Sophos Firewall Reviews

We use Sophos XG for ensuring security, implementing web filtering, enforcing policies, and blocking traffic as needed.

I appreciate its interface, but I find that the available ports are insufficient. I've encountered limitations, often finding that three to four ports are not adequate for our needs.

It stands out with its side-to-side VPN and SSL VPN capabilities.

The most significant aspect is the protection it offers.

I encountered an issue while implementing web filtering for users. Specifically, when attempting to access reports detailing which sites users are visiting, the diagnostic report fails to display the complete URLs of the websites visited. This becomes particularly problematic when users utilize proxy software to bypass the firewall, as it renders tracking their website visits nearly impossible. Training presents a major challenge as there are numerous features available, such as IPS and IDS, which many network administrators are unfamiliar with and tend to leave disabled. Users are unable to enable these features themselves due to their lack of understanding of their functionalities and configuration processes. The training manual provided to users lacks proper guidance on configuration procedures. The content outlined in the user manual differs significantly from the live configuration process.

I have been working with it for approximately six years.

There are several glitches in the new firewall. One particular issue arises when applying filtering settings. The firewall fails to unblock sites without requiring a restart to save and execute the changes properly.

We have a multitude of distinct sites, amounting to a total of six to seven thousand users in total.

Our experience with Fortinet was better compared to Sophos. Also, configuring Fortinet is much easier than configuring Sophos.

Installation is not straightforward; it's a bit complex. For instance, when setting up two ISP connections and terminating them on two firewalls, the process involves configuring LAN and WAN interfaces separately, along with DNS and routing configurations in different tabs. Many users may find these functions unfamiliar. It would be more convenient if all functions related to traffic routing were consolidated into a single tab for easier management. Maintenance is also challenging.

The price of Sophos in PTR is significantly higher compared to Fortinet.

Overall, I would rate it three out of ten.

My environment is virtual and i use Sophos to cover all incoming and outgoing traffic as well as creating VLAN's covering all me needs accordingly. 

Sophos has helped my organisation creating all networks (physical and virtual) i needed for securing my network setup plus integrating it with another Cyber Security solution it helped have a more clear understanding of our security network. 

The firewall feature of Sophos XG has been the most effective for threat prevention and in collaboration with the integration of another Cyber Security solution.

The solution’s reporting could be improved.

I have been using Sophos XG for seven years.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten for stability.

Around 250 users are using the solution daily in our organization.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten for scalability.

No i didn't. 

On a scale from one to ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy, I rate the solution's initial setup a nine out of ten.

We implemented the solution through an in-house team in half an hour. One person was involved in the solution’s deployment.

After integrations with several other security solutions i can say that the ROI is much higher than just using a single firewall solution.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a eight out of ten.

I found it in my organisation and after using it i figure out how it can really be helpful. 

Sophos XG has sufficiently improved the security of our network. We found the solution's user interface very user-friendly for our daily operations.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Sophos XGS is deployed as a gateway firewall with VPN in our network environment, excluding the web server feature and the email filtration feature.

Sophos XGS has been helping us manage the threats specific to our industry, although we have yet to fully utilize its AI capabilities. Its deployment has been pretty good, enhancing the clarity of filtration systems and reducing security costs.

The only filtration works quite nicely. Sophos XGS has been really better, providing clearer filtrations than its predecessor. It is extremely easy to deploy and fast to learn.

The interface is really showing up on the edge now. It needs to be more modern and faster, with more rules visible on a single screen for better details rather than just six rules. The threat detection system could be more GUI-based or provide templates for common threats. We also need more updated version 20 study materials.

We have been using Sophos XGS for close to one year. We started shifting from XG to XGS almost a year ago, and now all our systems have been changed to XGS. XG was used for the previous six years.

Sophos XGS has worked well in terms of stability, with no significant issues reported.

The customer service and support from Sophos have been quite good, with timely and effective responses. Although we rarely need support, when required, it has been prompt.

Positive

We previously worked with SonicWall but switched to Sophos because it was found to be pretty fast. We also briefly considered Palo Alto, which offered great machine and filter systems but had concerns with the support in India at that time.

The initial setup was straightforward and not problematic, as we could deploy it by ourselves without needing external support.

We usually go for three-year subscriptions. For the data center, we deployed units in dual mode and failover mode, which involved significant costs estimated at six lakh rupees.

We evaluated Palo Alto but ultimately chose Sophos due to concerns about Palo Alto's support in India. However, Palo Alto XGS has improved in terms of security and support.

The antivirus aspect of Sophos needs improvement as the current solutions don't complete the job adequately in today's market. There should be templates to address repeated attack modes, saving time instead of relying heavily on detailed engineer setups.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

We are using Sophos XGS in our organization primarily because it integrates well with Software Central and is good for smaller teams. It requires fewer people to monitor it.

Sophos XGS helps us with diagnosing issues, giving us a breakdown of what the data is actually saying. It has centralized our operations by integrating everything into Software Central.

The most valuable features of Sophos XGS are its integration into Software Central and its threat intelligence capability. Everything integrates into Software Central, making operations very seamless. 

The threat intelligence capability works well; we recently had a penetration test that showed it is performing well. Also, the AI capabilities help us diagnose potential issues and provide a breakdown of what the data is communicating.

A feature that could be improved in Sophos XGS is the ability to perform internal vulnerability checks. This would provide more comprehensive security by checking both external and internal vulnerabilities on the same appliance.

We have been working with Sophos XGS for just over a year.

Sophos XGS is very stable. We only had a couple of minor issues, which were resolved very quickly.

Sophos XGS's scalability is excellent; I would rate it a ten. Adding other sites took very little time and did not cause significant issues.

We are very satisfied with the customer service and support. I would rate the support from Sophos XGS a ten out of ten.

Positive

We used to use a WatchGuard firewall before switching to Sophos. We switched because Sophos offers a centralized platform that integrates everything we need.

The initial setup was handled by a third party, and the handover was very straightforward. Overall, it was straightforward when we got into it.

The implementation was carried out by a third party. The process was smooth and straightforward.

Sophos XGS has done its job effectively so far. We are very satisfied with its performance and ability to meet our security needs.

We paid around 17,000 pounds for a three-year package. The cost is reasonable and comparable to our previous solution.

Before Sophos, we were using WatchGuard, but we switched to Sophos for better integration and centralized management.

I highly recommend Sophos XGS to those considering using it, especially small teams. It's easy to use and integrates all Sophos products, such as endpoints, into one central portal.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

Sophos XGS changes every two years, so we must update our knowledge. We can only test it with real requirements or problems to find scalability and reliability. We can't find these in normal testing. We can see reviews based on Gartner reports, but sometimes, we really feel problems. It can create many issues, even compatibility problems with fiber modules. Only system integrators or installers find these problems.

I think Sophos technical support's immediate response is good compared to Fortinet's. If the technical engineer is good, they get the solution immediately. If not, it might take two days. For improvement, immediate response is required, whether by email, phone call, or WhatsApp. Sometimes, we can't wait three or four days for a solution. In urgent situations, we might use a spare Sophos device while waiting for support.

I recommend what my customer needs and what fulfills their requirements. I suggest products based on price, quality, scalability, and reliability. Customers now ask for specific features at a certain price, not product names. I'm a system integrator and face technical support problems before implementation. I need pre-sales tech reports. If the distributor and support are good, I'll support that product even if the price is high. Urgent deliveries can be a problem if distributors don't cooperate.

I don't blame any product; all are good nowadays. Cisco products have high prices and compatibility issues. Fortinet has easy power replacement, while the tool needs specific adapters. I rate Sophos XGS seven to eight out of ten. Some models are very good, others not so much. It depends on the project, market, price, and features needed.

Nowadays, we have to integrate everything. Most products support this at some level.

The product has improved our network security posture. We got some phishing and malware attacks. We found out that someone was attacking our network. Since we installed the solution, we are not facing any attacks.

IPS works smoothly. The policies and rules work fine. The network performance and reporting tools of Sophos XG are good.

We are facing a little bit of an issue with the product's web filtering capabilities. It must be improved. SD-WAN can be improved.

I have been using the solution for almost two years.

I rate the tool’s stability a seven or eight out of ten.

I rate the tool’s scalability a seven or eight out of ten. Almost 5000 people are using the solution in our organization. We have installed the firewall. It is always running.

The support takes a lot of time to resolve issues.

Neutral

I rate the ease of setup a seven out of ten. The deployment took a few weeks.

The deployment was done in-house. We needed two to three people for the deployment.

I rate the pricing a seven or eight out of ten.

I will recommend the product to others. The solution is not extremely good, but it is good. Overall, I rate the product a seven or eight out of ten.

We use the solution for the firewall.

The configuration is fantastic, highly efficient, and robust. We don’t have to spend more considering the organization’s size. It's easy to configure what you want to do. The response time is very good. VPN connections have been stable.

The payment plan could be improved.

Sophos XGS comes with mostly eight ports, excluding the five ports. It would be better if they could increase the eight ports to ten. Most times, we don't want to use two. I will need to get another switch if I have five ISPs. Sophos engineer should look into that.

There were issues while switching the firmware to an upgraded version.

I have been using Sophos XGS for five years.

The product is stable.

The solution's scalability is good. It depends on what you have and the advanced structures from purchasing a particular version.

We have 80 users and 30 servers in our organization.

The initial setup is straightforward but a bit complex on production. You will need to configure the IP addresses of each device. We have scheduled downtime to safeguard stakeholder data periodically. We anticipate smooth transitions during these times. However, there may be instances where complexity arises, particularly regarding backups. For instance, when transitioning from firmware version 19.0 to 20.0, you must first downgrade the new device to version 19.04 before restoring the backup. This process requires a good understanding of the techniques involved. While we aim for simplicity, complexities may still arise. The migration takes two hours to complete.

We terminated one cable and continued the conversion using the backup from production. We quickly transferred it and pushed it into the new one. When we noticed it was running, we didn't even remove the whole one. We pushed it to the top and started to unplug the cable, then plugged it in again, repeating the process while waiting for the new box to learn the IP addresses of all the devices.

The solution’s pricing is good.

The first thing to consider is the size of the organization. When evaluating pricing, consider your current needs and what the device offers. You may not need all the features immediately. For smaller enterprises like mortgage institutions and microfinance, we recommend Sophos. It's suitable for them. However, larger organizations can also integrate it, perhaps for specific functions. The configuration, efficiency, and scalability are excellent.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

The time taken by Sophos XG's support team to respond to and resolve an issue is an area of concern where improvements are required.

I have been using Sophos XG for four years. I use Sophos XG 210.

My company is a customer of the product.

It is a very stable solution.

The scalability of the product is okay. The users of the product in my company can use the product with all the rules and policies I have applied to the tool that made the implementation process easy.

It is easy to add more users or devices to the product.

Our company has around 300 devices on which the product is used. Our company has 50 to 60 end users of the product.

The solution's technical support is good but needs to improve in certain areas. I rate the support an eight out of ten.

Positive

Our company uses different products from Fortinet in some different locations.

Sophos XG is good for the modules it offers and if there are a large number of users. From a price perspective, Sophos XG is also good if the number of users is less.

The product's deployment process was easy.

I was the only person involved in the deployment of the product in my company.

The product can be deployed in three to four hours.

Sophos XG enhanced our company's network security and threat management since the speed and the connectivity of the VPN that it offers make it very easy to manage and don't get disconnected. When we were having CyberOne in our company, we faced some VPN connectivity issues. The VPN connectivity issue in our company was resolved with Sophos XG. With Sophos XG's username and password, users generally don't face issues related to VPN disconnection.

A scenario where Sophos XG was good for your organization stems from the fact that the performance offered by the tool is good.

The most effective feature of Sophos XG m that protects my company's network stems from the fact that it is able to protect the network by filtering out all the threats from the internet. We never faced any problems in our company's network. My company has hardly faced any problems with our computers since it hasn't been infected with any viruses for four or five years.

Sophos XG's interface facilitated our company's security management tasks since it works in an okay manner in our organization. The interface offered by the product is easy to manage since my company has three lines connected to our environment, and whenever we get a new line during which there are some disturbances, the interface allows us to manage such areas easily.

It is very easy to maintain the product.

Speaking about the cost-savings or efficiency gains from the implementation of Sophos XG, it is an okay product from a price perspective that provides the functions of a firewall.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

Mainly as a firewall, and in some cases, as a firewall with camera surveillance integration. But primarily, it is used for firewall functionality.

I find the firewall functionality and unified threat management to be the most useful features.

The VPN has been a persistent problem for us. It's not straightforward to configure. We often encounter issues with setting up the VPN. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and we haven't been able to determine the cause.

So the VPN configuration could be less cryptic. It should be easier and more straightforward to configure. A simplified installation process and clearer instructions would be helpful. The current VPN configuration is a bit convoluted.

In additional features, it would be beneficial if Sophos XG could have an enhanced feature for aggregating bandwidth. Currently, it supports load balancing to some extent, but it would be even better if it could aggregate the bandwidth. For example, if I have multiple links, say two or three, it would be great if the solution could aggregate the bandwidth from those links. 

Ever since Sophos acquired Cyberoam. I used to use Cyberoam, and then Sophos took over Cyberoam. So I would say it's been about five to seven years since that transition happened. 

I have various versions because I'm a network service provider. I offer the high-end enterprise edition as well as the mid-range and basic versions. There are several different models available.

I would rate the stability a ten out of ten. It is very stable. 

When deploying on-premises, if you need to scale, you have to purchase additional hardware. So, on-premises scalability would be around six out of ten. You have to size the solution for future needs.

The cloud version is much more scalable. However, when it comes to on-premises deployments, scaling can be challenging. If you need to upgrade to a higher level, you have to acquire another hardware box. So, it's not as straightforward as cloud scalability, but it's still possible, though not as easy. 

There are about 200 users. They are small and medium businesses. 

I would rate the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy. It required some experience in designing networks. It's not a simple "click-click-click" process; it requires the expertise of a network professional. So, if you're not experienced, it can be challenging.

It can be difficult for inexperienced users, but with the right knowledge and experience, it is manageable.

The deployment process involved acquiring the device, planning the network design, configuring it according to the desired network setup, and then connecting the necessary cables. It's a relatively straightforward process.

It only took an hour to deploy the solution.

It is fairly priced. I would rate it an eight out of ten. Mostly, I only purchase the standard license because I don't usually require the other features. It would cost approximately $2,000 on an annual basis.

Overall, my experience has been positive. I haven't encountered any major issues with it. It's easy to use and not cryptic. It's also quite stable, and I rarely experience any hangs or similar problems.

I would rate this product an eight out of ten because there is still room for improvement in VPN. 

Sophos XG is of firewall security device for our data center or branch data center.

The security measures implemented in this system are robust, particularly at the network level. It includes effective web filtering capabilities to enhance security and protect against potential threats.

Everything is consolidated into a single box, offering comprehensive functionality, including Wi-Fi access and other features.

SD-WAN would benefit from further improvement, particularly in terms of incorporating optimization techniques that are not typically found in traditional firewalls. Nowadays, WAN optimization features are being integrated into many firewalls, and implementing similar capabilities in SD-WAN would enhance its performance and functionality.

The user interface of Sophos is very simple and good compared to Azure.

I have been working with Sophos XG for more than five years.

The stability of Sophos XG has been exceptional, and we have not encountered any issues. 

I would rate the stability of Sophos XG a ten out of ten.

Sophos XG is very scalable. I would rate the scalability of Sophos XG a nine out of ten.

Our network scalability is not extensive, but it does offer certain features such as the ability to create and utilize devices in an Active-Active configuration. Additionally, using devices with an active password is also supported, providing users with various facilities and features.

We have 1,500 users in our organization daily.

The technical support is good.

I would rate the technical support a nine out of ten.

The initial setup is straightforward. It was easy.

The total deployment time was ten days.

We had comprehensive documentation containing all the necessary details, including firewall configurations, host information, and corresponding IP addresses.

It was very easy to install it without any downtime.

We had a total of two people to deploy it.

Sophos XG is expenses. I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten as high.

After evaluating SonicWall and considering recommendations from colleagues, friends, and industry professionals, we found that Sophos received positive feedback. Additionally, our own hands-on experience and thorough examination confirmed that Sophos was a suitable choice. Therefore, based on these factors, we made the decision to proceed with Sophos for our requirements.

If Sophos XG meets your business requirements and fulfills your account needs, it is highly recommended to choose Sophos XG as your preferred solution.

I would rate Sophos XG an eight out of ten.

The product demonstrates excellent stability, accompanied by a user-friendly interface and reliable support services, including the availability of premium support options. However, there are certain features such as WAN optimization, load balancing, advanced techniques, and advanced web filtering that are currently not available. These features have become increasingly crucial in today's environment and are in high demand.