Enables secure access and traffic control with reliable security features
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is that we're using it to filter inbound and outbound Azure traffic from on-premises to Azure and from Azure to the internet.
I use it for filtering traffic between on-premises and Azure to secure an SAP application accessed from on-premises while the SAP is in Azure.
What is most valuable?
The best features Check Point CloudGuard Network Security offers are security features, VPN capabilities, filtering, and IPS.
I rely on IPS and access control the most because it controls access to on-premises and from Azure.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security has positively impacted my organization by making the network more secure and controlling the access to the applications.
What needs improvement?
I think Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is an ideal product, so I see no improvements needed.
If I had to think of one area where it could be improved or made easier, I would say that support isn't very good and documentation sometimes is lacking.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Check Point CloudGuard Network Security for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is stable in my experience.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security's scalability is good because we can put the firewalls in VM scale sets and scale.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support is not good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did not previously use a different solution before Check Point CloudGuard Network Security.
How was the initial setup?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is that pricing was good, the initial setup is easy, and licensing is a bring your own license, so it's good to bring licenses already from on-premises.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing Check Point CloudGuard Network Security, I evaluated other options, including Fortinet.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others looking into using Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is to deploy with scale set.
I would rate Check Point CloudGuard Network Security an eight out of ten because it's mostly complete and the support is a minor downside.
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?
Microsoft Azure
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security – Enterprise‑Grade Defense Without Compromise
What do you like best about the product?
Its ability to deliver advanced, automated threat prevention with unified security management across hybrid and multi‑cloud environments, all from a single pane of glass, is what stands out most.
What do you dislike about the product?
Cost, a steep learning curve, and occasional deployment complexities—especially with integrations and console management—can make implementation and ongoing administration more challenging than expected.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It addresses the challenge of securing hybrid and multi‑cloud environments by providing unified, automated threat visibility, enabling faster response to threats, simplified prevention and centralized management, and consistent security policies across all network assets.
Improved security posture and streamlined compliance while user interface could be more intuitive
What is our primary use case?
The main use case for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is for perimeter security and analyzing traffic in the network environment.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security offers deep visibility into traffic, detailed logs, and real-time monitoring to see what applications, users, and devices are communicating on the network. Apart from that, it prevents lateral movement, stops phishing attacks, and mitigates DDoS. The main use case is to provide protection for a hybrid environment such as on-prem and multi-cloud by having consistent security. It enforces zero trust access to critical applications.
What is most valuable?
The best features that Check Point CloudGuard Network Security offers include deep visibility into traffic, detailed logs, and real-time monitoring to see what applications, users, and devices are communicating on the network. Apart from that, it prevents lateral movement, stops phishing attacks, and mitigates DDoS. The solution provides protection for hybrid environments such as on-prem and multi-cloud by having consistent security and enforces zero trust access to critical applications.
The best feature is unified threat prevention, including IPS, antivirus, anti-bot, URL filtering, and Sandboxing in one platform. It provides seamless integration with AWS, Azure, and GCP. Furthermore, it offers centralized management from which we can manage security policies across cloud and on-prem solutions in a single console, known as Smart Console. From this, we can implement automation and DevOps support, as well as infrastructure as code security templates for faster deployment.
Cloud-native integration automatically adapts to changes in our AWS, Azure, or GCP environments; for instance, if a new workload is spun up, policies are applied instantly. Centralized management offers one console for both on-prem and multi-cloud environments. Additionally, automation and DevOps support allow security policies to be deployed as code and integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security has positively impacted our organization by improving our security posture. We have seen a sharp reduction in successful intrusion attacks because of its unified threat prevention, along with greater visibility and control. CloudGuard gave us full visibility into east-west traffic inside our local or cloud environment. Previously, we monitored north-south traffic, which helped detect unauthorized lateral movement early. It has enabled faster incident response and stronger compliance with standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR, which made audits smoother and helped us maintain continuous compliance in the cloud.
What needs improvement?
Areas for improvement for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security include user interface and usability, pricing and licensing, integration with third-party tools, reporting and analytics, depth of automation, and support.
In terms of user interface and usability, the Smart Console UI is feature-rich; however, for new admins, navigation is not always intuitive, and log search feels clunky compared to SIM tools. Policy editing could be faster with bulk or drag-and-drop options, and dashboards need more customization. Streamlining these would make day-to-day use much better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Check Point CloudGuard Network Security for the past one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is stable.
How are customer service and support?
Customer support for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is average. I would rate the customer support as six on a scale of 1 to 10.
How would you rate customer service and support?
What was our ROI?
I have seen a return on investment from using Check Point CloudGuard Network Security in both money and time saved.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My experience with the pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is that it was good.
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?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Comprehensive CloudGuard Security for Dynamic Environments
What do you like best about the product?
What I like most about Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is its ability to deliver consistent and powerful attack protection across many cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, and GCP. The extensive integration with native cloud services allows for flexible deployment while maintaining high levels of security. Advanced threat intelligence, unified security management, and automatic posture correction provide robust protection for dynamic cloud workloads. Scalability and visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud setups are also significant benefits, making compliance simpler to manage and operational risk lower.
What do you dislike about the product?
What I detest about Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is how hard the initial setup and configuration can be, particularly in multi-cloud situations where rules must be fine-tuned for each platform. The user interface, although powerful, might be less intuitive than comparable cloud-native systems, resulting in a lengthier learning curve for novice admins. Licensing and cost control may also be difficult for firms that are fast expanding, since they need careful planning to minimize unforeseen charges. Furthermore, interaction with third-party monitoring and automation systems might be improved to streamline operations.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is assisting us with the difficulty of safeguarding workloads and applications in hybrid and multi-cloud settings. It offers consistent visibility, enhanced threat protection, and unified security policies, reducing complexity while ensuring regulatory compliance. Data breaches are considerably reduced by defending against zero-day attacks, misconfigurations, and unauthorized access. The ability to incorporate security into cloud-native operations boosts agility, enabling teams to innovate without sacrificing security. Finally, it has helped us improve our overall security posture by simplifying cloud operations and lowering human overhead.
Seamless Cloud Integration Balances Reliability with High Deployment Complexity and Cost
What do you like best about the product?
Seamless integration with AWS and Azure, from GWLB to Autoscaling, it works perfectly.
What do you dislike about the product?
Architecture is complex to setup and to manage. High-skilled team required to manage the infrastructure.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It centralizes east-west and north-south access control. It inspects traffic, is able to host VPN's, NATs the traffic (possibility of centralized ingress), IPS, Anti-bot and Anti-virus blades.
Great integration with cloud platforms, easy to use, centralized management on-prem or in cloud.
What do you like best about the product?
Centralized management and integration with other Check Point products.
What do you dislike about the product?
Installation process can sometimes be a tricky if you are not prepared well.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It is protecting data centar services at microsegmentation level. It also enhances visibility into virtual infrastructure.
Defending the Cloud: An In-Depth Review of Check Point CloudGuard Network Security
What do you like best about the product?
1. Offers advanced threat prevention capabilities, safeguarding the cloud environments from a variety of threats
2. Designed to scale with the cloud workloads, ensuring that security measures grow alongside your business needs
3. Provides detailed insights and visibility into cloud security posture
What do you dislike about the product?
1. Initial setup and configuration can be complex
2. Higher cost
3. Limited customization
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security addresses several key problems:
1. Protect against threats specific to cloud environments
2. Provides comprehensive visibility into cloud resources and security posture
3. Adapts to dynamic cloud workloads, ensuring consistent security as applications scale or change
User-friendly interface and reliable security empower financial institutions
What is our primary use case?
I am based in Jamaica for the most part. Not a lot of people use
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security due to pricing issues, but most banks still use it.
What is most valuable?
I think it is secure and user-friendly. The interface is easy to understand and the
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security history assures me of its trustworthiness.
What needs improvement?
They could improve the documentation. The interface is fine for me since I have been using it for some time.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using network security from around 2003 or 2004.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
Deployment usually takes about two days depending on the network.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have not experienced any issues with stability such as lagging, crashing, or downtime.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is fine. In Jamaica, the networks tend to be relatively small.
How are customer service and support?
I have not had to contact technical support or customer support for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security specifically, but I have contacted them for other Check Point products.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I work with Cisco and
FortiGate.
FortiGate is popular in Jamaica, partly due to pricing. Users often choose cheaper options even if Check Point is considered better.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is fine. It is not difficult.
What about the implementation team?
I usually work with a team of about two or three people for deployment, totaling three or four including me.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing in Jamaica is a major issue, with users often citing it as a reason for not using Check Point.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have experience with Cisco and FortiGate solutions.
What other advice do I have?
I advise new users to carefully look at the documentation and do their homework before starting deployments. Proper planning and preparation, supported by the documentation, are crucial. I would rate the solution about nine out of ten.
Enhanced network security with improved visibility and ease of management
What is our primary use case?
We use Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to replace an Azure Firewall, securing the network flow in our organization.
What is most valuable?
The URL filtering provides a lot of added value compared to the Azure Firewall. It is easier to use and offers much more visibility on the network activities. It helps us manage our security operations by reusing on-prem solutions with the cloud, therefore improving ease of use.
What needs improvement?
The reporting needs enhancement. Currently, we are not always aware of the gateways' status, like CPU and RAM usage. It would be beneficial to have a report that manages everything and gives an overall view of what is going on.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for six to ten months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have experienced a few issues where connectivity is lost temporarily, however, it does not affect traffic processing. It is more about not having management information for a few seconds.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is really good and relies totally on CloudGuard, whether it is on Azure or AWS. At least on Azure, it works fine.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service is good. They helped me with the few issues I had, meeting my expectations. Their support for traditional security projects is good, and I found the same support quality for cloud projects.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used solutions for on-prem security management, yet not for the cloud.
How was the initial setup?
The initial deployment was easy, taking about a week.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall solution an eight out of ten. It would be ideal to have improved reporting features for a comprehensive overview.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Cloud management and log review have improved efficiency in securing public cloud environments
What is our primary use case?
I have implemented the solution for customers at about three or four different companies now. I primarily use it for general Cloud Security to protect Azure. In most cases, it has always been about securing Azure.
What is most valuable?
For me, Checkpoint in general is characterized by the ease of day-to-day use, management, log review, and all that. This is a big plus because I can execute these tasks effectively through the Cloud, which is the biggest point for me. It is a significant improvement over Azure's security features, providing enhanced security when Checkpoint is implemented. This is especially beneficial nowadays, as businesses are working with fewer people who need to accomplish more tasks.
What needs improvement?
In my experience, the failover times are a bit poor during an HA failover in the Cloud. However, this also depends on API calls in Azure, so there is not much I can do there. If there is something I could improve, it would be this aspect.
For how long have I used the solution?
I would say that I have used Network Security for about two years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
The first few setups are always a bit uncertain, like wondering what is going to happen. The documentation is great, but the problem with Cloud technologies is that it changes all the time, leading to outdated documentation. It can be a bit challenging in the beginning, but once I get used to it, the process is acceptable.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good, apart from the failover I mentioned before, which takes a bit of time. Again, it is not really Checkpoint's fault; it is just due to Cloud architecture. Overall, stability is good, and upgrades are proceeding well.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability offers two solutions: the gateway and the load balancer setup. The load balancer setup is fantastic. If I need anything, it spins up or spins down and works smoothly. When I adopted it around three years ago, I deployed clusters in the Cloud with two firewalls in HA, but the failover was not ideal. Depending on the scenario, I need to choose the right solution.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support has greatly improved over the last couple of years. It used to be less effective, but now it is in a good state. Also, interactions with salespeople from Checkpoint are going well. I have talked with Palo Alto support as well, and Checkpoint is way better.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I just started at the company I am working for now, but my previous customer used Palo Alto. They have the same products, of course, but the usability is not the same. It is stable and good, but the usability is not equivalent.
What about the implementation team?
I use multiple approaches. First, I create an architectural design and check with their Cloud team to see their implementation of their environment. Depending on that, I proceed accordingly. It is really customer-based.
What was our ROI?
For us, it is not really applicable since we sell it and that is the end of it. However, the feedback from customers has been positive. It performs well, effectively doing its job without slowing down and stopping threats. I think the customer is also receiving a significant return on investment from the solution.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The most significant advantage for a day-to-day user like me is the logs. In Palo Alto, I need to manage brackets and everything, and issues arise if something is spaced incorrectly. In Checkpoint, I can input whatever I need and get the required results. This is a major win in troubleshooting. Logging is okay on both platforms, but if I know exactly what to type in Palo Alto, it is manageable. However, they are quite similar without too big a difference. For email security, Checkpoint offers a big advantage, but that is unrelated to Network Security.
What other advice do I have?
I would give it a solid eight. This is quite a good score in my opinion. Absolutely. I rate the overall solution an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
I am using a Public Cloud deployment model.
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
I use Microsoft Azure as the cloud provider.
