We use the solution in a data center for security.
Senior Manager - ICT Technical at CNS Engineering
Excellent customer service, good reporting and user management and easy to use overall
Pros and Cons
- "When comparing this solution to others this one has better reporting, user management, and is easy to use."
- "They need to work on stability, it has not been the best in our experience."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
When comparing this solution to others this one has better reporting, user management, and is easy to use.
What needs improvement?
No firewall is perfect but they could improve on the detections of threats.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
They need to work on stability, it has not been the best in our experience.
Buyer's Guide
Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall
November 2024
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How are customer service and support?
We have been very satisfied with the customer service.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used other solutions in the past.
How was the initial setup?
The installation was not easy at first but then after a while of doing installations, it became easy.
What about the implementation team?
We do the implementation of the solutions, we have a team that does it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have found the price could be reduced. It is a little expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend this solution, we are going to continue using it.
I rate Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Senior Network Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Enhances security, facilitates file sharing, and has good SD-WAN capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is SD-WAN."
- "Forcepoint would be improved if there were more training available."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary uses for Forcepoint are internet access, filtering, and intruder detection. We also use it for file sharing.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is SD-WAN.
What needs improvement?
There is no support available in Fiji, and it would make it easier to have local support and somebody that we can speak with.
The pricing for this solution should be more competitive.
Forcepoint would be improved if there were more training available.
The vendor should make loaner units available for test and evaluation in test environments.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for three to four months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
With the SD-WAN capabilities, it is very scalable. We have about 6,000 users.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were previously using a combination of Fortinet and Cisco, but have now upgraded entirely to Forcepoint. Fortinet did not have the same package available as Forcepoint that includes end-point security.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is really easy. It is user-friendly and straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We had assistance from consultants when we deployed Forcepoint.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Forcepoint is very expensive but it's really secure.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to anybody who is researching this solution is to consider the company's budget. Forcepoint is a very expensive solution but it is also very secure. For smaller companies, I would recommend Fortinet and Cisco, but if you have the money then you can look at Forcepoint.
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Buyer's Guide
Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,636 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior IT Operations Manager at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Characterization features captures a lot of threats and they have great support
Pros and Cons
- "The support is great. They also have very good categorization. It's very good. It captures a lot of threats."
What is our primary use case?
We just use this firewall for security in terms of network access.
What is most valuable?
The support is great. They also have very good categorization. It's very good. It captures a lot of threats.
What needs improvement?
The first point to improve is just a matter of updates. We are moving to the cloud, so we want to use virtual licenses on the cloud. We need to move from on-premises to the cloud.
We would love to take another solution from Forcepoint, but unfortunately, the price is too high. That's why we are not considering using Forcepoing for our proxy and DLB. They have a very good DLB, but the matter, in the end, is the cost.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for over five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is very stable, especially the front end.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Yes, this solution is scalable.
What other advice do I have?
I recommended Forcepoint to be implemented.
I would rate this solution as nine out of ten. It would be a full ten if it had integration with endpoints.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Security Specialist at a energy/utilities company with 51-200 employees
Centralized security management eases configuration to help prevent attacks
Pros and Cons
- "The central security management center and the content management center are very good."
- "This solution would be improved with the inclusion of custom reporting."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for this solution is as a perimeter between our internal and external networks. It is a critical security firewall.
We have an on-premises deployment.
What is most valuable?
The Security management console is fantastic.
The central security management center and the content management center are very good.
What needs improvement?
This solution would be improved with the inclusion of custom reporting. The pre-prepared reports are ok, but sometimes, perhaps once a month, I would like to create some custom reports.
In the next release of this solution, I would like to have an application proxy. In our previous solution, Sidewinder, we had this capability. For example, if you want to allow SSH traffic then you can set or restrict some features of this protocol, and you can look into the traffic using SSH Insight. Some examples of applications that I would like to see are Oracle and RDP.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution since 2015.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of this solution is absolutely fantastic. There have been no problems since we implemented this solution in 2015. It acts as the edge between our internal and external networks, and we see many attacks from the outside. They have all been blocked. There is no problem with this solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is fantastic. We are using an active-active cluster and there is no problem with adding another node. Currently, we have a two-node cluster, but there is no problem in adding a third node.
This solution protects approximately three hundred users.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support for this solution is great. We have a support contract and we can create a ticket when required. They have solved our problems.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Prior to this solution, we used Sidewinder. That solution was discontinued and we were at the end of support for our hardware.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of this solution is not easy. It is an enterprise solution that is very complex and not easy to set up.
When we replaced our previous solution, the process took approximately two days. However, there was a period of analysis after this that took about one month. The analysis involved our current system, our network infrastructure, and our data center.
We have three administrators who maintain this solution. One of them is on-premises and two of them administer remotely. It is not possible to manage the security system using only one person because it is too complicated. It requires a team to discuss problems when they arise, including how they should be solved, or how attacks should be blocked. Cooperation on these matters is necessary.
What about the implementation team?
We involved our security partner for the implementation of this solution because it is very complex. Three people were required for the deployment, including a network specialist, our partner, and myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
This is not a very expensive solution. The big advantage of this solution is that we can select the right model for our requirements, which is not too expensive. There are many hardware models and different appliances.
We have a license for an unlimited number of users because it is necessary for our solution. If it were not unlimited then we would have a problem. This is probably dependent on the appliance model.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing this solution we evaluated Check Point.
What other advice do I have?
Forcepoint is my favorite enterprise firewall.
The security management center is the best part of this solution. It is always very simple to see the state of the firewall and to configure it to look for faults. The quality of this component is very high. Previous solutions were not very good with respect to the management center, but now, in this solution, it is very good. This is the main reason that I recommend this solution to others. This feature is absolutely necessary if you want to configure devices to prevent attacks.
I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Product Manager at a computer software company with 1-10 employees
A stable and scalable Next Generation Firewall solution
Pros and Cons
- "I like the Firewall and the IPS."
- "The network interface could be better, and it could be cheaper."
What is most valuable?
I like the Firewall and the IPS.
What needs improvement?
The network interface could be better, and it could be cheaper. It's very difficult for us to compete with Fortinet. I would like to see an Application Control feature in the next release.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Forcepoint for more than ten years. But we first worked with them for Web Security, and we worked with the Firewall for about four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Forcepoint Next-Generation Firewall is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Forcepoint Next-Generation Firewall is a scalable solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It could be cheaper like Fortinet.
What other advice do I have?
I would tell potential users that it's difficult for us to compete with Fortinet's firewall. Fortinet offers good performance, a good price, and is stronger.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall an eight.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: reseller
Technical Support Engineer at MCS
Offers real-time logins for traffic logs and troubleshooting is easy
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is controlling the traffic and the logging. They have real-time logins for traffic logs. Troubleshooting was very easy for me."
- "They should have a GUI on the product itself, not a separate management tool to be used on the management server or on a server to be used to manage the file. It should be all in one device. The device should be controlled through its own GUI. They also have to improve the learning center and the documents as the documents don't really help."
What is our primary use case?
I work for a distribution company. We implement around 2,300 firewalls in Egypt for schools. We use the licenses to manage all these firewalls together and push policies for the firewall. We use it for security to restrict some rules for accessing the internet for students.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is controlling the traffic and the logging. They have real-time logins for traffic logs. Troubleshooting was very easy for me.
What needs improvement?
They should have a GUI on the product itself, not a separate management tool to be used on the management server or on a server to be used to manage the file. It should be all in one device. The device should be controlled through its own GUI. They also have to improve the learning center and the documents as the documents don't really help.
In the next release, they should improve the documentation.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Forcepoint for around one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The firewall is stable. We haven't had any stability issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support can be better. The support themselves are skilled but when you call for support you have to wait for a long time to get a response. They should improve their call center.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. It is done on the firewall itself.
What other advice do I have?
I recommended this solution mostly for large enterprises, a project that needs more than 100 firewalls to be managed. They have a very good management tool as security management centers.
I would rate it an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
A stable solution that has improved a lot
Pros and Cons
- "It is a stable solution, and there are no issues so far."
- "Its management center should be easier to use. The management interface of Forcepoint is unique and a little bit different from some of the firewall solutions on which people might have worked before. Sometimes, the customers say that it is not very friendly, and we help them with how to use this management interface. It just takes a little bit of time, and after some time, it gets easy to manage or use. It is quite similar to Palo Alto, Fortinet, and legacy Juniper solutions. Their support should be faster. We have received complaints that they are not responding fast, which is not good for the vendor and us."
What is our primary use case?
We are a platinum partner of Forcepoint. We work on most of the Forcepoint portfolio, such as web security, event security, and DLP at the endpoint level as well as at the laptop level.
This solution can be used for different use cases. You can deploy it as an IPS near the data center zone. You can also put it in-line, which is recommended most of the time not only for Forcepoint but also for many other next-generation firewall vendors. Otherwise, you need to deploy it as a normal next-generation firewall and enable some specific IPS policies on the firewall itself. One of our customers needed encryption between remote sites.
We have a professional services team that handles the implementation of these solutions. We install the latest version of this solution. Most of the customers ask for an on-premises deployment. There are some customers who ask for a private cloud deployment.
What is most valuable?
It is a stable solution, and there are no issues so far.
What needs improvement?
Its management center should be easier to use. The management interface of Forcepoint is unique and a little bit different from some of the firewall solutions on which people might have worked before. Sometimes, the customers say that it is not very friendly, and we help them with how to use this management interface. It just takes a little bit of time, and after some time, it gets easy to manage or use. It is quite similar to Palo Alto, Fortinet, and legacy Juniper solutions.
Their support should be faster. We have received complaints that they are not responding fast, which is not good for the vendor and us.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with this solution for almost five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have around 50 users of this solution in our company.
How are customer service and technical support?
Their technical support is not bad, but it is also not good at the same time. It should be faster, especially for the RMA. We understand the situation related to the pandemic, but their response wasn't good even prior to that. I believe it is something related to logistics.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is of medium complexity. It is neither straightforward nor complex. If you want to implement a new firewall, you need to connect it to something called SMC or security management center, which is the main thing. It is the brain of the firewall, and without that, you cannot manage the firewalls. There are certain steps that need to be done on the SMC to do the configuration of the firewall.
What about the implementation team?
We are not a big company. We have two post-sales people who provide professional service. We have two to three pre-sales people as well as technicians.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution in general. We have collected a lot of feedback from customers related to the management, which we will forward to Forcepoint, and then after some time, they will take action on that.
They have improved a lot since they were acquired from McAfee. Earlier, if you wanted to access SMC, you needed remote desktop access to the server or you had to install a small software from the SMC as a client to control the firewall. Customers used to ask us about why they cannot access the firewall management by UI or browser when most of the other firewalls already have such access. We received a lot of such feedback from customers, and when we escalated this to Forcepoint, they took a serious note of it. After some time, they released that option. You can now access the management center through UI, which is a good improvement.
I would rate Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Network Engineer at Pyramid IT Solutions Pvt Ltd
Highly secure, scalable, but support could improve
Pros and Cons
- "I have found that Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is easy to use, highly secure, and the main VPN tunnel is created automatically which is a benefit."
- "The initial setup of the Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall has areas that are difficult."
What is our primary use case?
Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is mainly used for obligation redundancy, such as for latency distal and packet loss.
What is most valuable?
I have found that Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is easy to use, highly secure, and the main VPN tunnel is created automatically which is a benefit.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The salability of Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is great.
We have three clients that are using this solution.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is not good, their response is not quick, We have had to wait a while.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall has areas that are difficult.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is a license required to use this solution and we can purchase it for one, two, three, or five years.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise others to check compatibility before implementing this solution.
I rate Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: November 2024
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
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