Check Point Software Technologies has launched Firewall-as-a-Subscription, a new program giving organisations of every size access to its most advanced AI security and network threat prevention through one predictable subscription, without a large upfront hardware purchase.
Key Takeaways
- Check Point has launched Firewall-as-a-Subscription, giving organisations of any size its AI Network Firewall and threat prevention without an upfront hardware purchase.
- A 2026 security budget survey found 55% of CISOs saw their budgets stay flat or fall this year, even as AI increases the traffic networks must inspect.
- The subscription, which includes SandBlast threat prevention with a 99.9% block rate against zero-day attacks, becomes available on 1 November through Check Point partners.
Through the subscription, organisations get Check Point Force Firewalls with the AI Network Firewall capabilities introduced in R82.20, AI-powered threat prevention, Live Updates and agentic management. The AI Network Firewall inspects AI traffic, protects AI applications and helps govern AI agents at the network layer.
Budgets Are Flat Even as AI Traffic Grows
The launch responds to a budget squeeze many security teams are facing. According to the IANS Research and Artico Search 2026 Security Budget Benchmark, the median security budget did not grow this year, and 55% of CISOs saw their budgets stay flat or fall; while 64% asked for an increase, only 45% received one. At the same time, AI is increasing what every network has to inspect, often pushing firewall refreshes to the back of the queue.
“Organizations of all sizes face the same AI-driven threats, but for many, capital budget cycles often force them to delay firewall refreshes or buy more capacity than they need,” said Pete Finalle, Research Manager, Security and Trust at IDC. “Consumption models that turn on-premises security hardware into a predictable operating expense…can help close that gap.”
What the Subscription Includes
Firewall-as-a-Subscription bundles Check Point Force Firewalls sized to the organisation’s throughput needs, AI-powered threat prevention including SandBlast with a 99.9% block rate against zero-day attacks, Live Updates applied without reboots or downtime, the Smart-1 Agentic Management package for cloud-based security management, 24×7 premium support, and professional services credits covering policy migration from other vendors’ firewalls.
“Every organization is adopting AI, and every organization deserves the same level of protection, whatever its size or budget,” said Avi Rembaum, President Global Technical Sales at Check Point Software Technologies. Organisations pay one predictable monthly or annual subscription, can upgrade throughput during the three-year term, and move to new hardware after 36 months.
Available From 1 November
Firewall-as-a-Subscription will be available from 1 November through Check Point partners, with monthly or annual payment options, giving smaller organisations a path to the same AI-era protection typically reserved for larger security budgets.
