WatchGuard Firebox M290 High Availability Firewall

The WatchGuard Firebox M290 High Availability Firewall is an enterprise‑grade security appliance purpose‑built for small to midsize businesses. It combines robust next‑generation firewall capabilities with comprehensive threat prevention, secure remote access, and resilient high‑availability features. The M290 helps organizations defend against the latest cyber threats while delivering reliable performance, centralized management, and scalable protection as your network grows.

• High Availability for uninterrupted security with active/passive failover ensures your critical defenses stay online during maintenance or unexpected downtime, minimizing risk to core business operations.
• Comprehensive security suite including firewall, intrusion prevention, advanced threat prevention, malware blocking, application control, URL filtering, DNS protection, and web blocking to stop threats at the network edge before they reach users.
• Optimized for small to midsize businesses, delivering enterprise‑grade protection within a scalable, cost‑efficient footprint ideal for growing networks and distributed sites.
• Secure remote access and site‑to‑site connectivity with robust VPN options (IPSec and SSL) to connect remote workers and multiple offices securely, while keeping policy and visibility centralized.
• Centralized management and visibility through WatchGuard management tools and Dimension analytics, making policy administration, monitoring, and compliance reporting straightforward for IT teams.

The M290 is designed to defend against a broad range of modern threats without sacrificing performance. It leverages an integrated security ecosystem that combines a powerful firewall, deep packet inspection, and intelligent threat intelligence to stop exploits, ransomware, and targeted attacks. For SMBs, this means fewer blind spots, simpler operations, and the confidence that security policy aligns with business objectives. The machine‑level safeguards are complemented by cloud‑driven intelligence, which helps your organization stay ahead of evolving attack techniques while maintaining a user‑friendly experience for administrators and end users alike.

In addition to core protection, the Firebox M290 emphasizes ease of deployment and ongoing management. The appliance supports centralized administration via WatchGuard System Manager (WSM) and Dimension, giving security teams a single pane of glass for configuring policies, monitoring network activity, and generating actionable security insights. This unified approach reduces complexity, accelerates incident response, and supports compliance with industry standards. The device’s compact form factor, energy‑efficient design, and quiet operation also make it well suited for branch offices, retail locations, or small data centers where space and noise are considerations.

When paired with WatchGuard’s threat intelligence services, the M290 can proactively block advanced threats and zero‑day exploits. Features such as Application Control allow admins to regulate which apps can run on the network, while URL Filtering and WebBlocker enforce safe browsing policies. DNSWatch adds an additional layer of protection by filtering DNS requests at query time, preventing users from reaching known malicious domains. All of these capabilities work together to create a defense‑in‑depth strategy that is easy to manage and scales with your business needs.

Beyond security, the M290 is built for dependable uptime and resilience. High Availability technology enables seamless failover between two devices, keeping services online and policies in effect even if one unit encounters an issue. This resilience is particularly valuable for distributed environments, multi‑site deployments, and organizations where consistent network protection is non‑negotiable. Administrators can configure synchronized policies, certified VPN tunnels, and consistent monitoring across both units, ensuring a smooth transition during failover without user disruption.

Technical Details of WatchGuard Firebox M290 High Availability Firewall

• Product type: High availability firewall appliance
• Model: Firebox M290
• Vendor: WatchGuard
• Target audience: Small to midsize businesses seeking enterprise‑grade security
• Security services: Firewall, IPS, Advanced Threat Prevention, Malware Blocker, Application Control, URL Filtering, DNSWatch, WebBlocker, Gateway Antivirus
• High Availability: Active/Passive failover, policy synchronization, seamless failover
• Networking: Multi‑port Ethernet interfaces with WAN/LAN segmentation (exact port configuration available in official specs)
• Management: WatchGuard System Manager (WSM) and Dimension compatibility for centralized policy and analytics

How to install WatchGuard Firebox M290 High Availability Firewall

• Plan your deployment by selecting a primary unit and a matching secondary unit for High Availability, and map your WAN and LAN segments before installation.
• Physically install the Firebox M290 in a secure, ventilated network rack and connect power, network cables, and management workstation as guided by the user guide.
• Access the appliance via its web UI or WatchGuard System Manager to perform the initial configuration, including admin credentials, time zone, and license activation for security services.
• Enable and configure High Availability, pairing the primary and secondary devices with synchronized policy and failover settings to ensure continuous protection.
• Create and tune security policies, enable VPN tunnels (IPSec and SSL), set up threat prevention rules, and validate connectivity with test traffic and failover simulations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the WatchGuard Firebox M290 High Availability Firewall?

The WatchGuard Firebox M290 is an enterprise‑grade security appliance designed for small to midsize businesses. It combines a high‑performance firewall with integrated threat prevention, VPN capabilities, and High Availability, delivering strong protection with reliable uptime for remote locations and distributed networks.

What makes the M290 suitable for SMBs?

Built for scale and simplicity, the M290 provides comprehensive security services in a compact form factor, enabling small teams to deploy robust protections, enforce policies across multiple sites, and gain visibility into network activity through centralized management and analytics.

Which security features are included?

It includes a next‑generation firewall, Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), Advanced Threat Prevention, Malware Blocker, Application Control, URL Filtering, DNSWatch, WebBlocker, and gateway antivirus. These services work together to block malware, exploits, and risky apps while enforcing safe browsing and policy compliance.

Can I connect remote workers securely?

Yes. The M290 supports multiple VPN options, including IPsec VPN for site‑to‑site and SSL VPN for remote access. This allows secure connections for employees working from home or on the go while maintaining centralized policy control.

Is High Availability included?

High Availability is a core feature of the M290, enabling active/standby devices with synchronized policies and automatic failover to keep critical network protections online even during hardware or connection issues.