Comprehensive support experience and notable cost-effectiveness, but management complexity needs addressing
What is our primary use case?
I actually use the host ransomware prevention feature of WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response, and we haven't had issues with that. This is currently maintained by our partner in the WatchGuard management. We are a town hall, but there is an enterprise provider that is currently managing all the WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response installation.
I am not familiar with the automated remediation tools in WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response and how they help in reducing manual intervention because this is managed by our provider.
I have not yet utilized the cloud sandboxing feature in WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response.
What is most valuable?
The centralized visibility and control of endpoints in WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response helps coordinate cybersecurity, but this is managed by another tool that is installed in our PCs. It is installed and configured, but we don't use it because the main feature is with the EDR. It is configured but not used as a model per se.
What needs improvement?
I would like to improve WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response, but I don't manage it directly. The main problem that WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response has is that they use several tools to do the same tasks, and they are sometimes very complicated to use and very slow.
For example, we had Palo Alto deployed 10 years ago, and there were many things that were better managed by Palo Alto than the tools we currently have in WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response. The main concern is about managing tools and having a unified management model for managing the firewalls and response. They have many web interfaces that do many things, but they don't have one tool that does all the things that a firewall should do.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response for about three years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
The deployment for WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response took about three months because we deployed many components around the system. Previously, we had Palo Alto, and we changed all the structures to WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response. We changed VPN, detection mode for several things such as HTTP navigation, and many other products. The final substitution took about one month. The most delayed deployment was the VPN because we have around 1,000 users.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support of WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response is generally helpful. We have had two issues related to the VPN, and we experienced 24/7 activity from their team. Their support was very powerful as they responded very quickly and stayed online with us for two days.
However, when we find something strange in the firewall, such as access issues or configuration changes, the WatchGuard team has to recompile some new features or make a new deployment to our installation to solve the problem. This was not the case with Palo Alto. They are very powerful in this sector, but they have some issues in the way they manage the firewall system.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Two years after the deployment, we have found that WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response is more difficult to manage than Palo Alto and Fortinet. Our biggest concern is not about price but about management.
How was the initial setup?
The installation and implementation process of WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response was handled as a part-time job by one person.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I am satisfied with the licensing cost and pricing of WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response because we came from Palo Alto, which is a very expensive firewall. When we tried to renew the Palo Alto license, the cost was beyond any reasonable range. WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response seemed very powerful and appeared to be a good solution, as recommended by our partner. At that time, we had several options, including Fortinet.
What other advice do I have?
I have not seen any positive impact or benefits for my company from using WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response. On a scale of 1-10, I rate this solution a 7.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Positive experience with seamless communication and strong security features
What is our primary use case?
The main use cases for the
WatchGuard Firebox are to protect our customers' network, VPN connection or IPsec, or
SSL VPN, as by default, it's a protection of the network and the users, and servers.
What is most valuable?
WatchGuard Firebox technical support is very easy for us to contact, and we also have presales engineers such as Jeremy Schramm, who is French and provides excellent technical help; he visits our office one day a month to assist us in trying some solutions.I utilize AI within the WatchGuard Firebox, as we use the interconnection with threat syncs, and AI is implemented; we try to sell our customers
XDR or IDR, so there is AI in the product.I have a good impression of the efficiency for threat detection provided by the WatchGuard Firebox, as we have cybersecurity teams and sell security about the product, so we think it is a good product to protect our clients.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see the WatchGuard Firebox improved because I work with an experimental presales engineer directly, and we have some presentations regarding the
SASE project under the
XDR solution, so we know the good projects now.The WatchGuard Firebox has certain features, but the challenge is that we have some clients who don't have a network or are only mobile users, which leads us to think the future is in
SASE products, not in the WatchGuard Firebox.The mobile coverage should be included with the WatchGuard Firebox, but in some cases, there is no WatchGuard Firebox because the client has no network or all users are in different locations.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the WatchGuard Firebox for probably 10 or 11 years, as we are IT resellers and sell all customers these firewalls, so it's the product by default, and all customers we have have by default, Stormshield WatchGuard Firebox.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I find the WatchGuard Firebox stable with no problems; it's performing well.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I find the WatchGuard Firebox scalable, as it's easy to change configurations from this product to another one, although it's always complicated to buy another product and there are no upgrade solutions at a lower price.
How are customer service and support?
WatchGuard Firebox technical support is very easy for us to contact, and we also have presales engineers such as Jeremy Schramm, who is French and provides excellent technical help; he visits our office one day a month to assist us in trying some solutions.On a scale of one to 10, I would rate the technical support of the WatchGuard Firebox a 10.I would recommend the WatchGuard Firebox to other businesses, as it is very easy to communicate with them for support and the presales engineers, who are very easy to work with.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The only problem we have with the WatchGuard Firebox is about the price or the options that are very expensive for customers, as other firewalls such as
FortiGate offer free MFA authentication, so the main trouble is the price of the product.
How was the initial setup?
I find that we have no trouble with the WatchGuard Firebox, as it is very simple to install because we have certified engineer installation, so it's very easy for us.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I have faced challenges with the WatchGuard Firebox regarding price since we work with customers who use the Stormshield product, which is less expensive and French-made, while some products from the USA have left a bad impression, and some customers ask us to find another French or European product.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The main differences between WatchGuard Firebox and other solutions such as
FortiGate or Sophos are that I find the product heartbeat in the Sophos product very good; however, in WatchGuard Firebox, there is a similar set of products as firewalls, showing no major difference.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for users looking to start working with the WatchGuard Firebox is that the easiest solution is to realize a POC to test the product, so we can watch and review reports with customers. On a scale of one to 10, I would overall rate the WatchGuard Firebox as a solution a nine.
Advanced network solutions provided by watchdog.
What do you like best about the product?
Generally we used to have Intrusion detection systems but there are some issues while identifying the critical assets which is having issues or communications with C2 IPs. But watchdog will help in maintaining latest threat intelligence and AI.
What do you dislike about the product?
There are no much downsides but it has to provide more insights on the product indetailed what advantages it can provide for an organization.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Identifying the network threats by using advanced ai threat intelligence it is helping us to track the issues.
Review about WatchGuard Network Security
What do you like best about the product?
Its user interface is user friendly.
It guards from cyber threats.
What do you dislike about the product?
The thing is It can be a little expensive for limited budget users.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Protection from malware viruses and cyber threats, preventing network breaches, safeguarding data loss and leakage
Scalable Network Security with Room for Improvement
What do you like best about the product?
WatchGuard Network Security is known for ease of use, ease of implementation, customer support, frequency of use, number of features, ease of integration.
What do you dislike about the product?
There are a few aspects that some users might find less favorable:Cost for Advanced Features, Limited Customization in Reporting, Customer Support Responsiveness.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Cybersecurity Threats, Network Visibility and Monitoring.
Offers comprehensive network security features with easy configuration
What is our primary use case?
We have all kinds of customers, including schools, colleges, institutes, and organizations. We do not work in a specific area, and we have a wide range of customers in various sectors.
What is most valuable?
The Firebox offers valuable features such as network security, URL filtering, UTM features, intrusion prevention and detection, and authentication. It also supports VPN, IPsec, and point-to-point communication. I did not encounter any problems after configuring threat detection and protection, intrusion prevention systems, and intrusion detection systems.
What needs improvement?
The only problem I have with Firebox is the grouping issue. When implementing a rule using a group of IPs, it is not possible to do that directly. I have to manually add all the IPs, and this is where I think WatchGuard should improve.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution since 2016.
How are customer service and support?
The support system is similar to EPDR and EPP. They will register my case and either call me back, email me, or send me an article or key bulletin if things are sorted out.
Otherwise, they will take a remote session to resolve the issue. They have a centralized portal where I can get support for EPP and EPDR.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
Setting up Firebox is not an easy task for everyone. To set up Firebox, one should have at least professional knowledge. Not everyone can do a Firebox setup because it is executed based on protocols.
One cannot simply pick up Firebox and go through a basic configuration. For Firebox setup, having knowledge equivalent to Cisco CCNA associate level plus professional level is essential.
Additionally, understanding basic routing and switching is necessary. Having knowledge of IPs and professional skills is crucial. Unlike Sophos, which is easy with a 'next' approach, configuring Firebox requires deep knowledge about protocols and how they work.
What other advice do I have?
My only issue with Firebox is the grouping issue. I recommend Firebox since this device will not let anyone down. If someone drives a Volkswagen, they may find it challenging to switch to another car. It is the same with WatchGuard; once someone adopts this device, they will likely not buy another.
I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.
Improves security in the banking sector with a fast setup and helpful support
What is our primary use case?
I'm using it in the banking sector only. Basically, I'm using it for security and other purposes, including data loss prevention. Security is the main purpose in banks.
What is most valuable?
Nowadays, we are using small models for SD WAN also, depending on security purposes. Basically, we have received a good return on investment.
What needs improvement?
The basic problem is that for every firewall in India, there is a need for a one-year or two-year subscription. That is the main issue for all users. Particularly in India, the cost for renewal after three years is 75% of the hardware cost, which is a significant problem.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using VoiceBot for the last two years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable for us. If we're going for more concurrent users, we need to change the entire box. In that case, they provide a discount for replacing the old box. I think it involves seven or eight users.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good. Their distributor is in Mumbai, and they arrange everything about support. In case we need the same development PeerSpot or engineers on-site.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
It depends on the company, however, it usually takes about two hours, not more than that. I have a team of specialists for this, consisting of three people.
What about the implementation team?
Only three or four people are involved. It relies on online support by remote access, not on-site visits.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't know the current cost. It's all imported products. It's not assembled in India. It's expensive us here.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Currently, I'm using WatchGuard. I'm also using pfSense in some cases.
What other advice do I have?
The major problem is pricing and licensing loss. In India, the cost for renewal after three years is 75% of the hardware cost, which is a significant problem. Your review may be available to third parties and on third-party websites.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Efficient bandwidth management and secure network access with a strong firewall
What is our primary use case?
The primary use case of the Firebox mainly revolves around bandwidth management, unnecessary web blocking, application control, and protection against brute force attacks. It is also implemented for load balancing, SD-WAN, and branch-to-branch connectivity from one location to another. We also use it for securing access through VPN and enforcing network security policies.
How has it helped my organization?
The WatchGuard Firebox has helped in securing our network by implementing a strong firewall with various features like VPN support, gateway antivirus, and application control. It has aided in preventing brute force attacks and managing our bandwidth effectively.
What is most valuable?
Some of the most valuable features of the Firebox include web blocking, application control, protection against brute force attacks, load balancing, SD-WAN, and VPN support. These features help us manage and secure our network efficiently.
What needs improvement?
One area for improvement is the limitation in the product portfolio compared to competitors like Fortinet, which offers a broader portfolio including Authentication, VPNs, FortiMail, Sandbox, and Email Security. WatchGuard's focus on UTM solutions may not meet the needs of all enterprise customers.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the WatchGuard Firebox for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the WatchGuard Firebox can vary depending on the customer network environment. The performance and latency may differ from customer to customer and infrastructure to infrastructure.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of the Firebox depends on the specific model and the number of concurrent users it can support. Different models offer different VPN capacities and can be tailored to fit the needs of various sizes of organizations.
How are customer service and support?
Customer service and support are not explicitly mentioned in terms of rating, but overall feedback seems positive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used various solutions including CyberRooms, Sophos, Fortinet, SonicWall, and other competitors. We largely switched to WatchGuard to integrate their UTM solutions and later their acquired endpoint security portfolios.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the WatchGuard Firebox is straightforward and time-saving. It is designed to be user-friendly even for those with basic IT knowledge, making it easy to deploy and manage.
What about the implementation team?
Implementation can be done by internal IT teams. WatchGuard also provides support for implementation, ensuring that the configurations are appropriately pushed as per the model and requirements.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
WatchGuard offers cost-effective solutions, especially beneficial for economically-constrained customers. Pricing and discounts are deal-dependent and vary based on customer requirements.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated multiple products, including Fortinet, SonicWall, Sophos, CyberRooms, and various others in the market.
What other advice do I have?
To maintain the efficacy of the Firebox, it is crucial to renew the subscription to get security updates and additional support features. Ensuring the subscription is up-to-date is necessary for ongoing product support.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Efficient threat detection and responsive security alerts with excellent support
What is our primary use case?
WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response is used to monitor traffic and give alarms to the administration if something goes wrong. It reacts when services protected by it are attacked and sends notifications that something is amiss.
How has it helped my organization?
There is a significant improvement in the security of our organization. It's challenging to quantify the cost savings precisely, but it prevents potential breaches and protects our intellectual property. If a breach occurs, it could be catastrophic and very costly.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features include the ability to raise alarms when there are issues, easier configuration compared to other vendors, centralized update management, and keeping the product updated efficiently.
What needs improvement?
The pricing of WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response could be improved. It's not the cheapest option available. That said, it often meets our needs effectively. There are areas for improvement in making the product more economical.
In the future, I would like to see enhancements in eliminating threats more intuitively, allowing easier identification of issues.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In terms of stability, there have been no major issues after upgrades. I would rate the stability of the solution an eight out of ten. There were no significant problems related to this part of the solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response is quite scalable. It is designed to handle expansion and increase in usage efficiently. I would rate its scalability an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service and support from WatchGuard are excellent. In Finland, the technical support team has always provided outstanding service whenever required. I would rate the technical support team ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup involves configuring many elements, which can be a bit challenging. However, with detailed knowledge and preparation, the setup process can be completed in a day or two.
What about the implementation team?
Usually, WatchGuard's sales team in Finland includes a great technical team. I often turned to them if there was something I could not resolve right away. They provided really good support.
What was our ROI?
It's challenging to put a monetary value on the return of investment for this product as it primarily enhances security. Its effectiveness in preventing breaches significantly impacts overall cost savings.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response is not the cheapest solution. It usually falls in the middle of the price spectrum. However, considering the overall picture, including support and ease of use, it can be more economical in the long run.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There are alternative solutions available, but if you are using WatchGuard firewalls, it is quite easy to use this product too.
What other advice do I have?
In selecting security solutions, it's essential to consider the overall support and long-term ease of use. WatchGuard products, including firewalls, tend to be easier to configure and use compared to some cheaper alternatives.
I'd rate the solution eight 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?
Microsoft Azure
Provides ease of use to users
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution in my company mainly for security management and also for VPN.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution is its ease of use. For budgetary purposes, it meets our requirements.
What needs improvement?
For most of the part, the tool's interface is quite simple. The product can improve in terms of layout to provide easier access and viewing to users, especially for the reports.
One of the things that I think is missing in the tool is the area of managing IPv4 traffic via the IPv6 tunnel. If a few features were added to the tool, it would be great for migrating our network from IPv4 to IPv6.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using WatchGuard Firebox for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Considering we have even used the tool in our company for the past three years, we don't see much problem with the devices, except with what we call the updating and patching processes, which require some downplay and everything. I think we are quite satisfied with the tool's performance in our company.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I do believe the solution provides devices with a profile for a much higher requirement, but it all depends on the number of users and everything. Currently, my company is not that big, but we are supported by good vendors. I do believe the tool is scalable in terms of the devices because the product does provide a much higher model, but we don't need it because we are quite a small company.
In my company, we have only around 200 users, so we don't have many staff members.
How are customer service and support?
My company contacted the solution's technical support regarding the services, especially when we had some new requirements in terms of configurations and settings or when there were new protocol rules and policies and policies that needed to be implemented. I rate the support an eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, we used Sangfor, which is a brand from China, for our firewall and internet access management, but we switched to WatchGuard Firebox three years ago. One of the biggest reasons to use WatchGuard Firebox was related to the area of expertise. Our team or staff had experienced some lack of knowledge in Sangfor. After my company figured out which product was easy to learn and after making some comparisons, we decided to go for WatchGuard Firebox.
Compared to Sangfor, I think one of the advantages of WatchGuard Fire is the VPN solution, which includes a certain number of licenses in the package. There is no requirement to purchase more VPN licenses. The con is that Firebox is a part of the existing solution provided by WatchGuard.
How was the initial setup?
When it comes to the product's initial setup phase, our vendors support us, so they handle the setup process. We don't have many issues or problems during procurement or setting up all the configurations for WatchGuard Firebox.
The solution is deployed on the hybrid cloud model.
Last time, we got the tool ready within three days. After we provided all the information that the vendors required regarding the setup and configuration settings that we needed, they set it up within three days. A third party also provides the tool's maintenance services.
What was our ROI?
From the budgetary perspective, I believe the proposed price for WatchGuard Firebox was certainly much better than the other model that had been promoted to us before because the concerned department in our company procured the tool. I don't have any specific information on it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I am not sure about the tool's price as the commercial part is under a different department. I think the tool is quite competitive compared to the other brands.
What other advice do I have?
The tool's most effective for managing threats revolves around the area of the reporting services it offers, which is cloud-based reporting, so we can get a lot of information from the services.
I don't have much experience with other models, so I can't speak about WatchGuard Firebox's security. The good thing is that because it is easier to handle, and the company that supports us provides us with a lot of information, it is easier for us to operate the product.
WatchGuard Firebox VPN features significantly enhance operations, making it easier during COVID-19, when many people work from home. There are very good features, I recall, whereby you can access office resources without requiring employees to come to the office. The tool did help us a lot during COVID-19.
Our company has a data leakage prevention solution for our email. It is quite intuitive, but it's not WatchGuard Firebox.
Whether I would recommend the product or not is something that depends since I work in a small company where the income is not too much. Other companies of similar sizes might find some similarities with our organization, so I can recommend WatchGuard Firebox to such users or businesses. Bigger or corporate users who have much more requirement settings or a large number of users should look for a different brand that can support the large numbers.
I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud