Check Point NGFW Reviews

We first deployed Check Point for our clients. Our first client wanted to deploy the security appliances in a cluster solution for their network infrastructure solution. The NGTW chosen was the 5800 series and it was deployed as a software solution on clients' servers. Everything is going smoothly and the client seems happy with our proposal.

For our client, it is extremely important to protect the internal network infrastructure from any malicious attempt to break into their critical data. The NFGW cluster has been a step towards greater visibility in regards to their internal operations. The logs give a very detailed panorama of risks.

URL filtering, Application Control, and the Intrusion Prevention System are the features that almost every client wants to be guaranteed by their security appliances. 

Check Point NGFW also generates very helpful reports based on the logs of the activated features, including the features mentioned (URL filtering, Application Control, and the Intrusion Prevention System, as well as anti-bot and anti-spam). 

Sandblast is also a great feature, soon to be added to this solution through endpoints.

The appliances are quite intuitive and easy to be used. The hotfixes are useful and often released with notifications sent to the client.

There have been a few requests/issues about the Identity Awareness feature. The connection to AD, which was a request from the user, required the TAC team's support. 

I've been using the solution for more than 3 years.

This solution is stable and its replacement will not be needed for some time. Security is a need, and as such, it should be a permanent investment.

It seems pretty scalable. Scalability is one of the features that make Check Point different from other vendors. Most of the Quantum series are usable with the Maestro solution, where the client can practically add up other appliances on top of the previous one, without replacing it.

Cases don't always get a resolution immediately, however, the TAC team is supportive and through continuous interactions and suggestions, all cases have been resolved (within 1-2 weeks when they are not urgent).

Positive

For our own infrastructure, Check Point was the first vendor chosen.

The implementation is straightforward. The setup is clear and simple, much like any other software nowadays.

We did an in-house implementation.

The biggest investment is the initial one when you purchase the solution. It needs very little maintenance, and the automation it offers makes it easy to maintain.

The setup is easy and intuitive, and licensing has good coverage to meet the needs for most of the clients. Price is the least favorite element regarding Check Point. Its products aren't the cheapest ones in the market, however, the ratio of value to money is fair.

Fortinet was considered as an option as well.

We primarily use Check Point NGFW for network segmentation and traffic control. It effectively segments our network into zones, allowing us to manage and secure traffic flows between different segments.

The platform's technical support services need enhancement. 

The product is highly scalable and crucial for our large-scale deployment needs. Its scalability is a ten out of ten.

The technical support is generally responsive, although there have been occasional delays in accessing specialized assistance tailored to our needs.

Positive

The deployment was handled by dedicated experts within our organization, ensuring a smooth setup. While I didn't oversee the technical aspects directly, our team found the process straightforward, minimizing operational disruptions.

The product is on the higher end of the cost spectrum, but the investment is justified by its high-quality performance and reliability, which are paramount for our security infrastructure.

Check Point NGFW has consistently provided stable operation which is critical for our organization's security needs.

Managing firewall rules and policies is intuitive and efficient. The interface allows us to quickly adapt to new security requirements and maintain compliance with organizational policies.

I highly recommend it for organizations seeking robust network security.

Overall, I rate it an eight. 

It can function as either a standalone appliance or as part of a clustered solution, offering flexibility to suit the needs of various customers, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises. We have experience working with a diverse clientele across different industries, leveraging Check Point's solutions to provide comprehensive network security tailored to each organization's requirements.

Extracting data from the logs and utilizing the log analyzer tool provides valuable insights and enhances the product's overall effectiveness.

Managing a smaller number of firewalls is straightforward, but as the scale increases, especially with numerous firewall instances, the complexity grows significantly. Scalability should be improved.

I have been working with it for twenty years.

It offers good stability capabilities.

We've encountered challenges related to scalability, particularly with its performance slowing down as the volume of objects in the network grows.

While most engineers are typically responsive, there may be variations in their availability and response times. I would rate its customer service and support eight out of ten.

Positive

I also work with Fortinet, and I find it preferable because it offers a wider range of options. Additionally, its integrated package functions exceptionally well, with seamless coordination between services.

The initial setup process is typically straightforward for most customers. However, when comparing Check Point with other solutions like FortiGate, there's a notable difference in how policy rules are implemented. With Check Point, you need to install the entire policy each time you want to make changes, whereas FortiGate allows for more streamlined updates by simply accepting the modifications. This can sometimes add complexity to installing a new policy with Check Point.

The deployment time varies depending on the scale of the project. For small cases, it may only take a couple of minutes, while larger-scale deployments can span up to a month. Having a skilled engineer is crucial; one proficient engineer can handle the job effectively. Maintenance is relatively straightforward.

While it may be slightly more expensive, when compared with competition it is reasonable. Licenses are renewed annually.

Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

Our customer has been the best in stock trading; they observed that in peak hours or business hours buying and selling the stocks was time-consuming.

When they reached out to the firewall team, we checked the disk space, memory, and HDD we didn't notice much difference.

However, we monitored the interface utilization, and 1 GB was choking up and being consumed. The cpstat status on the interface level monitor and bundling the multiple interfaces fixed the issue.

We have been fixing the performance and also found that the solution offers:
1. A user-friendly dashboard with all the information available in front view and we view according to our requirements in graphical, statistically, etc.
2. Check Point firewall can combine all locations in one Check Point management console so that we can monitor everything with alert configuration.
3. We have multiple options for SIC resetting.
4. We can monitor the complete organization (for RAM, Memory, Disk, and CPU) and alert handle monitoring. We can now easily handle failovers.

The Check Point firewall features for Next Generation Firewalls are excellent. Through scripts, we can easily push firewall rules, extract, and import as per availability. Scripting is the best way to support the firewall functionality and it's been supported by all major versions. We can monitor all types of logs (traffic logs, management logs, and active logs). 

The firewall is EDR-supported; we can block or allow the URLs as per phishing or detection. 

Firewall flow and logs analysis is awesome.  

Bug Fixes and enhancement requests should be remediated earlier, as we have multiple dependencies and auditors are forced to have the latest possible environments.

Check Point's major version should have an extended time than the default time mentioned in the end-of-life policy document with additional prices.

As for deployment, we follow best practices for long-term support services. Tools must be introduced and supportive in analyzing the data, flow, and threats. We have to introduce the scripting part to work seamlessly.

I've been using the solution for more than ten years.

The stability offers high performance.

The scalability offers high performance.

The support is the best in the marketplace.

Positive

We did not use a different solution. It's the best in the marketplace and stronger than any other firewall. We can trust it 100%.

The initial setup was complex.

We handled the setup in-house.

Definitely, every sector [banks, finance, corporate, etc] should have a Check Point Firewall for strengthening/securing the environment.

We did not evaluate other options.

Check Point NGFW is a critical component of our security infrastructure. It provides comprehensive next-generation firewall (NGFW) security for our perimeter and DMZs, protecting us from a wide range of cyber threats, including malware, viruses, ransomware, phishing attacks, and zero-day threats.

Check Point NGFW uses a variety of advanced technologies to protect our network, including intrusion prevention, application control, and threat intelligence. It is also able to detect and block sophisticated cyberattacks that traditional firewalls cannot.

Check Point NGFW has helped us to significantly reduce our risk of cyberattacks by providing comprehensive protection against a wide range of threats, including malware, viruses, ransomware, phishing attacks, and zero-day threats. 

It has also improved our network performance and reliability by optimizing traffic flow and reducing latency. 

We are confident that Check Point NGFW will continue to protect our network from the latest cyber threats due to its advanced security features and its team of experts who are constantly monitoring and updating the product.

As a security professional with over ten years of experience, I've seen firsthand the devastating impact that cyberattacks can have on organizations of all sizes. That's why I'm so passionate about using the best possible security solutions to protect my clients.

One of my favorite security solutions is Check Point NGFW. It provides comprehensive protection against a wide range of cyber threats, including malware, viruses, ransomware, phishing attacks, and zero-day threats. It is also designed to deliver high performance even in the most demanding environments, and it can be scaled to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes.

I've also found Check Point NGFW to be very easy to use and manage, even for users with limited IT expertise. This is important to me because I want to make sure that my clients can focus on their business without having to worry about complex security solutions.

Overall, I highly recommend Check Point NGFW to any organization that is looking for a comprehensive and effective security solution.

There are a few areas where Check Point NGFW could be improved. First, it can be expensive, especially for small businesses. Second, it can be complex to configure and manage, especially for users with limited IT expertise. Finally, its licensing model can be complex and confusing.

Despite these areas for improvement, I still highly recommend Check Point NGFW to any organization that is looking for a comprehensive and effective security solution. I am confident that Check Point will continue to improve its products in the future, and I am excited to see what new features and capabilities they come up with next.  

One thing I would like to see in the next release is an AI-powered threat detection and prevention system that can automatically identify and block new and emerging threats.

We've been a Check Point customer for over 21 years, and we've always felt that they are a trusted partner in our cybersecurity efforts.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the stability of Check Point NGFW. It's a powerful security solution that can meet the needs of organizations of all sizes.

One of the things that I appreciate most about Check Point NGFW is its flexibility. It can be deployed in a variety of ways, including physical appliances, virtual machines, and cloud-based instances. This makes it easy to scale your security infrastructure up or down as needed.

I've always been impressed with the responsiveness and expertise of Checkpoint's customer service and support team.

Positive

We have never used a different solution. We have been using Check Point NGFW since we first launched our network 21 years ago, and we have been very satisfied with its performance and reliability.

The complexity of the initial setup of Check Point NGFW depends on the size and complexity of your network, as well as the features and capabilities that you need.  

If you have a large enterprise with a complex network or need to configure all of the features and capabilities of Check Point NGFW, I would highly recommend that you engage Check Point Professional Services to help you with the setup process.

We have always used Check Point Professional Services to assist with our implementation.  They are very knowledgeable and can save you a lot of time and frustration.

To maximize the ROI of Check Point NGFW, it is important to choose the right deployment model, use Check Point's security services, and keep the software up to date.

There are a few areas where Check Point NGFW could be improved. First, it can be expensive, especially for small businesses. Second, it can be complex to configure and manage, especially for users with limited IT expertise. Finally, its licensing model can be complex and confusing.

Despite these areas for improvement, I still highly recommend Check Point NGFW to any organization that is looking for a comprehensive and effective security solution. I am confident that Check Point will continue to improve its products in the future, and I am excited to see what new features and capabilities they come up with next.

We evaluated Cisco ASA Firewall before choosing Check Point NGFW.

A few months ago, one of my clients was targeted by a sophisticated ransomware attack. Check Point NGFW was able to detect and block the attack before it could cause any damage. My client was very grateful for Check Point NGFW's protection, and I was relieved that I was able to help them avoid a costly and disruptive attack.

The customer's use case involves employing it to safeguard their internal applications from external threats. They utilize various gateway features, including user identity-based policy, anti-spam, antivirus, IPS, anti-BOT, and other security measures, effectively creating a robust defense against a wide range of potential risks.

The primary focus is on safeguarding the customer's internal applications, especially for traders. When it comes to security, the main advantage lies in risk mitigation, akin to insurance.

The most valuable feature is its unique inspection model, which was initially a basic firewall inspection. Over time, they've developed and refined this model to cater specifically to trade-related intelligence. It is now a crucial and central component of their security infrastructure.

From an administrative perspective regarding Check Point NGFW, there are two key suggestions to improve efficiency. Firstly, administrators should be able to create a unified policy which means that when administrators set up policies in Check Point, they should have the flexibility to configure different security profiles and other security parameters all within the same access policy, simplifying the process. Secondly, the upgrade process for Check Point Firewalls currently involves extended downtime as it often requires a fresh installation. This downtime can last up to around sixty minutes, causing disruptions to business operations. To enhance the user experience, Check Point should consider adopting an incremental upgrade approach, similar to competitors like Palo Alto or Fortinet, as it would help minimize downtime and streamline the upgrade process, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

I have been working with it for about ten years.

It provides good stability features. I would rate it six out of ten.

Scalability is achievable in the cloud environment. By following the appropriate processes, you can configure automated scanning and other necessary functions to ensure it.

From a technical support perspective, there is room for improvement in Check Point's services. They have increasingly outsourced a significant portion of their support, primarily to third parties. This outsourcing has raised concerns, as it often results in longer resolution times and troubleshooting processes. In my experience, working with Level 3 engineers is more satisfactory and efficient, whereas Level 1 and Level 2 support can sometimes fall short of expectations and extend the time required to address issues.

Neutral

When comparing Check Point to Fortinet and Palo Alto solutions, there are several advantages and disadvantages to consider. One key advantage of Check Point is its robust logging capabilities. Administrators can access detailed traffic flow information, providing valuable insights into network activity. Another strength is the trust associated with Check Point. They pioneered the concept of "stateful firewall," which has established a strong foundation for trust in their security solutions and is built on their extensive experience and history in the field.

The initial setup is a medium-level complexity task.

When deploying on AWS cloud, I typically opt for CloudFormation templates to facilitate the setup of Check Point. This approach offers the advantages of infrastructure as code. When it comes to on-premises deployments, the process is manual and involves tasks such as physical cable connections, configuring interfaces, setting up routes, and defining network policies. For a typical mid-sized project, a single person is usually sufficient for the cloud deployment, taking no more than two hours if the implementation plan is well-defined and the design is in place.

The cost can vary depending on the specific model and feature set requirements, as well as the unique value it offers to the organization. The price may be perceived as relatively high when compared to the features and capabilities they provide.

My advice for anyone considering it would be to begin by thoroughly understanding their specific needs and requirements. It's crucial to assess budget constraints and security priorities. If an organization has a sufficient budget and prioritizes a robust security posture, I would recommend considering Fortinet. They often provide a more comprehensive security exposure when compared to Check Point. For organizations with legacy systems or a strong preference for Check Point's Endpoint solutions, my advice is to segregate the management and gateway components. Avoid running both on the same platform to prevent complexity and potential issues. Separating these functions can lead to a smoother and more efficient operation. Overall, I would rate it six out of ten.

Check Point Next Generation Firewall is one of the most secure and stable firewalls present in the market. the integration & implementation of Check Point Next Generation firewall took place due to security concerns, and we were impressed by what this product brings with it.

The integration of Check Point Next Generation Firewall in my organization has taken over one year or so, and it helps to segregate the internal network and build a secure VLAN that separates every department.

Scalability, end-to-end resolution, and customized productive services make Check Point Next Generation Firewall far better than the alternatives present in the market. It has services like navigation, control, and filtering that ensure that all users stay connected to business applications and helps restrict traffic.

The integration of Check Point Next Generation Firewall proved to be highly productive and scalable, and everything was offered at a lower price.

Check Point Next Generation Firewall helped out us drive innovation and growth in our organization. It provided a safe passage for system and data security via its services of navigation, control, and filtering. The product ensures that all users stay connected to business applications and helps restrict traffic.

Overall, the Check Point Next Generation Firewall protects us from all types of internal and external threats while being easy to use and set up.

The integration of the Check Point Next Generation Firewall in my organization has taken over one year. It helps to segregate the internal network and build a secure VLAN that separates every department.

We like the scalability, end-to-end resolution, and customized productive services. This makes Check Point Next Generation Firewall far better than any alternative present in the market.

It offers services like navigation, control, and filtering, which ensure that all users stay connected to business applications.

Check Point Next Generation Firewall Protects systems from all types of internal and external threats.

Check Point Next Generation Firewall requires frequent updates. They need to build a more user-friendly dashboard and have the implementation of more active VPN support.

Apart from this, Check Point Next Generation Firewall customer support service needs to be improved. They need to offer quicker resolution and maintenance during downtime.

Check Point Next Generation Firewall Protects from all types of internal and external attacks and is a must-have software for professionals and organizations.

It has been more than one year since I integrated Check Point NGFW.

I haven't been in integration with any other solution.

We decided on this solution after looking at reviews and comparing prices. Check Point proved to be the best option in the end. 

I would advise others to go for it. It's easy to set up and available at lower pricing than alternatives.

No, we did not evaluate other options. We just compared other alternatives from some review websites and decided to go for Check Point.

It's a must-integrate solution for professionals and organizations.

We use Check Point for the firewall in DMZ and surrounding zones and another product we have. We use a variety of series from 2000, 4000, and 6000 gateways, and also we use Smart-1 and Maestro solutions. 

We apply some features (IPS - Intrusion Prevention System, application control, reporting, antivirus, and anti-spam) using Smart-1 to make day-to-day operation more simple and easy using one management for all gateways. The remote console, such as SSH, is a little complicated, however, you can use it for troubleshooting.

It's improved our organization with simple day-to-day operations with easy tracking of traffic for troubleshooting, with a variety of features. The latest benefit for our company is to save more space for our rack with Maestro and virtualization. 

Some problems may appear and we can open TAC to get assistance from the principal. We also can control more traffic of users to the internet using application control. Our email is more secure using anti-spam and currently, we are in the middle of activating HTTPS inspection to secure our application on the internet.

I enjoy the application control for user traffic control to the internet and the tcpdump command for troubleshooting.

When applying application control, we can ensure user access to the internet in accordance with company policy and easy implementation if some users need exception access.

There is an easy troubleshooting network connection via logs and monitoring menu. We often use this menu for checking connections and if the traffic is not in the logs menu, we can use the tcpdump command from the ssh session to the gateway. It's the fastest way to troubleshoot.

For the migration for Smart-1, I wish the security policy could allow for a migration per gateway. 

There needs to be more storage space for reporting. The storage is always full if the reporting feature is on.

We need HA for Smart-1.

The traffic trekking (logs view) needs to be more accurate. Some traffic is often not in the logs view.

We'd like to have more user friendly menu for import vpn users.

There needs to be more compatibility with SIEM.

It would be great if we could join domains with more than one Active Directory server (active-active).

There needs to be an easy menu for export backup configuration (the current menu always has an error).

The signature information needs more detail. We need to know current update versions and on running versions.

I have been using Check Point since 2010 (12 years).

We already are using a variety of brands.

Sometimes you need to repeatedly upgrade the version or update the patch.

The help we received was good.

The cost is pricey. 

We did not evaluate other solutions first.