I was suddenly told, that I am changing WAN providers and will need to purchase and configure a router. Previously our router (Cisco 3600) was leased and provded, configured by our WAN vendor. We are a web host, and strictly provide web server hosting services. I am looking for the most inexpensive, yet secure, and quality router I can buy. Money IS an object, and I already have a finite budget of about $1,000.
Preferably I would like to have firewalling, and NAT. Since I have to select therouter by Friday Close of business, I am extremely interested in anyone opinions who has bought configured and used various routers in this budget constraint. I have zero router experience, but have single handedely manager 39 servers from install, secure, firewalling, NAT etc for two years with zero downtime or instrusions. I feel I have a strong grasp of TCP/IP NAT, and firewalling, and can if needed omit firewalling from the router and provide it at the server/bridge level as I am currently doing. DoS survivability would be nice at the router but I understand it may not be an option at this price range.