Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
Chief Operational Officer at Merchant Light LLC
Reseller
Easy to set up, keeps extensive logs, and scans all traffic for malware
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is that it scans all of the data for any kind of malware."
  • "It would be helpful if they had a set of standard templates because it would assist in the beginning, when you are just getting started."

What is our primary use case?

We are going to be hosting our own website and we are using the Sophos XG because we want to make sure that it is well protected. We also want to make sure that the rest of our LAN is not compromised.

In addition to using this firewall ourselves, we resell the product to our customers. We have a well-trained team that can perform the implementation and deployment.

How has it helped my organization?

Our network is now much better protected than it was. If you don't have your network and your infrastructure secured, as a business, which is about more than just putting a firewall in place, then you're asking for trouble. There is a lot of hunting going on, and it's not just the large corporations. It's the small businesses, too.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is that it scans all of the data for any kind of malware.

It logs everything that goes in or out, and the logs are helpful.

The simplicity of the setup is very good. I can add whatever ports I need and it's pretty easy to set up.

What needs improvement?

It would be helpful if they had a set of standard templates because it would assist in the beginning, when you are just getting started. They do have a template, but I mean specifically for different use cases. For example, an existing template for setting up a web page would suggest what kind of security we need to have in place. They do have help menus and videos, but additional templates would be useful.

Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Sophos XG for about eight months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability has been rock solid and it hasn't gone down once.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

For me, there is essentially no limit when it comes to scaling. I have never used all of the connections but the limitation is between 50,000 and 200,000. I would say that scalability is enormous. If we had a bigger network then I would probably get a bigger Sophos.

At this point, we're just starting and only have three or four people who are regularly using it.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is awesome.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We did have a Cisco router prior to using Sophos XG, but I don't know much about Cisco or how to get it operational. I also realized that it was getting old, so we switched to a high-end Sophos model. With malware in this day and age, where we have a 6000% increase in the number of malware attacks compared to two years ago, we wanted to be well protected.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. If I can do it then anyone can do it. The deployment took a couple of hours. Because we are new to this type of solution, our strategy will be to begin by blacklisting everything and then whitelisting only the things that we need.

What about the implementation team?

Our in-house team handled the implementation and deployment. We have more than 200 people that are very well trained, so we can set up pretty much anything. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We paid for our licensing for three years, upfront, and there are no costs in addition to the standard fees.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated several options and sought out advice before selecting Sophos XG.

What other advice do I have?

I am happy with this solution, which is one of the reasons that we are selling it. I don't like to sell or recommend things that I have not used. I have tried a lot of the features but I would say that there is a lot more potential I haven't even tested at this point.

I would rate this solution 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: Reseller
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Architect of solutions at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
User-friendly security with quality disk encryption but lacks on-premise deployment options and firewall rules could use improvement.
Pros and Cons
  • "Sophos offers great disk encryption, anti protection, and the interface is very user-friendly."
  • "I would like to next release to be able to support on-premise deployment. The construction of the rules within the firewall could also use some improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution to secure the computers within our environment.

What is most valuable?

Sophos offers great disk encryption, anti protection, and the interface is very user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

I would like to next release to be able to support on-premise deployment. The construction of the rules within the firewall could also use some improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Sophos XG for about two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable solution, I have not had any issues in regards to stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a scalable solution. We have about two hundred users in our company.

How are customer service and support?

I have not needed to contact support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were using ESET prior to switching to Sophos. ESET was a very simple solution that was unable to detect malware or ransomware. We had an attack and needed to switch to a solution that supported ransomware.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was very straightforward and took about one week to complete.

What about the implementation team?

We used an integrator to compete the deployment. We have a contract with them so we do not need any in-house team members for maintenance. 

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution as it offers good protection.

I would rate the solution a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1223154 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Architect at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Real User
Lacking security, poor search tool, but stable
Pros and Cons
  • "The performance of Sophos XG is generally good and it is stable."
  • "The security of Sophos XG could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

 Sophos XG is a firewall and we use it to create networking rules.

What needs improvement?

The security of Sophos XG could be improved.

Sophos wants to move all things to the cloud, including access to the end-user PCs and data from the cloud. What will be easier to hack for a customer with an outdated firewall, or the Sophos cloud could get hacked which has all the access and information from customers. With my experience, it's not a question of if they will hack it, but a question of when they will do it. I'm not happy with the direction Sophos is going on.

We have problems with the use of the user interface. You have a poor search engine for objects via which you can write new rules. You have to start at the beginning of the whole object name. With the Sophos UTM, you can start with a pattern, with part of the whole word. In Sophos UTM it will list you all the hits with parts of what you type, and that does not happen on the Sophos XG.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Sophos XG for approximately 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The performance of Sophos XG is generally good and it is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have found the scalability of Sophos XG the same as Sophos XG.

We have approximately 10 clients using this solution.

How are customer service and support?

Since Sophos XG moved the support from London to somewhere in the world, such as India, it's a little bit longer to receive a fast response. They are knowledgeable but they are slow to make decisions. For example, we had a firewall and the hardware was defect. It was really clear, but we had to have a long discussion for them to be able to send us the new firewall. It took one or two weeks until the supporter was able to talk to someone who can make the decision. This is too long, this process could be streamlined.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward . As long as you buy the appliances from Sophos, it works very well. However, in some cases, we have to use our own servers because they have more power and more network bandwidth.

What about the implementation team?

The amount of users needed for the implementation and maintenance depends on the size of the customer's infrastructure.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is a license required to use this solution and my customers pay for it annually.

What other advice do I have?

I am not amazed by this solution.

I rate Sophos XG a four out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Chief-Information-Technology-Officer at ABIG
Real User
Good Protection, scales well, and is easy to setup
Pros and Cons
  • "Web publishing is important, as well as the importance of the antivirus patch."
  • "Our clients use Karios, and while it integrates well with it, the integration could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for VPN, client VPN, malware filtering, and antivirus scanning.

How has it helped my organization?

It has definitely improved the way our organization functions. Previously only using free tools, and once we started using Sophos XG, the number of threats dropped dramatically. We had a lot of threats to our network, but they have dramatically decreased since we started using this solution.

What is most valuable?

All of the features in Sophos XG are valuable.

Web publishing is important, as well as the importance of the antivirus patch. 

The firewall is also essential, and the VPN.

What needs improvement?

Our clients use Karios, and while it integrates well with it, the integration could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Sophos XG for three years.

We are using the XG version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We encountered an issue with the hardware when we first purchased this solution. We called Sophos, who replaced the device, and we have not had any issues since.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have no issues with the scalability of Sophos XG.

In our organization, we have 150 users, and all are required to maintain this solution.

We don't have plans to increase the usage at this time.

How are customer service and support?

We have not really used technical support. If we have an issue, we resolve it ourselves.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, we were using older versions of Microsoft. We used it for almost 10 years before switching to Sophos.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy.

We completed the installation ourselves. I took a maximum of two weeks.

What was our ROI?

I have not calculated our ROI.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We have a three-year license.

What other advice do I have?

I am the Chief IT Officer. I don't have all of the technical details of this product. We have technical staff who use this solution for their daily routines and activities.

It's a very good product. I would rate Sophos XG an eight 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.
PeerSpot user
Alex Clerici - PeerSpot reviewer
System Integrator IT Manager at Tecnimex S.r.l.
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Integrates well with other Sophos solutions, efficient, and is reasonably priced
Pros and Cons
  • "Sophos began with a basic version and evolved into something more efficient in terms of performance."
  • "I would like to have a more efficient login process."

What is our primary use case?

This solution is used by both us and our customers.

What is most valuable?

As this product has recently changed, we are learning about the features of Sophos XG one step at a time.

Sophos began with a basic version and evolved into something more efficient in terms of performance.

It integrates well with other Sophos products, such as the Sophos Firewall, Sophos Endpoint, and other features in a cloud platform, to help the customer better manage security on their site.

What needs improvement?

I would like to have a more efficient logging process & real time analisys. The logging, expecially with EDR subscription, is something that needs improvement.

I would like to see email management improved to have more features and options for integrating with other solutions, expecially cloud based.

For how long have I used the solution?

We started working with Sophos XG when it was known as Astaro AG. I have been working with this solution for more than 10 years.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is always an issue, not just with Sophos but also with other brands. It is extremely difficult to interact with support within the time frame that the customer expects.

In general, it takes more time to solve a problem, and better independent actions are required.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup can be difficult. You should be familiar with Sophos or have prior knowledge of it, as it requires concepts from older versions of Sophos, the Sophos SG, the Cyberoam environment, and everything that has recently been introduced.

It is better to have some training before using this solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price is reasonable in my opinion.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I began looking into Fortinet solutions simply to compare some features.

What other advice do I have?

I would always recommend conducting a thorough analysis before deciding on a solution because Sophos may have some oversight for some of the tasks. It is beneficial to examine the environment that the Sophos product will be used, considering the integration with other features.

I would rate Sophos XG an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
CEO at Tawassul Technology
Real User
Secure, affordable, scales well, and simple to install
Pros and Cons
  • "Sophos is easy to use."
  • "Some businesses require Dynamic IP. This feature would be useful if it worked."

What is our primary use case?

We are resellers. We provide solutions to our clients.

What is most valuable?

I like the connectivity and the security.

Sophos is easy to use.

The GUI is very simple.

What needs improvement?

Some businesses require Dynamic IP. This feature would be useful if it worked.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Sophos XG for approximately four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Sophos XG is a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is easy to scale with Sophos XG.

Our customers have medium sized businesses

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is okay.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have also worked with Fortinet and one other solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy.

It can take one to two hours to install.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price is reasonable. It's not as expensive as other solutions. 

What other advice do I have?

It's good, I would rate Sophos XG a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
PeerSpot user
reviewer1621608 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Manager at a recruiting/HR firm with 201-500 employees
Real User
Easy to use, scalable, and provides good security
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is stable. I've had very few problems with it."
  • "I do prefer when updates come out a bit quicker."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for a firewall. We use it as a security device.

What is most valuable?

The product is very easy to use. We enjoy the ability for it to fit into our high-level security framework. 

It gives us some separation from being on Microsoft tasks. We've got multiple levels of security. We're government contractors. It's great that it's been a separate product that gives us the ability to do the security to a high level without having to resort to needing a big team.

The solution is stable. I've had very few problems with it.

We have found the solution to be scalable. 

What needs improvement?

We're always looking for the best products and the best pricing. Pricing is always a concern for us.

When they do updates, they could handle them a little bit better. We've only had one problem, however, I do prefer when updates come out a bit quicker. We do the patching and updates and different things, however, in terms of the patch and timing and the criticality of it, it could always be better.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using the solution for five or more years at this point. We've used it for a while. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product is reliable and stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product has proven to be scalable. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so.

We have 430 end-users on the product.

How are customer service and technical support?

We're mostly happy with the technical support. It's better than Microsoft. Any issues we have may simply come down to the SLA. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is pretty straightforward, and, over the last six years, it's gotten simpler, especially when it comes to cloud products.  A company shouldn't have any issues with the process. 

The deployment was very quick. It does not take long. 

My team is quite small internally. I have five to seven IT staff.  I have many service providers that I outsource a lot of the day-to-day management of the infrastructure to.

What about the implementation team?

Sophos assisted us with training at the outset, which we really appreciated. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We pay annually for the licensing for the overall on-prem solution, however, we also have some Sophos access points at permanent IT sites and different things. I have different Sophos products I may pay a monthly fee for.

What other advice do I have?

We're just customers and end-users.

While this deployment is on-premises, for the cloud, we use Sophos Central.

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. We're pretty pleased with its protection capabilities. 

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.
PeerSpot user
Alexandre RASTELLO - PeerSpot reviewer
Alexandre RASTELLOSenior IT Consultant - Sophos Architect at ARENTIA S.A.
Real User

Well done! Happy to see it was easy.


Next step is Synchronize Security with Sophos Endpoint (formely Sophos Central), to block "lateral movement"!


https://www.sophos.com/en-us/l...


https://techvids.sophos.com/wa...


Regards,

it_user1199040 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior solution architect at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Suitable for any environment, plenty of features, and strong protection capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution has all the security features you would need for any type of environment."
  • "In feature releases of the solution, I would like there to be an increase in the detection capability."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for typical perimeters a firewall is used for. Recently they have added some more additional security such as web application firewalls and email security as part of their offering.

What is most valuable?

The solution has all the security features you would need for any type of environment. I have found the protection capabilities and email security protection most valuable.

What needs improvement?

In feature releases of the solution, I would like there to be an increase in the detection capability. The detection is low compared to the other solution available in the market.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for approximately three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution has been stable. However, two years ago there were some issues causing stability concerns.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have found the solution to be scalable.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have found the technical support could be more knowledgeable and faster in the future.

How was the initial setup?

The installation was very easy. When comparing the installation to other firewalls it takes approximately the same amount of time. We were able to complete the migration from our old firewall in one day. In terms of migration downtime, it is in the average range compared to other solutions. The rolling out of the policies time depends on the existing environment.

What about the implementation team?

The deployment and maintenance of the solution can be done by one technician, it is very simple.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is no license required to use this solution.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Sophos XG an eight 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: Integrator
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Sophos XG Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: November 2024
Product Categories
Firewalls
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Sophos XG Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.