Sophos XG Reviews

Name: Sophos XG
Brand: Sophos
Rating: 4.1 (198 reviews)

4.1 out of 5

198 reviews
92% willing to recommend

2,805 followers

What is Sophos XG?

Sophos XG is a versatile network security solution that offers network protection, firewall management, VPN access, web filtering, and intrusion prevention, providing comprehensive security for businesses from small offices to large enterprises.

Get the Sophos XG Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Sophos XG, Fortinet FortiGate, Netgate pfSense and more!

Sophos XG is the #4 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Sophos XG an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 198 most recent Sophos XG reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.0. Sophos XG is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate. Sophos XG is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 41% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.

Helped 823,875 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Akshit Chhokar

Technical Solutions Specialist - Networking at Google

The product has improved the security posture. Sophos XG provides features that are almost the same as those Cisco Firepower devices provide. I would say that a couple of features in Sophos XG are the same as the ones provided by other Cisco devices, which are top-notch. The management tools or log-related solutions that are presented with Sophos are okay but not top-notch when it comes to Cisco. I rate the reporting and visibility tools in Sophos XG a six out of ten compared to Cisco. Sophos xG's integration capabilities do not apply to a limited number of security tools. Cisco provides integration capabilities with many products, while Sophos XG offers integration with a limited number of products. Cisco provides integration capability with almost any tool that is present in the world. Cisco works day and night to ensure that it provides good integration capabilities with the solutions. I recommend the tool to those who plan to use it, especially if you own a very small office where you don't need a product with too many functionalities. I rate the tool a seven out of ten.

Read full review

Akshay Y P

Technical Support Engineer at Digitaltrack

The product’s new variant allows for faster processing of data packets from LAN to WAN, surpassing the capabilities of an 8G firewall. It provides threat prevention features, including WAF, IPS, and AV. We have configured SSL VPN capabilities for different branches, which have been working efficiently. For our minimalistic usage, it has been performing well in transferring data from on-premise devices. It helps us generate detailed reports on the dashboard. The product’s integration with Sophos Central enhances security architecture by enabling centralized management under a single dashboard. We recommend Sophos XG as a priority as it is much more reliable and has efficient technical assistance. It is much easier for configuration, web filtering, or web extension than one of its competitors. I rate it a seven out of ten.

Read full review

Manuel Gellida

Owner at Dinamica en Microsistemas de Informatica, S.A. de C.V.

The integration could be a bit better. They need to allow their solution to integrate with other products and not just other Sophos solutions. Sophos has a feature that in my opinion is very limited. They don't have enough VPNs on their models. They have the XG 750, which is a sizeable appliance. On those models, they used to have not enough VPNs. They always were short on that area. Pricing used to be very bad, however, they've adjusted their strategy recently. The product needs to improve its marketing in Mexico. It's not a well-recognized product in our country. The solution's technical support is very bad. There is an overall lack of documentation in relation to features and capabilities. We need these to help explain aspects of the solution to our clients.

Read full review

Sophos XG mindshare

As of December 2024, the mindshare of Sophos XG in the Firewalls category stands at 11.7%, up from 9.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Comparison	Sophos XG vs Netgate pfSense	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Comparison	Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate	Dec 18, 2024	Download
Comparison	Sophos XG vs OPNsense	Dec 18, 2024	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	20.5%	90%	317 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	18.6%	94%	206 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Sophos XG is praised for features like web and application filtering, robust VPN capabilities, and centralized management. It offers ease of use with a user-friendly interface and strong endpoint integration for synchronized security. The system's flexibility allows customizable policies and management from a central dashboard. Key attributes include threat detection, intrusion prevention, reporting, and scalability, making it suitable for diverse environments. Sophos XG effectively combines firewall functionality with advanced security layers.

"Sophos XG has excellent scalability features."
"Sophos XG has helped us reduce virus and malware attacks."
"It is easy to configure."

Room for Improvement

Sophos XG needs improvements in log interface control, email protection, link load balancing, RAM efficiency, packet monitoring, VPN stability, application filtering, automatic updates, HTTPS filtering, technical support, documentation clarity, cloud support, reporting capabilities, centralized management, and pricing structure. Users face challenges with firmware updates, system responsiveness, UI simplicity, and integration with other products. The complexity of configuration and lack of feature clarity also pose difficulties. Bandwidth management, scalability, and threat detection require enhancements.

"The areas needing improvement are support and configuration. The delays in technical support can be handled better."
"The firewall could be made more robust, particularly by simplifying two-factor authentication."
"The areas needing improvement are support and configuration."

ROI

Sophos XG delivers a 100% ROI by blocking ransomware and saving bandwidth and time. It reduces costs by eliminating the need for external two-factor authentication tools and minimizes virus threats. Users experience enhanced internet connectivity and fewer management issues. Cybersecurity compliance is improved, offering value for money. Sophos XG helps efficiently spend less on network security by managing income effectively and optimizing internal practices, though some find costs higher than similar market alternatives.

Pricing

Sophos XG is seen as competitively priced, notably cheaper than some competitors like Check Point and more aligned with Fortinet and Cisco. The hardware cost remains similar to Sophos UTM, but licenses are slightly higher, often structured on a yearly basis. Many users commend its flexible pricing based on economic conditions, though some consider it expensive due to currency exchanges and desired features. Discounts and bundled offerings are also prevalent, enhancing affordability and functional value.

"The tool's pricing and licensing are very complex. As a developing company, we need approvals from management to make a purchase, which can take time. We asked Sophos XG to renew our current firewall license for one or two months while we plan to accommodate our increasing IT assets."
"The tool's pricing is cheaper compared to other alternative products."
"Sophos XG can be considered as an averagely-priced tool in the market."

Popular Use Cases

Sophos XG is employed by users primarily for firewalling, ensuring secure VPN connectivity, and network threat management. It serves multiple functions including web and application filtering, intrusion prevention, antivirus integration, and load balancing. Companies adopt it as a security device, often utilizing functions like unified threat management and endpoint protection. It is also used for managing bandwidth, SD-WAN, email security, and seamless integration with existing cybersecurity solutions. Sophos XG stands as a versatile network security tool.

Service and Support

Users have mixed experiences with Sophos XG's customer service and support. Some praise it as very responsive, knowledgeable, and helpful, providing swift issue resolution. Others express dissatisfaction with response times, communication barriers, and difficulty reaching support, especially with international contacts. Local partners and community resources are often helpful, but international support is seen as inconsistent. Delays in ticket handling and reliance on community resources indicate areas for improvement, with support quality varying across different teams.

Deployment

Users have generally found Sophos XG's initial setup to be straightforward, easy, and quick, often taking just a few hours depending on the complexity of the network. Some note the requirement of a Sophos account for activation as a downside. While some encountered initial complications, especially with specific configurations or complex environments, many appreciate the intuitive interface and available wizards, making the process manageable for those with varying levels of technical expertise.

Scalability

Most users find Sophos XG scalable, with flexibility to support different business sizes. However, limitations exist, especially for hardware upgrades. Some users experience no issues, while others find scalability challenging, requiring new models for growth. Sophos XG works best with accurate sizing and planning. Although many appreciate its adaptability, certain users emphasize the need for better modularity and future-proofing. Various users attest to varying scalability depending on the organization size and specific needs.

Stability

Sophos XG demonstrates strong stability, gaining praise from users who experience few issues. Early firmware had bugs, but versions SF 16 onward improved significantly. Users report minimal glitches and occasional firmware-related concerns, though updates can impact performance temporarily. The system handles stress well, supporting various user and bandwidth demands effectively. Many rate its stability highly, noting reliability in performance and minimal service disruptions. Some express satisfaction with its robustness, reliability, and support responsiveness for any troubleshooting.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Sophos XG Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Retailer

Educational Organization

Construction Company

Healthcare Company

Media Company

University

Real Estate/Law Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Transportation Company

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Compare Sophos XG with alternative products

Learn more about Sophos XG

Sophos XG stands out for its Synchronized Security, easy setup, and robust templates. It manages VPN access, protects against threats, and handles load balancing and traffic monitoring. The cloud-based management, centralized dashboard, and detailed logging make it user-friendly and reliable. Integration of features like email protection, SD-WAN, and unified threat management ensures a broad spectrum of security needs are covered. However, it could benefit from improvements in network security, user portals, technical support, and more scalable SD-WAN features.

What are the key features of Sophos XG?

Synchronized Security: Orchestrates threat intelligence sharing between endpoints and firewall.
Unlimited SSL VPN Clients: Provides extensive VPN client support for secure remote access.
Cloud-Based Management: Facilitates remote administration with a cloud-hosted platform.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and blocks potential threats in real-time.
Centralized Dashboard: Offers a comprehensive view of network security status.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?

Scalability: Easily adapts to growing business needs.
User-Friendliness: Simplified setup and intuitive management.
Effective Threat Protection: Provides robust security against a wide range of threats.
Comprehensive Reporting: Delivers detailed insights and analytics.
Cost-Effectiveness: Competitive in pricing with flexible deployment options.

Sophos XG is implemented across industries such as healthcare, education, and finance to secure sensitive data and ensure regulatory compliance. It aids in endpoint protection, application control, load balancing, and traffic monitoring essential for these industries. Enhancing network security, simplifying VPN setup, and integrating adaptive security features remain focal points for businesses.