PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Check Point Software Technologies has introduced a Firewall‑as‑a‑Subscription programme that gives organisations of all sizes access to its AI Network Firewall and threat‑prevention capabilities without an upfront hardware purchase. The subscription provides Force Firewalls sized by threat‑prevention throughput, AI‑powered protection, Live Updates and agentic management through Smart‑1 Cloud.
The launch follows a year of tighter capital budgets. Research from IANS and Artico Search shows the median security budget did not grow in 2026, with 55 per cent of CISOs reporting flat or reduced funding. At the same time, AI adoption is increasing the volume and complexity of traffic networks must inspect, leaving many organisations on hardware that cannot support current workloads.
Firewall‑as‑a‑Subscription builds on the AI Network Firewall introduced in R82.20 in July 2026, which inspects AI traffic, protects AI applications and helps govern AI agents at the network layer. Check Point says the new model extends those capabilities to organisations that need predictable costs and scalable protection.
Pete Finalle, research manager for security and trust at IDC, said consumption models that convert on‑premises security hardware into an operating expense can help organisations keep pace with rising AI‑driven risk. He added that demand for flexible scaling is likely to increase as networks handle more AI‑related traffic.
The subscription includes Force Firewalls, AI‑powered threat prevention including SandBlast, Live Updates applied without downtime, Smart‑1 agentic management, 24×7 premium support and professional services credits for tasks such as policy migration. Customers can upgrade throughput at any point during the three‑year term and move to new hardware after 36 months.
Avi Rembaum, president of global technical sales at Check Point, said the programme is intended to make advanced AI security accessible to every organisation, regardless of size or budget.
Firewall‑as‑a‑Subscription will be available from 1 November through Check Point partners, with monthly and annual payment options.
