The best replacement for hardware is software firewall.

The best alternatives to hardware are rated as following:
★★★★★  software firewall
★★★★★  software raid
★★★★★  software
★★  software vpn
★  software encryption
★  software compression
★  firmware
★  software problem
★  software load balancing
★  software decoder
★  home depot
★  computer software
★  upgrade software
  software synths
  software synth
  hardwares
  software eq
  software music
  software music production
  software which is more important
  pottery barn
  arhaus
  ps4 hardware
  software virtualization
  software raid linux
  xbox 360 hardware
  heartware
  blum
  true value
  software raid 1
  software synthesizer
  software firewalls
  north face
  windows hardware
  plugins
  software definition
  ps3 hardware
  software raid 0

Your alternative for hardware is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about hardware, one probably shouldn't forget about software.

Other search terms related to hardware and their ratings are:
★★★★★ software
★★ white cabinets
★★ reinstalling windows
★ ableton
You have in mind a companion for hardware and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of hardware in all years. Click on graph for more.
hardware
software firewall
software raid