Symantec Proxy Reviews

Name: Symantec Proxy
Brand: Broadcom
Rating: 3.7 (21 reviews)

3.7 out of 5

21 reviews
80% willing to recommend

What is Symantec Proxy?

Symantec Proxy is designed to provide web security, web access control, and secure web gateway functionalities for organizations. It helps protect against web-based threats, enforce web usage policies, and provide secure access to internet resources.

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Symantec Proxy is the #10 ranked solution in top Web Security Gateways. PeerSpot users give Symantec Proxy an average rating of 7.4 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 21 most recent Symantec Proxy reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 6.3. (Among the lowest in the category). Symantec Proxy is most commonly compared to Cisco Umbrella: Symantec Proxy vs Cisco Umbrella. Symantec Proxy is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 66% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 20% of all views.

Helped 825,566 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Ganesh Basappa

Network Security Consultant at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

There are many use cases in terms of content inspection, such as having granular control for file type extensions when trying to download file types by default. It depends on the requirements, and based on that, we customize policies. We have deployed it in an Azure infrastructure, and we have…

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Ganesh Khutwad

Software Engineer at Rich Products

The solution's databases are long, and their support is very fast. At times, certain areas are lacking in the policy manager. It would be great if we could directly control those URLs in the policy manager through the US. At the time of policy tracing, it is necessary to determine where the policies created by Blue Coat for the solution are being dropped. We should be able to get the exact results for this. Also, it would be great to have an online tool that could provide us with confidence during encryption and decryption processes without needing different tools. This tool could help us identify which problems to manipulate and where to allow manipulation. Such additions will be great for us.

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YefetDamari

Senior Architect at Migdal Insurance

I work as an architect, and we use it in our company. We use Symantec Proxy for our company, for web surfing and utilizing its native proxy capabilities Symantec Proxy have been most effective for threat detection and prevention. Symantec is a very robust solution. Also, it has many capabilities…

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Symantec Proxy mindshare

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Symantec Proxy in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category stands at 3.6%, down from 7.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Secure Web Gateways (SWG)	Jan 3, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Symantec Proxy vs Cisco Umbrella	Jan 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Symantec Proxy vs Zscaler Internet Access	Jan 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Symantec Proxy vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	Jan 3, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Cisco Umbrella	4.4	N/A	97%	111 interviews Add to research
Zscaler Internet Access	4.1	15.5%	98%	52 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Symantec Proxy offers valuable features like caching, URL filtering databases, and policy creation. It supports simple configuration which is user-friendly, stable, and scalable. Benefits include threat detection, web filtering, and risk management through the Global Intelligence Network, alongside advanced functionalities using CPL code. Users appreciate its reputation for blocking malicious sites and seamless integration for comprehensive category views. Additional advantages include SSL encryption, decryption, and granular traffic control.

"The most valuable features are content inspection, caching, SSL encryption, decryption, WAN optimization, and more."
"The security features provided by Symantec Proxy, such as granular controls for web traffic and caching, set it apart from other secure web gateways."
"The proxy is valuable due to its reputation and categorization features for sites, which assist in blocking malicious sites."

Room for Improvement

Symantec Proxy experiences challenges with SSL inspection and performance issues, particularly with O365. Users find deployment complex and require high expertise due to inadequate support. Complaints include a need for better documentation, user interface, and technical support. Budgets are strained by high pricing. Users desire enhanced reporting, dashboards, and domain categorization. Security features should be more scalable. Content management capabilities are lacking, and marketing efforts have seen a dip post-Broadcom acquisition.

"Support services are lagging and not very responsive. I rate their support as five out of ten."
"The product needs improvement in support services, as they are lagging and not very responsive when we raise concerns or queries, especially in terms of significant impact."
"There are some challenges with reporting and accessing specific logs, particularly older logs or user activity over time."

ROI

Setting up a proxy site with Symantec Proxy can be challenging and costly, particularly for small or medium enterprises, due to high expenses and support services. While some users have observed enhanced network security and scalability, leading to a possible positive return, the investment is not deemed valuable for all organizations. Those prioritizing stability and security may find Symantec Proxy favorable, especially in supercritical business environments.

Pricing

Symantec Proxy is often described as expensive, with enterprises expressing challenges due to high costs since its acquisition by Broadcom. Licensing typically involves a three-year subscription model, though some report no licensing fees. Renewal processes can be problematic, with different expiry dates. The cost varies, with some companies finding it reasonable, while others rate the pricing between six to nine out of ten. Overall, pricing remains a key concern for many users.

"The product is highly priced. There are no additional costs apart from the standard licenses."
"The tool is pretty expensive."
"The solution is very expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Symantec Proxy is used for web security, content filtering, and internet access. Organizations utilize it for antivirus scanning, firewall policies, URL filtering, and outbound traffic management. It supports authentication with Active Directory and allows control over bandwidth based on user privileges. Companies use it for cloud deployments on platforms like GCP, AWS, and Azure. Many employ it for malware filtering, cache, content monitoring, and blocking unwanted websites, ensuring secure browsing and meeting corporate policies.

Service and Support

Customer support and assistance for Symantec Proxy have varied experiences. Some feedback indicates quality and effectiveness, mentioning good past interactions and efficient sessions with knowledgeable engineers. Other feedback highlights areas needing improvement, such as slow response times, unhelpful resolutions, and lack of qualifications. Broadcom's acquisition reportedly led to decreased service levels, with Symantec Proxy users noting scheduling calls as beneficial. Engaging through Symantec partners often results in better responsiveness and service quality.

Deployment

The initial setup of Symantec Proxy varies in complexity. Some find it straightforward, while others describe it as challenging and requiring experience or expert assistance. Setup duration ranges from a few days to several months, depending on factors like policies, procedures, and infrastructure. Adequate planning and personnel are necessary, with some users needing additional resources or adjustments for deployment in cloud environments. Despite challenges, others rate setup ease highly.

Scalability

Many users find Symantec Proxy scalable, with positive ratings from some, but challenges exist, particularly for on-premises setups. Cloud implementation is easier to expand compared to hardware models. Considerable user capacity is supported, yet some adjustments may be needed for traffic and bandwidth. Ratings vary, with many expressing a favorable view of scalability. However, potential issues around manual admin work could slightly impact scalability. Needs for upgrades also arise with increasing users.

Stability

Symantec Proxy is generally perceived as stable and reliable, with several users rating its stability between eight and ten out of ten. Many do not encounter bugs or crashes, although some experience occasional hardware failures and unexplained glitches. Latency issues are noted, sometimes requiring reboots. Stability may vary based on deployment platform and user count, leading some to rate it as low as seven, especially in newer versions.

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

Download our Symantec Proxy Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

20%

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Government

Retailer

Educational Organization

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Transportation Company

Insurance Company

University

Real Estate/Law Firm

Comms Service Provider

Non Profit

Wholesaler/Distributor

Construction Company

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Outsourcing Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Marketing Services Firm

Security Firm

Translation And Localization Position

Consumer Goods Company

Compare Symantec Proxy with alternative products

Learn more about Symantec Proxy

Symantec Proxy Benefits:

Easy to use
Comprehensive security features
Ability to block malicious websites and applications
Efficient management of network traffic
Scalable and compatible with various operating systems and devices
Highly rated customer support and technical assistance

Symantec Proxy Features:

Web Filtering: Symantec Proxy offers web filtering capabilities to control and manage web access based on predefined categories or custom policies.
Malware Protection: The solution incorporates malware detection and prevention mechanisms to identify and block web-based threats, such as malware, viruses, and phishing attacks.
URL Filtering: Symantec Proxy uses URL filtering to categorize and assess the reputation of web domains and URLs in real-time.
SSL/TLS Inspection: The proxy solution supports SSL/TLS decryption and inspection to examine encrypted web traffic for potential threats or policy violations.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Symantec Proxy may include data loss prevention capabilities to prevent the unauthorized exfiltration of sensitive data through web channels.
User Authentication and Access Control: The solution supports user authentication and access control mechanisms to enforce user-based policies and provide secure internet access.
Reporting and Analytics: Symantec Proxy provides reporting and analytics capabilities to monitor web usage, user activities, security events, and compliance violations.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Symantec Proxy users.

PeerSpot user, Consultant at a financial services firm, says that Symantec Proxy "...enables us to manage bandwidth for users based on their privilege levels. For example, if a user wants to use a certain application or resource, we can provide access based on their privileges."

PeerSpot user, General Manager & founder at a engineering company, writes that Symantec Proxy has "A complex deployment, no proper user reporting, and a proxy component that works."

Muhammad Salahuddin, Unit Head - Network and Security Solutions at FPM Solutions, states that Symantec Proxy has "Good URL filtering but is expensive and doesn't have good technical support services."

Symantec Proxy was previously known as Blue Coat Encrypted Traffic Management, ProxySG Appliance .