Sophos XGS Reviews

Name: Sophos XGS
Brand: Sophos
Rating: 4.0 (82 reviews)

4.0 out of 5

82 reviews
94% willing to recommend

What is Sophos XGS?

Sophos XGS is a comprehensive network security solution designed to protect organizations from advanced threats. It combines next-generation firewall capabilities with advanced threat protection, web filtering, and application control.

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

Sophos XGS is the #14 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Sophos XGS an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 82 most recent Sophos XGS reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.0. Sophos XGS is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Sophos XGS vs Fortinet FortiGate. Sophos XGS is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 42% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.

Helped 825,609 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

AbhijitMukherji

IT Head at Dee Development

The interface is really showing up on the edge now. It needs to be more modern and faster, with more rules visible on a single screen for better details rather than just six rules. The threat detection system could be more GUI-based or provide templates for common threats. We also need more updated version 20 study materials.

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SelormAhiataku

System&Network Administrator at All Limited Solutions

The primary use case is for cybersecurity strategies. Sophos XGS is used for its strong features like IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) and application control Threat intelligence of Sophos benefits by providing site intelligence and integration of AI helps with security. Sophos offers strong…

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Pol-Balaguer

VS at Netplay Inc

The first time a person sets it up, they will need training. We’d like to see an easy migration. They did an upgrade on VMware that might have affected things. We’d like them to return to something like they were running before from 2018 going to 2019. The scalability could be better.

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Sophos XGS mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Sophos XGS in the Firewalls category stands at 1.8%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Jan 4, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Sophos XGS vs Netgate pfSense	Jan 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Sophos XGS vs Fortinet FortiGate	Jan 4, 2025	Download
Comparison	Sophos XGS vs OPNsense	Jan 4, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	20.3%	90%	317 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	17.6%	94%	206 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Sophos XGS offers an easy-to-use interface, strong threat management, and synchronized security. Its core features include VPN, application control, content filtering, and robust reporting. Users appreciate its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and straightforward setup. Advanced capabilities such as intrusion detection, bandwidth management, and SD-WAN are highlighted. Web and application filtering, security synchronization, and centralized management enhance network security. Sophos XGS excels in integrations, malware protection, and granularity in policy configuration.

"It provides good protection services."
"Sophos offers a centralized system available to everyone, even for their smaller models."
"Sophos has a centralized management system where I can manage and control all the Sophos firewalls at the same time."

Room for Improvement

Sophos XGS requires enhanced Active Directory integration, Azure AD authentication, and better local DHCP service. Users experience difficulties with complex configurations, slow interfaces, and limited scalability. Common complaints involve inadequate SD-WAN functionality, insufficient reporting, and high costs. Updating the firmware often causes disruptions, and the user interface is not intuitive. Users face challenges with inadequate technical support, stability issues, and hardware limitations. Improvements in customer service, marketing, and VPN capabilities are also needed.

"Sophos should work on its marketing strategy as it seems to lag behind Fortinet."
"Hardware stability needs improvement."
"There is no option for right-clicking on any feature after logging into the firewall. I am unable to open a feature in a new tab. In FortiGate, I can do it; in Sophos, I cannot."

ROI

Sophos XGS is considered a good investment with satisfactory ROI, especially for smaller enterprises. Its capability to prevent ransomware contributes significantly to ROI. Many find the cost justified by the security effectiveness. While some cannot calculate ROI precisely due to its nature as a security appliance, successful protection against attacks represents a positive return. Users rate the investment positively and express satisfaction with its performance and cost-effectiveness.

Pricing

Sophos XGS's pricing is generally viewed as competitive, catering to small to medium enterprises. Licensing options are varied, including one to three-year terms, often accompanied by promotions offering additional benefits like extended service. Costs are influenced by factors such as hardware model and functionality requirements, with annual fees typically around $10,000, and licensing around $150 per unit. While pricing varies globally, it is considered reasonable when compared to competitors like Fortinet and Palo Alto.

"We paid around 17,000 pounds for a three-year package."
"Sophos XGS is a very expensive solution."
"Sophos XGS is a cost-effective solution."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations use Sophos XGS primarily for firewall applications, securing network infrastructures, and managing internet access. Many deploy it for unified threat management, including web filtering, VPNs, endpoint security, application control, and bandwidth management. It is also utilized for firewall replacement, network security, and as an internet gateway. Companies value its integration capabilities, advanced threat protection, and cost-effectiveness compared to other brands. It is employed in both virtual and physical environments, supporting diverse client needs.

Service and Support

Sophos XGS customer service and support receive mixed opinions. Many find the technical support responsive and knowledgeable, but others report slow response times and insufficient problem-solving abilities. Language barriers and delays in urgent situations are noted, affecting customer satisfaction. Improvement in promptness and technical proficiency is often recommended. Issues sometimes escalate slowly or require multiple interactions. Despite some positive experiences, there's a consistent demand for faster, more efficient assistance across regions.

Deployment

Users generally find Sophos XGS's initial setup to be easy and straightforward, though complexity can increase with intricate configurations like SD WANs or policy setups. Cloud deployment simplifies and speeds up the process. Time for deployment varies from minutes to several days, depending on skills and requirements. While experienced users navigate setups smoothly, novices may encounter difficulties. User resources such as guides and tutorials enhance the setup experience and ease maintenance.

Scalability

Sophos XGS is generally considered scalable, accommodating various user counts with options to upgrade virtual and hardware appliances. Different user experiences suggest scalability varies based on appliance models and network requirements. Some users highlight limitations in expansion, especially beyond certain thresholds, while others praise its capability to handle numerous users. It's suitable for small to medium businesses, with ratings for scalability ranging from satisfactory to excellent. Certain hardware constraints may pose challenges for larger-scale deployments.

Stability

Sophos XGS is widely acclaimed for its stability, described as very stable with no bugs or glitches and consistent performance. Some users experience occasional bugs or outages but are promptly resolved. Stability ranges between six to ten out of ten. Compared to previous versions, XGS shows significant improvement. Users find it reliable even in challenging environments, but note potential issues when capacity limits are reached. Performance is largely rated positively by users.

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

Download our Sophos XGS 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

18%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Financial Services Firm

Healthcare Company

Government

Construction Company

Retailer

Insurance Company

Media Company

Legal Firm

Real Estate/Law Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

University

Transportation Company

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

Performing Arts

International Affairs Institute

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Engineering Company

Security Firm

Compare Sophos XGS with alternative products

Learn more about Sophos XGS

XGS has powerful deep learning technology and can detect and block even the most sophisticated malware and ransomware attacks. It also offers granular control over web access, allowing organizations to enforce policies and prevent access to malicious or inappropriate websites. Additionally, XGS provides application control features, enabling organizations to manage and prioritize network traffic based on specific applications or user groups.

With its intuitive management interface and centralized reporting, XGS offers easy deployment and monitoring of network security.