Centralized cloud security has improved segmentation and visibility but still needs faster policy updates
What is our primary use case?
I normally use
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to protect cloud workloads and control traffic between cloud resources. It is mostly for enforcing segmentation and managing security policies across different cloud environments.
A recent example of how I use Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to enforce segmentation or manage policies was when we deployed a new application tier in the cloud. I used CloudGuard to segment it from the rest of the environment and apply stricter threat prevention rules.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is deployed in the public cloud setup in my case.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security does provide unified security management across hybrid clouds as well as on-premises. Having policies and visibility centralized in one place makes operations much smoother. Instead of managing separate rule sets for cloud and on-premises, I can apply consistent policies across both and see all traffic flows in a single dashboard. That cuts down on configuration risk and makes troubleshooting faster.
I do utilize Check Point CloudGuard Network Security alongside other Check Point products. In my case, I use it alongside Quantum and Harmony Endpoint.
What is most valuable?
The best features in Check Point CloudGuard Network Security are the centralized cloud-native policy management, strong threat prevention for cloud traffic, and automatic discovery of cloud assets.
The most valuable feature of Check Point CloudGuard Network Security in my day-to-day work is the centralized cloud-native policy management. I can control all the clouds, which is very beneficial.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security has helped us reduce misconfigurations and improve how quickly we can secure new cloud workloads. We have also had fewer issues with unexpected traffic because the visibility tools make it easier to spot problems.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security has helped me reduce my organizational risk. The clear visibility into cloud traffic and the automatic adaptation to cloud changes reduced the chance of misconfigurations, which were one of our biggest risks. The number of policy-related issues we had to fix dropped noticeably once we started using it.
It has increased my confidence in secure cloud deployments and migrations quite a bit. Knowing that policy adjusts automatically when new resources come online makes migration less stressful. The consistent visibility across environments also helps because I can verify traffic flows.
What needs improvement?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security could be improved with faster policy propagation across large multi-cloud environments and more intuitive dashboards for complex rule sets.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Check Point CloudGuard Network Security for about one year and a half.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security scales well as our cloud footprint grows. It handled adding more workloads and environments without major issues.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is very good and very helpful, but I think it could be better on higher complexity issues.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used a mix of native cloud controls and some older firewall setups before Check Point CloudGuard Network Security. We switched because they did not give us the same level of unified visibility or consistent policies across environments.
How was the initial setup?
Securing a new workload with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security now could take a few hours before because I had to map out network paths and build policies manually. Now, it usually takes under an hour. The automatic asset discovery and clear visibility shave off a good chunk of the setup time.
What about the implementation team?
I purchased Check Point CloudGuard Network Security through the
AWS Marketplace.
What was our ROI?
I cannot give a percentage for money, but we have seen a return mainly through time savings and fewer configuration-related issues with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated solutions that compete with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security. We evaluated solutions from Palo Alto Networks, Prisma Cloud, and also
Azure. However,
AWS with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security was much easier to implement, and that is why we prefer it.
We did evaluate other options before choosing Check Point CloudGuard Network Security. The main alternatives we evaluated were Palo Alto's Prisma Cloud and some of the native security tools from Azure. They work for certain use cases, but Check Point CloudGuard Network Security gave us a stronger unified policy management.
What other advice do I have?
The core security features of Check Point CloudGuard Network Security work really well, but a few usability areas hold it back: the policy propagation speed and parts of the interface. I would give Check Point CloudGuard Network Security a rating of seven out of ten.
I would advise others looking into using Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to first plan ahead. I recommend starting with a small pilot across one or two tiers, defining policy and segmentation baselines upfront.
Unified cloud security has improved automated threat prevention and clarified network visibility
What is our primary use case?
The main use cases for Check Point CloudGuard Network Security are to address the threats that are currently occurring, and it automates the network security while also providing rapid deployment. The automations are particularly effective in Check Point, offering all the cool features available.
What is most valuable?
The best features in Check Point CloudGuard Network Security include the prevention it provides to my organization via automated engines, unified security management across hybrid clouds, a complete security framework, and a clean and clear dashboard.
The main benefits that Check Point CloudGuard Network Security brings to the table include clean dashboards, clarity of architecture in my organization regarding what applications and traffic passes through, firewall and threat prevention, and integration with tools like Terraform, Cloud Formation, Kubernetes, and others.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security provides unified security management across hybrid clouds and on-premises deployments.
The unified security management provided by Check Point CloudGuard Network Security affects my security operations by preventing many attacks, ensuring compliance, and improving the governance aspect. The automation is very good in that segment, and the cloud adapts to any changes or integrations very well. Overall, it is fantastic.
What needs improvement?
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is working well currently. I do not think much needs to be improved, but while loading the console, it is a little bit lacking sometimes as it gets stuck, and we have to refresh it again. That part needs to be reduced.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Apart from the console that I mentioned, I have not faced any other crashes, downtimes, performance issues, or stability issues with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security. The website has never crashed; there is just slowness, and that is all.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability aspect of Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is very good; it is perfect and easy to scale up and scale out.
How are customer service and support?
Since I have not escalated any questions regarding Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to the Check Point team, I cannot say much, but whenever I tag a ticket, the response is very good, so there are no issues with that.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not evaluated any other options or solutions available in the market before choosing Check Point CloudGuard Network Security.
How was the initial setup?
The deployment process of Check Point CloudGuard Network Security was straightforward since it was a cloud-based product. We partnered for the initial setup, and they have been working for the past seven years. They have experienced engineers, and they completed it smoothly; there were no complexities in terms of deployment.
My experience onboarding Check Point CloudGuard Network Security was very good. I was part of it, and now I also manage it. There was nothing complex; the prerequisites were very clear from the partners and Check Point. The communication was good, and everything was executed perfectly.
What about the implementation team?
For the sake of this review, we have not integrated any products with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security yet because we are still in trial mode. We do have some challenges within the partner, and we are involved with a partner, so we are trying to integrate some applications. I do not know what those applications are because they have not disclosed them yet, as it involves a bank customer and disclosures happen only after everything is verified. We are facing some challenges, but we have a partner who is excellently coordinating with us, so that is not an issue.
What was our ROI?
Since I have been working for the past two years, a lot of risk has been reduced, but I cannot quantify the exact count. We do have reports that we provide to the management department on a weekly basis to verify and review, and it has been wonderful.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Although I do not know much about the pricing or setup costs, Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is very cost-effective. If you want to secure your organization completely from all ends against attacks like ransomware or zero-day attacks, you definitely have to pay a particular price. If it is securing my organization, it is definitely cost-effective, but all business deals are presented by higher management based on that.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have not used or evaluated other solutions that compete with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security, but I have been working on application controls, DLPs, and EDRs. Those technologies are what I know and work on.
Apart from Check Point CloudGuard Network Security, I have not worked on any other SD-WAN or Cloud and Data Center security products.
What other advice do I have?
The issues with Check Point CloudGuard Network Security stem from the bank sector itself. In the bank sector, they mostly use customized ports, and we need certain applications that are handled by different departments. We used to take approvals for a single port, and for different customized ports, we need different approvals. Management and IT are getting stuck, but that will get sorted out soon.
I have not faced any issues, so I cannot comment on the impact that Check Point CloudGuard Network Security has had on the confidence in secure cloud deployments and migrations.
Check Point CloudGuard Network Security definitely helps when it comes to cloud deployments and migrations, and I feel it reduces the risk. I can deploy application control, URL filtering, and we also have an antivirus that provides a perfect security posture in my organization. It also blocks zero-day malware and ransomware, making it a very big impact on my organization and very supportive.
As of now, nothing needs to be added to Check Point CloudGuard Network Security, but in case there is anything in the roadmap, I would definitely love to try that particular segment.
I would suggest to any organization considering Check Point CloudGuard Network Security that they should try it. They will also get clarity on their own organization's security implementation, and they can have good clarity on that. My overall rating for this review is 9 out of 10.
Consistent Cloud Security, Easy Setup
What do you like best about the product?
I appreciate that Check Point CloudGuard Network Security offers me consistent and automated security, which is essential for managing threats in hybrid and multicloud environments. The product's ease of setup makes it accessible for any user, allowing me to quickly implement and start protecting my cloud network without hassle. This ease of use combined with its robust security features gives me confidence in managing advanced threats and maintaining a secure multi-cloud infrastructure.
What do you dislike about the product?
I think there is room for improvement in Check Point CloudGuard Network Security, particularly concerning hybrid cloud security and ensuring consistency in management across public and private clouds.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to protect my cloud network from advanced threats and ensure consistent security policies across hybrid and multicloud environments with automated security.
Strong Threat Prevention, Seamless Integration
What do you like best about the product?
I really appreciate Check Point CloudGuard Network Security for its strong threat prevention, which is crucial in protecting our cloud workloads. It effectively blocks cloud-based attacks, which adds an extra layer of security beyond what native cloud controls offer. I also value how seamlessly it integrates into our existing Check Point management stack. This smooth integration not only saves us a lot of time but also helps in maintaining consistent security policies across our operations. The ease of setup, especially for users with experience, is another aspect that I find commendable. Overall, these features significantly contribute to the product’s effectiveness and enhance our cybersecurity framework.
What do you dislike about the product?
The cost of Check Point CloudGuard Network Security can increase significantly as your environment grows. Because traffic inspection—particularly for encrypted data or east-west traffic within cloud networks, as well as inter-region traffic—requires both compute resources and bandwidth, an increase in traffic volume will naturally lead to higher expenses.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to secure our cloud workloads effectively, blocking cloud-based attacks. Its strong threat prevention enhances security beyond native cloud controls, and seamless integration with Check Point management saves time and ensures consistent policies.
Real-Time Visibility and Efficient Comprehensive Protection
What do you like best about the product?
I love the real-time visibility that Check Point CloudGuard Network Security provides me regarding cloud security. This allows me to respond effectively to incidents, which is crucial for protecting our data and operations. I also greatly value the comprehensive protection it offers for cloud environments. I like it because it covers all the security aspects I need, ensuring that all our areas are adequately protected. These features make this tool a vital part of our IT security strategy.
What do you dislike about the product?
Integration with more cloud platforms.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Check Point CloudGuard Network Security to protect against threats and network attacks. It provides me with real-time visibility and comprehensive protection, allowing me to respond effectively to incidents and secure all aspects of cloud security.
Worry-Free Operation Delivers Total Peace of Mind
What do you like best about the product?
I really like how it does not need much set up. It is great for security and provides simple solutions to a complex problem. It has been a great addition.
What do you dislike about the product?
I have not experienced any downsides to the product. It has functioned as described and has become part of every day work. When there is an issue, it is quickly corrected.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It is helping staff feel more secure when online. It is also supporting our growth. It has worked to improve efficiency and overall productivity. We do not worry about online security.
Powerful Cloud Security with Centralized Management, Minor Room for Improvement
What do you like best about the product?
I like Check Point CloudGuard because it provides strong, advanced threat protection that goes beyond native cloud firewalls. It also gives a single, centralized console to manage security across multiple clouds. Policies are dynamic and update automatically using tags and identities, which reduces manual work. Overall, it makes cloud security simpler, consistent, and more powerful.
What do you dislike about the product?
I dislike that Check Point CloudGuard can be complex to deploy and manage, especially for beginners. It also requires higher skill levels compared to native cloud firewalls. Licensing and costs can be confusing and sometimes expensive for small teams. Updates and troubleshooting often depend heavily on Check Point TAC, which can slow things down.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
CloudGuard helps solve the challenge of securing workloads across multiple clouds with one consistent policy. It protects against advanced threats that native cloud firewalls can’t block. It also automates security using tags and identities, reducing manual work. Overall, it improves visibility, strengthens protection, and saves a lot of operational time.
Powerful Threat Prevention with an Intuitive Dashboard
What do you like best about the product?
During the trial, We really liked how the dashboard clearly showed the threats, polices without overwhelming the team. The threat prevention engine is very strong and it blocks traffic smartly.
What do you dislike about the product?
One issue we noticed is that the initial setup feel a bit complex for our team. There are quite few configuration steps and it takes some time to fully understand everything.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
CloudGaurd Network Security helped us strengthen our Zero Trust approach by giving us very clear control over which resources can communicate in in our cloud environment. It provides a solid firewall layer and cloud data security. During the trial, it made it much easier to identify risky traffic and block unauthorized access attempts. Overall it was so helpful for our team.
All-in-One Security Platform with Advanced Threat Detection
What do you like best about the product?
it's comes with multiple security technologies that automatically detect and block attacks and detects new attacks through machine learning. Network workloads identity app all secured from a single platform. my organization runs heavy workloads in the cloud guard is a great choice especially because of its advanced threat prevention auto scaling and centralized management.
What do you dislike about the product?
it's not exactly beginner friendly. configuration is much as per the cloud environment. it's very expensive . the device slows down when logging is heavy. support is slow and unresponsive and priority tickets are also closed late.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
prevents any unauthorized user from entering the cloud. cloud guard also catches unknown threats with AI based threat prevention . it's access control keeps data accessible only to authorized user.
Cloud Security with Seamless Integration
What do you like best about the product?
What I appreciate most about Check Point CloudGuard Network Security is the comprehensive protection it offers, along with its smooth integration into cloud environments. The platform delivers advanced threat prevention, centralized management, and scalability, all of which contribute to making the security of multi-cloud deployments both efficient and dependable.
What do you dislike about the product?
One aspect where Check Point CloudGuard Network Security could see improvement is in the complexity of its initial configuration and policy management. Although the platform offers robust capabilities, new users may find the learning curve quite steep at first. Nevertheless, after the system is properly configured, it provides outstanding security and control.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
This solution addresses the challenge of securing multi-cloud environments by offering unified threat prevention and enhanced visibility. As a result, it helps us lower risk and makes management more straightforward.
