by Abbie-Lee Hollister, on October 16, 2019
We all know that manual configuration is slow and prone to human error - plus, travel and time is often expensive for both your team and your clients. This is where zero-touch provisioning comes into play, particularly when setting up firewall deployments.
Zero-touch provisioning is a process that enables you to remotely configure a new firewall hardware appliance using an online portal or platform. Zero-touch provisioning reduces the complexity of deployment by eliminating the need to configure the appliance on the local network, meaning you can sit back, relax and provision from anywhere in the world (including a beach in the Maldives).
1. Find a firewall solution with a centralised platform for deployment
Untangle is one of the most popular options when it comes to zero-touch deployment, as they're famous for their Command Center - a cloud-based centralised management portal that allows you to manage all of your firewall deployment in one place.
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Untangle’s Command Center gives admins the ability to manage network traffic across locations simply and easily from a cloud-based console, accessible from any browser. You also get visibility to the devices that are connected to your networks, giving you end-to-end control over what’s happening.
2. Ensure your appliances are pre-configured
Untangle zSeries appliances are shipped with the NG Firewall platform pre-installed and are ready for easy remote license provisioning and configuration via Command Center’s zero touch deployment.
This feature allows IT Providers to send appliances to site without having to pre-setup them beforehand. After unpacking the appliance and powering it up, all you need to do is add the serial code to your Command Center.
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3. Ensure that your zero-touch provisioning process is smooth
Ensure that you have a smooth, simple and structured zero-touch provisioning process. Taking the serial number from the appliance, you can usually add this very simply to your centralised management tool. With Untangle, their zero-touch provisioning is hassle-free and can be done in a matter of minutes.
Want to learn more about how Untangle NG Firewall can fit into your managed service offering?
