If people want to maintain the effectiveness on their computers, they must continue to update to protect against the latest and greatest. Configuration can be done automatically, eliminating customer error and the need to manually update the system. Having the firewall in the modem also will allow clients to set up a home network. Picker explains that the architecture of placing it in the PC inhibits the exchange of information within a house, disabling the ability to share information between computers. This drawback is taken away by putting the firewall in the modem.
Customers can freely share information within the home without the intervention of the firewall.
Terayon believes putting the firewall in the cable modem as opposed to in the headend is a better option, even though it could achieve similar results. Other vendors have cable modem firewalls as part of a longer term plan. To implement a VPN involves another layer of features and another choice. It can be provided through a cable modem or a software package installed on the attached computer. Both are out there on the market.