability to block incoming connections from specific countries. Kerio Control checks where all incoming traffic is coming from and can block traffic based on the administrators preference.  If an administrator sees unusual or suspicious traffic originating from one country, they have the option to block the whole country either permanently or temporarily. This ensures that the network is protected from potential malicious traffic and also has the benefit of reducing network traffic from unwanted geographical locations.

Press Release

Downloads, Tech Specs, and Release Notes

Kerio Control Data Sheet

Contact me to to learn more, or reach out to your preferred Kerio reseller.

Some Great Reviews of Kerio's Next Generation Unified Threat Management Appliances from "Across the Pond"

From ITPro.co.uk in London....

Kerio NG100 Review

Kerio NG500 Review

Contact me today to learn more....

New! Kerio Control NG500 50-User Appliance

Kerio Technologies is pleased to announce that starting today, August 2nd, 2016, we will offer a new licensing option for the Kerio Control NG500 Hardware Appliance.

This new option will allow up to 50 users and provides an even more cost effective option for organizations that want the high performance of the NG500 for fewer than 50 users.

Contact me today to learn more.