Check Point Remote Access VPN vs F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Check Point Remote Access VPN and F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Remote Access solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Check Point Remote Access VPN vs. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Report (Updated: March 2020).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution offers high scalability as far as adding more users.""The VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your online traffic and it essentially ensures that your fingerprints cannot be traced on the Internet.""Organizations that already use the Check Point NGFW Solution do not require any additional hardware, which makes the implementation straightforward and reduces the time to go live.""The solution offers great security features, including zero-day protection, malware protection, anti-phishing, et cetera.""Check Point Remote Access VPN enables us to access on-premise applications while working from remote locations.""It keeps us safe when browsing the internet and when sharing confidential information with our colleagues.""The clients of the customers have a facility to access the enterprise network.""It allows everyone to work from home. If no one could work from home, then we wouldn't have a company, especially now during COVID-19. It's mission-critical, especially since it's currently being used. If there is a problem with it, we would really be screwed. We would be hard-pressed because we would have to figure out what solution we're going to go with, how to deploy it, how long it would take to deploy it, and how we'd even get it on people's computers if we couldn't VPN to them. It would be near impossible to just change to a new VPN solution right now."

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"it has TCP LAN and WAN optimization features. It has has caching.""The F5 GTM/BIGIP DNS (Global Traffic Manager) is a valuable feature. This feature allows for DNS load balancing, which means that high availability and load sharing can be done across services locally, as well as across datacenters with advanced capabilities​.""Load balancing generally brings high availability and a bigger ability to scale out. In some cases, it brings security, depending on how it is configured.""Our experience has been very good, in terms of performance, and securing our application infrastructure.""We're able to do load balancing and global load balancing. When you marry those two products together, you can do a lot more. We're able to deliver our applications more securely and faster. It has improved our deliverability where we have more service across the shared data centers. We can intelligently reach all of those client connections across all of the servers and do it fairly quickly. It has helped improve our application delivery and performance.""LTM.""I've worked a little bit with iRules and it is amazing.""I think F5's tech support may be better than Citrix's because they mainly focus on the ADC product, but Citrix support covers Hypervisor, XenMobile, FAS, and ADC. And from my experience, sometimes, we face some issues that Citrix cannot handle."

More F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Pros →

Cons
"Sometimes the application slows down the computing device, and this affects workflows.""Sometimes it causes the consumption of machine resources, and also improves the scanning since they consume many resources in the clients' machines.""The Linux version may have an app (similar to Windows) instead of a shell script.""The connection has gotten less smooth as the number of users increases. The issue is that the logs fill up quickly. Too many users are connecting remotely. It worked great when we only had a few remote connections. Now, it is disconnecting people and dropping the internet connection.""Improved scalability would allow the solution to handle larger numbers of users and devices without a significant impact on performance.""There was complexity in the initial setup.""We encounter challenges for the product’s installation and troubleshooting processes compared to other VPN products.""It's difficult to configure on Linux workstations as Check Point Remote VPN clients support only Windows and Mac devices."

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"BIG-IP LTM's sandboxing integration could be improved.""Security enhancement should be more user friendly.""I would like F5 to incorporate the ability to create your own custom roles and customised permissions within the product set. I have seen many customers wanting to give a certain level of access for the purposes of out-of-hours servicing to out-of-hours staff or teams that fulfill an operations type role.""If we decide to migrate to the cloud, I don't think that BIG-IP is a good solution and we probably won't use it.""The logging features are too limited and do not give us a solid understanding of what's happening.""They could improve the product's ease of use. There is some confusion how to operate it.""The product is expensive.""A lot of functions that are attributed to iRules can actually be simple profile changes. iRules do have a certain performance impact. Therefore, instead of writing simple iRules, they can create certain profiles for classes that will perform the same function."

More F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "My understanding is that the pricing and licensing are very competitive, and it's not one of their more expensive products. We buy licenses for the solution and have licenses for the endpoint servers."
  • "The price of this product is good."
  • "Organizations that already have the Check Point NGFW need to purchase an additional license to have access to the VPN functionality."
  • "There is a license required for this solution."
  • "Check Point Remote Access VPN is not expensive and the cost is annual."
  • "I can say that the licensing costs are charged annually."
  • "I give the price of the solution a five out of ten."
  • "My company makes yearly payments only towards the licensing costs attached to Check Point Remote Access VPN, as there are no extra costs attached to the product."
  • More Check Point Remote Access VPN Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Though functionality is high, its cost can be considered slightly higher than its competitors​."
  • "The licensing pricing seems relatively easy enough to get your head around. I would advise anyone to ensure that you have a conversation with an F5 consultant before purchasing, as you would with most products."
  • "Take a look at the modules that you are going to use. Look into the best bundles for them."
  • "The only area that has room for improvement would be pricing, so its competitors do not have a say."
  • "If your IT budget is good, go for it."
  • "This product is costly from a licensing perspective considering its competitors."
  • "Check other vendors like Cisco, Citrix or A10 Networks. There are plenty in the market with which you can achieve same thing."
  • "Great product for the money. But they can get really expensive, so get what meets your needs."
  • More F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:We encounter challenges for the product’s installation and troubleshooting processes compared to other VPN products. It is difficult to restore settings in cases of connection failure. This particular… more »
    Top Answer:We use Check Point Remote Access VPN for security features.
    Top Answer:The support from F5 BIG-IP LTM is good.
    Top Answer:There are a few licensing options available for F5 BIG-IP LTM. You can have a perpetual license which is a lifetime license. You then only need to renew the support, if you choose to open a ticket… more »
    Top Answer:The pricing must be more flexible. We get billed for firewalls based on the usage. It will be helpful if the solution provides such flexibility.
    Ranking
    4th
    out of 45 in Remote Access
    Views
    2,533
    Comparisons
    1,808
    Reviews
    30
    Average Words per Review
    511
    Rating
    8.6
    Views
    10,717
    Comparisons
    8,912
    Reviews
    30
    Average Words per Review
    483
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Check Point Remote Access VPN, Check Point Endpoint Remote Access VPN
    F5 BIG-IP, BIG-IP LTM, F5 ASM, Viprion, F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition , Crescendo Networks Application Delivery Controller, BIG IP
    Learn More
    Overview

    Remote secure access VPN is a solution that provides users with remote access to an organization’s network. The host may have VPN client software loaded or use a web-based client. The solution leverages security features like multi-factor authentication, endpoint scanning, and encryption of all data in motion.

    Check Point Remote Access VPN provides individuals with protected and efficient access to a company network from anywhere. This strategy fosters collaboration and connectivity between distributed teams and offices.

    Features of Check Point Remote Access VPN

    Key features of the secure remote access VPN include:

    • Compliance Scanning

    The system enforces endpoint security with endpoint compliance. It monitors and verifies the security status of each endpoint and reports back to the Security Gateway. The gateway, in turn, checks the compliance level and directs the connectivity to the right resources.

    • 3 Deployment Options

    Users can deploy the Remote Access VPN in one of three ways:

    1. Integrated with an Endpoint Security solution. In this case, you get a firewall, an application control (not in macOS), the remote access VPN, and compliance features included in the package.
    2. As a Standalone Check Point Mobile for Windows. This package includes a remote access VPN and compliance features.
    3. As a Standalone Secure Remote. This tier only includes the Remote Access VPN.
    • Central Management

    Remote Access VPN is centrally managed. The centralized console enables management and enforcement of policies with a single log-in.

    • Mobile Access Option

    The Remote Access VPN has a web portal that users can use to connect securely to corporate applications, such as web-based resources, file-sharing, and email. Administrators can customize the web portal to match the brand identity.

    • 2 Remote Access Options

    Remote Access VPN offers two choices for remote access:

    1. SSL VPN Portal: Includes the mobile access web portal, an SSL network extender, Check Point Mobile for iOS and Android, and a capsule workspace for iOS and Android.
    2. Layer 3 VPN Tunnel: Includes the endpoint security remote access VPN, Check Point Mobile for Windows, the capsule connect for iOS and Android, the VPN plugin for Windows 8.1, and the capsule VPN for Windows 10.
    • Authentication Support

    The authentication features include password management, RADIUS challenge/response, CAPI software, and hardware tokens. P12 certificates, and SecurID.

    • Encryption Tunnel

    The system establishes a VPN tunnel on demand. It also re-arranges connections when roaming. The tunnel can automatically tear down when the user is on the corporate LAN.

    • Connect Options

    There are several connection features, such as Hotspot detection, office mode IP, split tunneling, and automatic fallback to HTTPS.

    Benefits of Check Point Remote Access VPN

    One of the key advantages of Remote Access VPN is that it provides remote workers with a secure way to connect to a corporate network from any device, including their personal devices. The data encryption in transit enables them to securely access the resources they need for their tasks.

    It also provides IT support and technicians with a faster way to troubleshoot software issues. In the case of a ticket, IT doesn’t need to go to the server location to fix the problem but can troubleshoot it remotely.

    A remote secure access VPN is also an affordable alternative for small and medium-sized businesses, without requiring expensive infrastructure.

    Reviews from Real Users

    A Global IT Network and Security Service Senior Specialist at a manufacturing company who uses Check Point Remote Access VPN says, "I found the MEP feature the most valuable. This has improved users' latency allowing the users to connect to the nearest Azure Check Point VM."

    "Organizations that already use the Check Point NGFW Solution do not require any additional hardware, which makes the implementation straightforward and reduces the time to go live," explains Basil D., Senior Manager at a financial services firm.

    Manuel B., a Voice and data infrastructure specialist at a tech services company, says that "The IPSec VPN, Mobile Access, and Identity Awareness are three of the blades with which we have been working with since the pandemic. This has given us great mobility, making our network more dynamic."



    F5 BIG-IP LTM optimizes the speed and reliability of your apps via both network and application layers. Using real-time protocol and traffic management decisions based on app and server and connection management conditions, and TCP and content offloading, BIG-IP LTM dramatically improves application and infrastructure responsiveness. BIG-IP LTM's architecture includes protocol awareness to control traffic for the most important applications. BIG-IP LTM tracks the dynamic performance levels of servers and delivers SSL performance and visibility for inbound and outbound traffic, to protect the user experience by encrypting everything from the client to the server.

    BIG-IP LTM provides enterprise-class Application Delivery Controller (ADC). You get granular layer 7 control, SSL offloading and acceleration capabilities, and advanced scaling technologies that deliver performance and reliability on-demand. The highly optimized TCP/IP stack combines TCP/IP techniques and improvements in the latest RFCs with extensions to minimize the effect of congestion and packet loss and recovery. Independent testing tools and customer experiences show LTM's TCP stack delivers up to a 2x performance gain for users and a 4x increase in bandwidth efficiency.

    Sample Customers
    Osmose, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
    Riken, TransUnion, Tepco Systems Administration, Daejeon University, G&T Bank, Danamon, CyberAgent Inc.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm17%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Security Firm11%
    Computer Software Company11%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Government9%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider20%
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Media Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm17%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Government9%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business36%
    Midsize Enterprise30%
    Large Enterprise34%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise57%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business18%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise68%
    Buyer's Guide
    Check Point Remote Access VPN vs. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)
    March 2020
    Find out what your peers are saying about Check Point Remote Access VPN vs. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) and other solutions. Updated: March 2020.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Check Point Remote Access VPN is ranked 4th in Remote Access with 57 reviews while F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is ranked 1st in Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) with 116 reviews. Check Point Remote Access VPN is rated 8.8, while F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Check Point Remote Access VPN writes "Is easy to use and has a nice interface, but the scalability needs to improve". On the other hand, the top reviewer of F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) writes "Helps deliver applications to users in a reliable, secure, and optimized way". Check Point Remote Access VPN is most compared with OpenVPN Access Server, Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client, Check Point Harmony Mobile, Fortinet FortiClient and Zscaler Private Access, whereas F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) is most compared with Citrix NetScaler, Fortinet FortiADC, Microsoft Azure Application Gateway, NGINX Plus and HAProxy. See our Check Point Remote Access VPN vs. F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) report.

    We monitor all Remote Access reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.