Sophos XG is of firewall security device for our data center or branch data center.
Sophos Cloud Firewall (PAYG)
SophosExternal reviews
External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.
Robust, user-friendly interface, effective web filtering capabilities, and enhance security
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
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.
What is most valuable?
Everything is consolidated into a single box, offering comprehensive functionality, including Wi-Fi access and other features.
What needs improvement?
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.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Sophos XG for more than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
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.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
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.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good.
I would rate the technical support a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. It was easy.
The total deployment time was ten days.
What about the implementation team?
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.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Sophos XG is expenses. I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten as high.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
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.
What other advice do I have?
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.
Fined tuned web proxy, feature rich, and beneficial VPN technology
What is our primary use case?
Sophos XG primarily serves as a means to regulate user traffic, enabling control over internet usage and website accessibility. It also facilitates the connection of branches and conducts malware scans on network traffic. These are the main purposes typically associated with servers. In terms of features, Sophos XG excels in catering to customers seeking a comprehensive network security solution. It incorporates various functionalities that would otherwise require the purchase of multiple solutions from other cybersecurity vendors. This unified threat management platform encompasses a firewall, IPS, web proxy, mail gateway, web application firewall, sandbox, and DLP module. From the customer's perspective, Sophos XG offers an all-in-one solution for network security needs. However, it is primarily designed for small and medium businesses rather than enterprises.
What is most valuable?
One of the standout features of Sophos XG is its proprietary VPN technology known as RID (Remote Internet Device). This unique technology provides efficient branch connectivity without the need to invest in additional firewalls for each branch. By utilizing an affordable device called RED, users can effectively control and establish connections in a cost-effective manner. Additionally, the solution is feature-rich.
Sophos XG boasts an extensive and finely-tuned proxy that offers impressive capabilities. Its comprehensive database of malicious websites is remarkably vast.
What needs improvement?
The support from the vendor needs to be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for approximately six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the stability of Sophos XG a six out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the solution is limited to three nodes and may not be sufficient for extensive scaling. It is well-suited for small to medium-sized organizations. However, when it comes to large enterprises, particularly those with a distributed structure, Sophos can effectively cater to their needs. Distributed enterprises, characterized by numerous branches and a small employee count per branch, can benefit from Sophos XG capabilities. However, for larger enterprise customers with high network loads, Sophos XG may not meet the necessary requirements in terms of handling the network's capacity.
Most of our customers are small to medium-sized.
I rate the scalability of Sophos XG a five out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The support could improve. This is due to recent acquisitions. The time it takes to resolve an issue takes too long.
The response time from Sophos is deemed unacceptable by users. When opening a support case with any vendor, an automated email is typically received. However, in the case of Sophos, this automated email, lacking a personal touch, can take up to a week to arrive. Such delays are considered highly unsatisfactory. Consequently, the quality of their support has significantly deteriorated. As a result, users are reluctant to open support cases and would rather reinstall an appliance themselves than go through the support process.
I rate the support from Sophos XG a one out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Negative
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup process of Sophos XG may pose some challenges. However, once configured, Sophos XG proves to be remarkably user-friendly. The activation of the appliance may require a reliable internet connection and can be a bit cumbersome. Nevertheless, once activated, the overall experience becomes significantly smoother.
The process of installation can take one to seven days. However, the time depends on many factors, such as customer size, and overall environment.
I rate the initial setup of Sophos XG a seven out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the solution is reasonable when compared to the market.
You have to buy the appliance and pay for the license that matches your needs.
I rate the price of Sophos XG a seven out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
The solution had stability issues in the past but they have been resolved.
Before making a purchase, it is advisable to emphasize the importance of account managers and support from the vendor. In the past, the common practice was to involve the vendor's on-site personnel, such as the country manager in Saudi Arabia, when opening a support case. By opening the support case and sharing the support ID with the country manager, they could facilitate faster escalation and assistance behind the scenes. Essentially, contacting the sales representatives can help expedite the support process.
I rate Sophos XG a nine out of ten.