Netgate pfSense and Sophos XG compete in the network security category. Sophos XG seems to have the upper hand due to its advanced features and robust AI-based functionalities.
Features: Netgate pfSense users value its extensive firewall capabilities, open-source flexibility, and strong VPN support. Sophos XG is praised for its innovative synchronized security, AI-driven threat intelligence, and comprehensive web filtering.
Room for Improvement: Netgate pfSense users highlight the need for a more intuitive configuration process and better integration with third-party tools. Sophos XG users suggest improvements in reporting capabilities and a reduction in false positives.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Netgate pfSense is noted for its straightforward deployment, but users mention that initial setup can be challenging without prior experience. Customer service is generally well-received but with some requests for faster response times. Sophos XG users find the deployment process smooth and appreciate the comprehensive documentation and training resources. Sophos XG also tends to receive higher marks for customer service quality.
Pricing and ROI: Netgate pfSense is considered highly cost-effective with a favorable ROI, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. Sophos XG, while more expensive, is seen as worth the investment due to its extensive feature set and long-term security benefits. The pricing model of Netgate pfSense is attractive for cost-conscious buyers, whereas Sophos XG’s comprehensive features offer significant value justifying its higher price.
The response time for a critical priority one issue was over four hours and they only responded because we threatened legal action for them violating our support contract.
They say they will respond in 24 hours, but I have received responses in a maximum of one hour, which is impressive.
The technical support from Fortinet FortiGate is 24 hours a day seven days a week, and 365 days a year.
When I provide detailed information about the problem, they've been able to reply quickly with a solution or go research the problem and get back to us quickly with a fix.
They are highly responsive.
I couldn't imagine having better support.
Sophos provides online documentation which is very user friendly.
We are also trying to keep up on how the hackers work because we are working with different associations of security worldwide.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Sophos support a ten.
FortiWAN supports OSPF but does not support the BGP protocol.
Fortinet VPN and DDoS capabilities are great, yet we need to provide a solution that enables CASB and integration to the cloud.
The relationship between their accounts team and my leadership team seems to be the reason for phasing out FortiGate.
If the WLAN functions work properly, pfSense makes a perfect 'repeater' or controlled and robust accessed point with built-in QoS and firewall.
They need to make it easier to understand and give users the ability to customize them.
There is some trade-off between having a certain level of security and maintaining acceptable performance.
If they could incorporate some user profiling and present the analytics of the login user usage patterns, or a typical proper management dashboard to take a decision on the firewall rules, that would be useful.
I'm also using Sophos XG firewall as our wireless controller, but as it is now, I can't see my access points on the firewall.
They should improve the hardware. If they can do that, it would be a very good product.
The devices will usually fail way before reaching the capacity advertised in the data sheets, especially when you activate several of the features the device can handle.
The solution is working and it is still stable even across all of these devices and servers.
We have over 10,000 users behind it.
It will run on anything and maintain its high performance.
If I put things into a certain context and say that we have a network that has around 100 people, then you don't put up a device that can manage 100 people. Instead, you need to get a device that can manage 150 to 200 people, and then you can create room for growth.
I don't think Netgate pfSense can offer much scalability for big enterprises.
You've got to define the criteria in terms of what you're trying to protect, the number of users, the bandwidth that is going through it, the speed, etc.
For scalability when it comes to the server, I can add the RAM, the hard disc, and the CPU to boost up the performance.
You can scale up to multiple firewalls with centralized management.
The cost of the original deployment fell below £5,000, and licenses are priced at around £3,000.
Every time you upgrade your license, you also get insurance for the equipment.
Overall, FortiGate is affordable.
Maybe not more than 200 Euros per machine.
It's absolutely free, no pricing and no licensing.
pfSense is free and open source software.
It's approximately $6,000 for each device.
The specs and technical side of Sophos XG are close to Check Point, and the price is lower.
Check Point is a really expensive product.
All of these issues were resolved in v5.2.
Stability has dramatically improved over the previous main version branch of FortiOS; 5.2.x and 5.4.x are stable enough for critical environments.
Overall, the devices have been very stable.
It doesn't crash or freeze.
I've had no issues with stability whatsoever.
It doesn't crash or freeze.
Sophos' support is very good to correct quickly, ASAP.
There isn't crashing or freezing.
It may be possible to implement a second device in a fail-over cluster and this would avoid such a problem as then if one device fails in the updating process, the other device could take over.
The two most valuable features are VPN and firewalling.
WiFi network for visitors isolated from our corporate WiFi network using only one unit
Allows for firewall rules to be programmed and named in a way that makes it 'readable'
Strong community support
Firewall
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Anti-malware: Sophos XG comes with two anti-malware engines: its own and Avira, making the UTM more effective at catching malicious code.
If my file is getting infected, I get to know from a single pane point of view.
The user interface is very user-friendly, so it's very easy for the administrator to make any policy changes.
Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.
Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?
What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?
Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.
Netgate pfSense is widely leveraged by organizations for its comprehensive capabilities in firewalls, VPN servers, and bandwidth management. It suits LAN, WAN, and DMZ networks, offering secure, scalable, and efficient networking solutions.
Netgate pfSense stands out in diverse environments with its enterprise-grade features and cost-effective operations compared to competitors like Cisco. Deployed as an edge device, it optimizes routing, ad-blocking, content filtering, and traffic shaping. Users benefit from its versatile configurations, robust firewall protection, VPN functionality, and ISP load balancing. The open-source nature allows for extensive customization, integrating plugins like Snort and pfBlockerNG, and compatibility with third-party tools enhances its utility. The intuitive GUI combined with detailed logging and centralized management fortifies network security.
What features define Netgate pfSense?
What benefits should be considered for ROI?
Organizations in industries such as finance, healthcare, and education find Netgate pfSense integral due to its advanced security features and cost benefits. Its scalable architecture and strong VPN support are crucial for industries requiring stringent data protection and reliable remote access. The adaptability of pfSense makes it suitable for dynamic environments seeking comprehensive, secure networking solutions.
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.
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?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.
We monitor all Firewalls reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.
