We manage all the network services, like DHCP, of each branch office.
Data Professional at a construction company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Is versatile and easy to install, and integrates well with other solutions
Pros and Cons
- "We can configure rules with the user, traffic, etc., making it a very versatile solution for our network."
- "Better instructions should be provided as part of the technical support so that we can understand the functionalities. This will help us to troubleshoot faster."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
It has helped us because we have identified some of the loopholes in our assets that we did not know existed.
What is most valuable?
I like using the combination of XG firewalls and the XDR product with the end user. I also like the integration of all the solutions and the visual of all our clients and the traffic routing in to the network from inside the console. The synchronization and the integration with all the products in the central office, such as Office 365 or AWS, make it a valuable solution.
We can configure rules with the user, traffic, etc., making it a very versatile solution for our network.
What needs improvement?
Better instructions should be provided as part of the technical support so that we can understand the functionalities. This will help us to troubleshoot faster.
Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
October 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using Sophos XG for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Sophos XG is a scalable solution. We have about 1,000 users.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is good, in general.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Fortinet, and we changed the solution because there were additional costs for reporting, licensing, and centralization. If we compare Fortinet to Sophos XG, the XG firewall costs less and performs better. That's one of the reasons that we moved to XG.
The other and the most important reason is the integration with our security solution, Sophos XDR.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very easy. It's much easier than that for other products.
Deployment and maintenance can be done by one or two people. I am a specialist, and an engineer and I worked on the deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
The provider of the solution implemented it, and it took about a day.
What was our ROI?
We have seen an improvement in security not only in terms of technology but also in terms of internal practices in our company.
We predicted that it would take three years to obtain an ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We bought the three-year license, and there are no additional costs.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Check Point, Barracuda, and Palo Alto.
What other advice do I have?
It's a good product, and you should go ahead with it.
I would rate Sophos XG at nine on a scale from one to ten.
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.
Co-Founder at Multitechservers
A reliable product that provides remote VPN capability and multifactor authentication
Pros and Cons
- "The multifactor authentication is helpful because whenever the user wants to connect to the firewall, they have to use the authenticator before they can access it."
- "Technical support can be slow to respond, which is something that should be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Sophos XG for remote two-factor authentication. We manage the web and application access, as well as the traffic. We also used it for remote, site-to-site VPNs.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the remote VPN.
The multifactor authentication is helpful because whenever the user wants to connect to the firewall, they have to use the authenticator before they can access it.
The LAN traffic management features such as implicit denial are very good.
What needs improvement?
Technical support can be slow to respond, which is something that should be improved.
In the future, I would like to see the addition of artificial intelligence for identifying and controlling traffic.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Sophos XG for the past year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a reliable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This product is scalable. We have approximately 400 users, spread across different departments. As our production increases and we onboard more users, we will extend the use of Sophos XG.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support team is good but sometimes, there is a large delay in answering the phones.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We had assistance from the vendor during the onboarding process when the system was being set up. They spotted a lot of things during the implementation, which helped.
What was our ROI?
We get a return on this investment because the inbuilt two-factor authentication means that we don't need to purchase a third-party tool for this security feature.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is good and licensing fees are billed on a yearly basis.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Cisco Firepower but we found that Sophos XG was more efficient in terms of cost. As such, we implemented XG.
What other advice do I have?
This is a product that I can recommend for organizations with a medium-level or large-level infrastructure.
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: Implementer
Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
October 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: October 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Programmer / Analyst at Maridive & Oil Services
A firewall solution with many good features
Pros and Cons
- "I like the web filter, application filter, and VBA."
- "Their updates can be faster and more regular."
What is most valuable?
I like the web filter, application filter, and VBA. There are so many good features. The most powerful thing is clearly the software. I can easily do whatever I want.
What needs improvement?
Their updates can be faster and more regular. Right now, it's updated monthly. When I need to update the firmware, I want it done within weeks, not months. There are also some changes in version 18, like rules, that aren't needed.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Sophos XG is a very powerful and stable solution. It's more stable than Cyberoam.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Sophos XG is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is good and easy to deal with. If I have a problem, I open the ticket, and I call, and the problem's solved automatically by them.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Cyberoam ten years ago and then transferred to Sophos. We switched because it was the latest technology.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very easy because you can follow the manuals, follow your past experiences, and so on. We also need about three to six people a day to maintain this solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
At first, I thought the price was very high. But when I read about the machine's features, we decided to go with it. Now I think the price is reasonable.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale from one to ten, I would give Sophos XG a nine.
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.
Information Technology Security Officer at South African National Accreditation System (sanas)
Quick to install and configure with proactive support, but updates often cause problems
Pros and Cons
- "Definitely, its usability is very good, and it's a very robust firewall."
- "I think that the main area for improvement is the quality assurance of the updates."
What is our primary use case?
This product serves as our current firewall solution, which is a network protection gateway.
What is most valuable?
This is a very simple solution.
It integrates well with Sophos Endpoint Protection, and we use the two of them to form a holistic security perimeter control.
What needs improvement?
Software updates always come with issues. For example, I just upgraded to the next version, 80.5, and it came with VPN issues. It started dropping my VPN users. So, I had to roll back to before the software update. I think that the main area for improvement is the quality assurance of the updates.
The management console is a little bit rigid.
Scalability can be improved.
I think that it performs a little bit slow when it comes to connectivity, and having the speed increased would be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Sophos XG for the past four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a very stable platform. In the four years that we have had it, it's never gone down.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is not a very scalable product. I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten because where you order it, it comes with prefixed ports. You will only have perhaps two for the WAN, and then maybe four LAN ports, and one console. In this regard, it's not scalable.
When you buy it, you can't change the port configuration. In order to get more ports, you may have to upgrade to a bigger firewall.
We have about 130 accounts for approximately 80 employees.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support for Sophos is very good and they have a big presence in South Africa. It uses something called Sophos Central, where support can fix the problem before you, as the user, actually finds it.
How was the initial setup?
It is a very simple and very quick initial setup and configuration. Because it is a next-generation firewall, it does most of the rule development in the background. You just need to set up the basics and start it up.
What was our ROI?
For what you are buying, it's good value for the money.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Sophos is very good when it comes to pricing. A firewall has a lot of things to look for when you're buying it, including throughput and its features. When we purchased this product, Sophos was the best on the market.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
In addition to Sophos, we looked at FortiGate, SonicWall, and Cisco. We were looking for a next-generation firewall, and Cisco was out of range because it was too expensive. We settled on Sophos because we already had the endpoint solution in our environment, and the price was very good as well.
What other advice do I have?
Sophos XG is a firewall that I recommend because it's a very simple firewall. It's not complicated, and a LAN expert can just start using it and learn very quickly. Definitely, its usability is very good, and it's a very robust firewall.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
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.
Network Team Lead at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees
It is user friendly and reliable, but it needs granular control over the traffic
Pros and Cons
- "It is very user friendly and easy to manage from the administrative point of view. It is good, reliable, and easy to implement."
- "It is a very basic and entry-level firewall. It doesn't give very granular control over the traffic. It should have more granular control over the traffic. This feature should be there similar to Palo Alto and Cisco. It should have such advanced features."
What is most valuable?
It is very user friendly and easy to manage from the administrative point of view. It is good, reliable, and easy to implement.
What needs improvement?
It is a very basic and entry-level firewall. It doesn't give very granular control over the traffic. It should have more granular control over the traffic. This feature should be there similar to Palo Alto and Cisco. It should have such advanced features.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for the last two years. We are using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Its stability and reliability are fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
If you want to have multiple firewall rules, it has this type of scalability. When I compare it with some other products, such as Palo Alto, I can't find similar scalability in Sophos XG. In Palo Alto, we can have rules based on applications or app IDs, and we can create multiple rules for a single ID. We can create a single user or single IP, but such options are not there in Sophos XG. Granular level scalability should be there in Sophos, and they should do better.
How are customer service and technical support?
I appreciate their support. Their support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use Palo Alto. Palo Alto provides application IDs, which is a very powerful feature. Sophos XG is a very normal next-generation firewall with URL filtering, application filtering, and all such features. It is not something extraordinary. It is a very normal next-generation firewall.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. It is a single day task to do the initial configuration and move the traffic over there. The firewall hardening, of course, will take some time depending upon the traffic, but the initial setup is a single day task.
What other advice do I have?
It is a normal firewall. All the basic features are there. However, it is not as advanced as some of the other solutions, such as Palo Alto. As we have more security threats, we need more granular control, but these features are not available in Sophos XG.
I would rate Sophos XG a five out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Chairman at BASL
Excellent integration with the Sophos firewall and has a user-friendly interface
Pros and Cons
- "I like the fact that it can self remove malware and do updates on the cloud via Sophos Central."
- "On reports, they sometimes give a summary, but it lists different users as unknown. There are times that I really want to know which user or which IP is causing a problem."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution as my endpoint firewall and at the same time, I use it for load balancing and spillover.
What is most valuable?
What I like the most is the reporting.
The integration with the Sophos firewall is brilliant. I don't need to be physically present in the office. I can monitor everything from Sophos Central. That is a great feature and it's one thing that I really appreciate about the solution.
I like the fact that it can self remove malware and do updates on the cloud via Sophos Central.
The interface is good.
What needs improvement?
Although I enjoy the reporting elements of the solution, it can still be improved. I still can't drill down. There is some information that I would really, really like to see, but I still can't access it.
On reports, they sometimes give a summary, but it lists different users as unknown. There are times that I really want to know which user or which IP is causing a problem.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for ten months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There is something that have observed and I don't know what exactly the problem is. Right now, from my ISP I'm supposed to have unlimited bandwidth, but I observed behind the firewall my bandwidth seems low. I'm not exhausting what I have from my ISP. I've checked the TOS and there's no limit. When I spoke with one of the resellers they said that they too had experienced it before and that probably I should restart the device.
That they observed that the clients that restarted had their internet service improve. I don't think that is a good solution. I don't want to have to restart my device to have the internet service improved.
I've checked the setup. I even checked with the reseller, who told me everything is okay. I've gone for XG training. Even after the XG training, I've gone back to look at my setup. I can't see anywhere the bandwidth is being shared. I'm not sure if it's the device itself, but I've checked everything.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is okay. We have about 200-250 users.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support can be improved upon. There are times that I've had some issues that I've tried escalating in technical support and it takes a while before we really get it resolved.
Once I was getting a particular malware from an unknown source on one of my servers which was behind the firewall. I asked their support why. Later they advised that I should install Intercept X for servers on that particular device. I was confused about how it was behind a firewall; the firewall should be able to detect which system is getting infected. The system doesn't really go to the internet and nobody browses on it. The only thing I could imagine that could cause it was a Windows update. If it was from an update they least it should have been able to say, "Okay, it was from this particular update that this malware was filtered in."
Out of ten, I would give their service a five.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The solution we were using previously was Cyberoam.
The Cyberoam device was about five years old and had started malfunctioning. It wasn't giving us the output it had previously provided. At that time, Sophos had already bought Cyberoam. We had the option to either upgrade the OS to a Sophos OS or to a Sophos device.
We decided to go for a Sophos device since the Cyberoam device was already problematic.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
I used a reseller to assist with implementation.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay on a yearly basis.
We have Sophos XG, but we also have Intercept X for our endpoint and recently we just deployed Intercept X for the servers. I've not done a calculation of the costs of all three to know what my yearly maintenance costs would be.
What other advice do I have?
Once you have basic networking skills and firewall management it's easy to set up. With Sophos Central, I think it's a good solution for any IT department.
I would rate the solution eight out of ten.
As it is now, the solution is good, but I believe that there's still room for more improvement. I still believe the reporting could be improved. Sophos, from my experience, seems to affect my bandwidth. I didn't set any limit, so I don't know where that is coming from, but it's something that we've noticed with the XG.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Network and Security Engineer at Datafox OÜ
Simple implementation, useful synchronized security, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
- "The stability of Sophos XG is very good. However, there have been some issues with other weaker models because they are limited in hardware in resources."
- "Sophos XG could improve the connectivity with Microsoft 365 or Azure Active Directory(AD). It doesn't work directly as other solutions do, such as Fortinet FortiGate. The client needs a separate AD server which is a problem."
What is our primary use case?
Sophos XG can be deployed on-premise and on the cloud.
We use Sophos XG as a network firewall for many use cases, such as offices, residential, and data centers.
What needs improvement?
Sophos XG could improve the connectivity with Microsoft 365 or Azure Active Directory(AD). It doesn't work directly as other solutions do, such as Fortinet FortiGate. The client needs a separate AD server which is a problem.
There is no endpoint software for Linux systems, only the server version runs on Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for approximately fours years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of Sophos XG is very good. However, there have been some issues with other weaker models because they are limited in hardware in resources.
How are customer service and support?
We had an issue, but after speaking to the technical support, I understood it was a problem with Sophos, not a firewall problem, but with the endpoint that was related to the encryption of the disc. The problem is if you have a computer controlled by Azure at the same time as Sophos, then there may be some incompatibility problem between them because both of them are trying to control the computer and the encryption of the hard drive.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used other firewall solutions, such as Fortinet Foregate and Check Point.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Sophos XG is simple, but Cisco Meraki is easier.
Since I have used Sophos XG long time it is easier than Fortinet FortiGate or Check Point.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Sophos XG is not an expensive solution. If you are willing to pay more, then there is the Check Point firewall which is the best out of all the vendors.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise other Sophos XG is a great solution because it is synchronized security between the endpoint and firewall which is unique. I'm not sure if Fortinet FortiGate has this technology, but it is a good technology in Sophos XG. Sophos was perhaps the first to use this kind of technology. What it does is if your computer gets infected, then the endpoint tells the firewall that, it is infected and the firewall doesn't allow the use of the network at all. It'll lock it down on this computer.
I rate Sophos XG a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
CEO at Haniya Technologies
Strong in security, scalable, and good performance
Pros and Cons
- "Sophos firewalls are scalable. They are pretty strong in security. So, when they provide any kind of firewall, they provide all the features such as anti-spam, antivirus, etc."
- "Its price should be improved. Its features are pretty okay, but the price is the area where we have to fight more. They should do something about the price structure."
What is our primary use case?
Firewall is not our expertise, but we do sell it as per the requirement of the customer or if they ask for it.
Most of the firewalls are on-prem. What we deliver is the hardware. It is appliance-based.
What is most valuable?
Sophos firewalls are scalable. They are pretty strong in security. So, when they provide any kind of firewall, they provide all the features such as anti-spam, antivirus, etc.
What needs improvement?
Its price should be improved. Its features are pretty okay, but the price is the area where we have to fight more. They should do something about the price structure.
For how long have I used the solution?
It has been a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable. Its performance is very good. They have now stopped calling it a firewall. They're calling it a Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable in the sense that if they are using a small model or a small box of firewall and there is an increase in their network and the number of users, they can move that small box to a bigger model. So, if they are using a firewall and they want to scale it up, they can go to the next model.
Sophos has more than 1,000 customers.
How are customer service and technical support?
Our clients have a good system of support over here. They have full support. They get support from the distributors, from the partners, and then directly from Sophos.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We are a partner of Sophos and Fortinet. We work with Sophos much more than we work with Fortinet.
How was the initial setup?
If it is a small model and a small network, it takes about two days. You need at least two people for its deployment and maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Its price should be better. Initially, the clients have to pay for the appliance. Then, they have to pay for the software that is installed on the appliance. Depending on whether they have a one-year, two-year, or three-year license, they just have to renew the license of the software after it expires. They don't have to renew the appliance license. So, they have to pay for the appliance only once, and after that, they just renew the software license. That's all.
What other advice do I have?
I would definitely recommend Sophos to others. I would rate it a nine out of 10.
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
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Updated: October 2024
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Sophos XG Firewall is one of the best firewalls we have used till date. 2FA, Remote VPN also a number of features it has.