We performed a comparison between Meraki MX and OPNsense based on real PeerSpot user reviews.
Find out in this report how the two Firewalls solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI."It increases security posture and is helpful for firewall reporting, intrusion protection, web filtering, and SD-WAN implementation."
"The most valuable features are the possibility of having one fabric for switching on security."
"Advanced routing (RIP, OSPF, BGP, PBR). It gives you a seamless and simple integration into a large network."
"What I like the most is the configuration and that it's simple, and straightforward to maintain."
"We use the FortiGate Sandbox to detect zero-day vulnerabilities, such as anomalies or malware, that are unknown and have not yet been discovered."
"FortiGate firewalls are easy to manage through a user-friendly web interface. They also have advanced features like DDoS and DLP. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling all of these features on one device because it can cause performance issues."
"The solution is very easy to understand. It's not overly complex."
"I only deal with it from a security analyst's point of view. I don't really get into the features of the actual FortiGate. From the security point of view, it works, and it does its job."
"The most valuable feature is that we didn't have any problems with Meraki MX."
"I think cloud management is key. The cloud management and support are the two things that make the product great."
"To me, the analytics feature is one of the most valuable in Meraki MX. I also find that it has good usability as it's cloud-based. Another valuable feature of Meraki MX is that it's simple to use and it's user-friendly."
"I am happy with the technical support for the solution. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten."
"You can use your web browser to do the configuration which is easier than Cisco CLI transcripts."
"Dual WAN connections are greatly simplified and point-to-point VPNs automatically connect regardless of what WAN connection is active."
"Managed centrally over the web: You can manages all your Meraki devices in a single account."
"Ease of management is the best thing about the solution."
"I feel that its valuable features are that it is simple and free."
"OPNsense could improve by making the configuration more web-based rather than shell or command-line-based."
"The initial implementation process is simple."
"One of the most valuable features is the network checking. Additionally, the firewall and web filtering functionalities are highly useful."
"OPNsense is easy to scale when running on the hardware."
"The most valuable feature is the Dual WAN in OPNSense, which offers advanced capabilities."
"It's more secure and more reliable."
"The solution is user-friendly and easy to configure."
"It needs more available central management."
"Bandwidth usage in reporting could be improved for Fortinet FortiGate."
"Lacks sufficient security options."
"Reporting is limited to providing an external appliance for improving the reporting capabilities of the FortiAnalyzer. It does not offer a central management and is also sold separably as an appliance."
"This product needs to have an analysis feature, rather than having the analysis done through the integration of a different product."
"The reports are very basic."
"I would like some automated custom reporting."
"They are doing good, but they can improve the distributor assignment. The availability of the product and the timeline of delivery are the main things. The distribution should be swift, and the distributor should not reach out to end customers directly. They should work as a distributor. There should also be one more local distributor. Currently, there is only one distributor in Pakistan, and the rest of them are in UAE. It is difficult to work with only one distributor. Sometimes, you don't get along with the same distributor, and that's why they should have one more distributor. Their licensing should also be improved. The activation or renewal of the product should be done from the date of renewal, not from the date on which the license expired."
"It would be great if the Meraki devices let us see, in real time, the internet demand on a single device."
"More detail needed for configuration of the VPN."
"Load balancing options and ability to manage a couple of Internet connections."
"We could have more reporting options and the ability to send alarms to the administrator."
"The problem is that the two licenses do not currently integrate. We have to create separate companies and do an interconnection."
"Meraki MX can come across as an expensive solution."
"Direct logging is something that can be introduced. In the absence of cloud management, the possibility of local configurations and on-premise logins becomes restricted. This limitation stands as a primary concern. When it comes to resolving issues, the inability to access login options hampers troubleshooting efforts. The stability is noteworthy; but when compared to alternative products, its stability is comparatively lower. Additionally, certain limitations are observed in terms of remote control. Price-wise, the solution stands out for its competitive and cost-effective nature compared to other alternatives. Operationally, it is user-friendly and requires minimal effort from administrators, making configuration hassle-free."
"Meraki tech support staff have a lot more visibility into your network than you do, which is frustrating at times. I understand the approach is to keep the dashboard easier to understand. This will frustrate more advanced users at times."
"The interface of the solution is an area with shortcomings."
"Given that OPNsense plays a pivotal role as a firewall, safeguarding against various threats, having a reliable backup ensures uninterrupted protection even if unforeseen events impact the primary virtual machine."
"Its interface should be a little bit better."
"While they do have paid options that actually gives better features, for most of the clients, if they tend to take a paid option will instead opt for Fortinet."
"The logging could improve in OPNsense."
"The user interface could be improved, and the DNS section should be more intuitive."
"The interface needs to be simplified. It is not user-friendly."
"I would like better documentation concerning the provided packages and their integration."
Meraki MX is ranked 2nd in Unified Threat Management (UTM) with 58 reviews while OPNsense is ranked 3rd in Firewalls with 36 reviews. Meraki MX is rated 8.2, while OPNsense is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Meraki MX writes "Cost-effective, simplified, easy to manage, and reliable with advanced security features and granular visibility". On the other hand, the top reviewer of OPNsense writes "Robust network security and management offering a user-friendly interface, open-source flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, with challenges regarding initial setup and the absence of official support". Meraki MX is most compared with Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls, Cisco Secure Firewall, Sophos XG, SonicWall TZ and Azure Firewall, whereas OPNsense is most compared with Netgate pfSense, Sophos XG, Untangle NG Firewall, Sophos UTM and IPFire. See our Meraki MX vs. OPNsense report.
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