A firewall is either a physical device integrated into the company network (hardware firewall) or software built into a cloud or a router. A firewall generally protects a specific company site. The functional scope of firewalls is usually restricted to blocking ports and protocols; in some cases, they also provide URL filtering to block dangerous websites. Only very few companies use a Next Generation Firewall that offers extensive security functions. All firewalls should be regularly updated, ideally several times per day, in order to withstand constantly changing cyberthreats. Updates often have to be manually installed by an IT specialist or an IT partner, even in the case of cloud-based firewalls. Even many managed services for firewalls perform updates only sporadically.

In contrast, beemNet offers comprehensive protection everywhere – at all connected company sites, on the move and even in third-party networks – and it is updated by Swisscom several times per day. When analysing data traffic, beemNet subjects each and every data package to numerous security checks. All of these measures can also be used for encrypted data traffic, e.g. HTTPS (Deep Packet Inspection). The security checks encompass those of a modern Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), a contemporary Secure Web Gateway (SWG) and Unified Threat Management (UTM). But beemNet also enables far more, including comprehensive network integration, the Swisscom beem app with push notifications and the Security Dashboard. Malware such as viruses are automatically identified and removed and harmful content and access attempts are blocked. beemNet therefore offers comprehensive protection against cyberthreats that is updated several times per day by Swisscom and instantly activated for your company.

If a device is connected to beemNet, data streams are transmitted via beemNet and subjected to numerous security checks. Unlike with many other security solutions, the data traffic in beemNet undergoes all security checks at the same time (single pass) – guaranteeing speed and high data throughput rates. Inbound and outbound data traffic is inspected and unauthorised access from the Internet as well as accidental clicks on malicious websites are blocked.

In addition to the above, devices connected to beemNet are anonymised with respect to Internet services through the use of various security technologies. This reduces the risk of erroneous security configurations and outdated operating systems, thus protecting all connected devices against cyberthreats, whether they are computers, tablets, smartphones, printers, production machines or similar.

The Swisscom beem app is required in order to encrypt data traffic in third-party networks. The app also installs the necessary certificates on the end device – or alternatively these can be installed using the integrated Device Management function (with beem Basic or above) or manually. This enables analysis of even encrypted data (Deep Packet Inspection), so malware can be detected and blocked.

With beem Basic or above and the appropriate user licences, client devices with an up-to-date operating system can also be managed as an option. This enables device settings to be configured automatically to further increase security.

No. No content is censored; beemNet simply blocks dangerous content. If you wish to block specific websites as a company, you can do so using beem Security Edition Plus and above.

No. beem is network based and is operated by Swisscom in Swisscom data centres in Switzerland with quadruple geo-redundancy. You do not need to concern yourself with either software or updates. What is more, you do not need any additional hardware at your company site – with the Swisscom broadband connection (fibre or copper) and the Swisscom router, you have everything you need.

Devices that are connected to the Swisscom mobile network via a SIM card and have been assigned a beem Protect & Connect user licence are automatically connected to beemNet. Company sites with a Swisscom broadband connection with beemNet (and thus all devices connected there) are also automatically connected to beemNet.

Devices in third-party networks require the beem app to connect to beemNet. This applies to devices with a mobile subscription for Swisscom residential customers or from third-party providers in Switzerland and abroad, as well as when users connect their devices while working from home or using a public WLAN. The beem app also enables end-to-end encryption of the data connection.

In the case of customers with beem Essential, users need the beem app to benefit from advanced protection against cyberthreats on their devices. This enables, for example, analysis of the content of data packages (Deep Packet Inspection) and thus provides advanced protection against viruses and other malware.

The beem app is needed for users to receive push notifications about averted cyberattacks, prevented data loss and the like.

For secure access to company data and business applications, the beem app is required in order to check device parameters (Device Posture Management), such as whether an up-to-date antivirus is enabled, the device password is strong enough or data carriers are encrypted. This functionality is included in beem Basic, Plus and Premium and enables advanced device protection. If user end devices are centrally managed, the beem app and the necessary certificates are automatically installed on them.

Alternatively, users can securely access company data via the beem Business Application Portal, even when using unknown or public devices, without installing the beem app. With beem Basic and above, further options are contained that provide even anonymous users with selective access to company data and business applications.