OPNsense is a user-friendly, fast-track, open-source FreeBSD-based firewall and routing platform. This software offers features that are generally available from costly commercial firewalls, with the added benefit of open and verifiable sources. The firewall provides users, developers, and organizations with an advantageous environment through transparency. The development of this project is driven by a strong focus on security and code quality.
The most valuable features of OPNsense include its:
OPNsense improvements include:
OPNsense has shown significant growth and improvement, despite external factors such as COVID, financial meltdowns, and cyber warfare. The return on investment can be achieved in less than three months. Comparatively, other solutions require yearly fees of around $5,000, whereas OPNsense eliminates recurring fees and allows for savings within three months, even after considering equipment and setup costs.
The pricing for OPNsense is generally considered affordable and many users mention that they are using the free open-source version of the solution. Others mention the availability of a paid version with additional features. There are costs associated with acquiring hardware, training people, and investing in resources for the solution even if the open-source version is used. The overall sentiment towards pricing is positive, with users rating it favorably compared to other solutions.
The setup cost is dependent on factors such as whether it is deployed on-premises or in the cloud, with hardware costs also being a price consideration.
The primary use case of OPNsense is for security purposes, such as network access, firewall functionality, intrusion detection and prevention, and securing servers. It can be deployed both in the cloud and on-premises, and it is used in various industries including financial and metropolitan. OPNsense is also utilized for VPN, content filtering, overcoming malware-virus attacks, and securing cloud instances/VMs. It is chosen as a more versatile alternative to other firewall solutions like Cisco or Fortinet. Additionally, OPNsense is used as a proxy in different scenarios.
Customers have mixed opinions about the customer service and support of OPNsense. Some users find the support to be lacking, mentioning that there isn't a central place to reach out to and that they have to rely on forums for assistance. However, they also acknowledge that the forums provide a lot of helpful information. Others mention that they have used the support while admitting there is room for improvement.
The initial setup for OPNsense is described as straightforward, easy, and not overly complex. It can be completed relatively quickly, taking anywhere from one to four hours or even a couple of weeks depending on the specific requirements and familiarity with the solution.
The setup process involves defining IP addresses, configuring menus, and ensuring the basic aspects of the network are in place. Some users recommend using commodity hardware-based motherboards with built-in NIC/Ethernet cards to simplify the setup.
The deployment time varies based on individual circumstances, such as the number of endpoints or the complexity of the infrastructure. However, it is generally considered to be manageable and not excessively time-consuming.
OPNsense is easily scalable and can adapt to an organization's changing needs. It is flexible, highly available, and can support both vertical and horizontal scaling. It has been used by a range of customers, from small companies with minimal users to large enterprise companies.
OPNsense is highly stable and performs well without any bugs, glitches, or crashes. It has been proven to be reliable and dependable, although it may not be fully ready for enterprise use.
There have been few instances of bugs or problems, however, updates are regularly prompted to address any issues. The solution has been successfully used in production for extended periods without any problems.
The solution offers a variety of components, such as:
A team of professionals developed OPNsense. Other professional and experienced software architects, engineers, and developers are encouraged to join in the development of the solution to make it as successful as possible. OPNsense offers a variety of rich features with each release. Each upgrade is based on FreeBSD for continual, long-term support and utilizes a freshly advanced MVC framework based on Phalcon. OPNsense is committed to helping businesses, school networks, remote offices, hotels, and other markets in keeping their data protected.
OPNsense Core Features
OPNsense continually offers a free, complete, high-end security platform with new releases and features. With each release, OPNsense focuses on providing more unique and better security features in a timely manner. These features include:
Reviews from Real Users
OPNsense is a favorite security solution among reviewers for a number of reasons. Two of those reasons include the user-friendliness of the solution, which makes it easy to use, and its ability to easily scale.
For many, a user-friendly solution is essential. FiorindoDi A., a system administration specialist at a tech vendor, says, "The graphic user interface is very good and it is user-friendly, which makes the product easy-to-use."
Peerspot reviewers speak of the scalability of the solution. For example, an anonymous cloud and infrastructure manager at a venture capital and private equity firm reviewer notes, "OPNsense is easy to scale when running on the hardware."
1. Deciso B.V.
2. iXsystems, Inc.
3. EuroBSDCon
4. Netgate
5. Claranet
6. Voleatech
7. Open Systems AG
8. Securebit AG
9. Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH
10. AVM Computersysteme Vertriebs GmbH
Additional customers include: T-Systems International GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG, Vodafone GmbH, 1&1 IONOS SE, OVHcloud, Hetzner Online GmbH, Strato AG, PlusServer GmbH, Host Europe GmbH, United Internet AG, 1&1 Versatel Deutschland GmbH, QSC AG, Bechtle AG, Cancom SE, Computacenter AG & Co. oHG, T-Systems Multimedia Solutions GmbH, Atos SE, Capgemini SE, Accenture plc, IBM Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, Cisco Systems, Inc.