IT Manager at a hospitality company with 51-200 employees
Real User
User-friendly, easy to configure, and stable
Pros and Cons
  • "The interface is user-friendly and the product is easy to configure."
  • "Support for this product is something that is really important, and it needs to improve."

What is our primary use case?

We are using a basic model for its security features. We are in the hospitality industry and it has all of the features that we need.

What is most valuable?

The interface is user-friendly and the product is easy to configure.

What needs improvement?

Support for this product is something that is really important, and it needs to improve.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Sophos XG for almost eight years.

Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This solution has been stable so far.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

This is a scalable product and we have about 45 people using it.

Only one person is required for maintenance.

How are customer service and support?

Before the current pandemic, technical support was good, but it is becoming worse.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

In the past, I have worked with SonicWall and Fortinet products.

I prefer Sophos because of the user-friendly configuration and stability.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

This is a budget-friendly product with reasonable pricing.

What other advice do I have?

In summary, this is a good product and other than the support, I don't think that there is anything else that will improve it for us.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior Manager, Information Technology at a university with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Reliable and easy to install, but the policies should be upgraded
Pros and Cons
  • "It is simple to use."
  • "In the next release, I would like to see improvements to simplify the interface and more policy deployments."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution as a firewall for everyone to connect to the internet.

We protect ourself and we use it as a VPN to connect to the internal network. 

How has it helped my organization?

It is improved significantly. 

What is most valuable?

It is simple to use.

What needs improvement?

The interface should be changed. It should be more user-friendly.

They should also update the policies and statistics because Fortinet is better, but Sophos could grow.

In the next release, I would like to see improvements to simplify the interface and more policy deployments.

For how long have I used the solution?

It was Cyberoam and we upgraded to Sophos XG. We have been using Cyberoam for more than 10 years and more than one year with Sophos XG.

We were on version 17 and have just upgraded to version 18.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's stable. We have no problem at all with stability or with Sophos XG.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Its high availability is fine, it's good. It's scalable as well.

 We have approximately 500  employees using this solution.

We will continue and increase our usage of this product.

How are customer service and technical support?

We had one issue with Cyberoam, but it was upgraded with Sophos. They helped us, but it takes a bit of time to resolve it but it's fine. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We also use Fortinet FortiGate for large locations. The Fortinet usage is completely different than Sophos. Sophos is simple, but I prefer Fortinet.

How was the initial setup?

It's easy to install. 

It takes the team one hour to launch it.

We have a team of 15 people to deploy and maintain this solution.

What about the implementation team?

We completed the installation ourselves.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We purchased the technical appliances for on-premises.

We have our license for three years.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Yes. Fortinet. However the price is much better to Fortinet.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Sophos XG to others, but it would depend on their capacity.

I would rate Sophos XG a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
768,857 professionals have used our research since 2012.
VP of Operations at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Stable, easy to setup the rules, versatile, and good support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of this solution is the flexibility of it, it's pretty versatile."
  • "The UI needs improvement because it can be a little weird at times."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case of this solution is as the main company firewall.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of this solution is the flexibility of it, it's pretty versatile.

Also, the firewall aspect in terms of setting up rules. They worked pretty well.

What needs improvement?

The UI needs improvement because it can be a little weird at times.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used Sophos XG in the last twelve months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This solution is stable. We haven't had any real issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I don't know if this solution is scalable. We haven't explored this area yet.

As we grow, we plan to increase usage.

How are customer service and technical support?

Technical support is good.

How was the initial setup?

Initially, the setup was a bit complex.

It was complex because we were coming off of a different setup. It was just getting used to the software, but it's not too bad.

We require one and a half staff members for the deployment and the maintenance. They seem to do a pretty good job of updating it and keeping it current.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented ourselves. We did not use a vendor or integrator.

What was our ROI?

We're military contractors, and the cybersecurity compliance aspect of it has been the most helpful.

We know how the networks operate from our end, even though we are relatively green. We don't what we are comparing it to.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We prepaid in advance to get the max discount.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate Sophos XG an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
IT Support Executive at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Simple, stable and secure with regular timely updates
Pros and Cons
  • "The simplicity and timely updates."
  • "The interface could be simplified and diagnostic system graphs improved."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is as a firewall, failover management of the internet lines. We have over 50 people using the product on 200 devices and we use it on a daily basis. I'm an IT support executive and we're a customer of Sophos. 

How has it helped my organization?

We are using sophos XG as the firewall for our offices, so any connections going outside of the office go through it. We are also using VPN clients and especially during the lockdown, it was very helpful.

What is most valuable?

I like the simplicity of the solution and the timely updates. It works well. 

What needs improvement?

The interface could be improved by simplifying it and making it much smarter. I would also like to see an improvement in the diagnostic system graphs. They could be modified to provide individual graphs. The present page has all graphs in a single page and it slows things down and takes more time to refresh and load. 

Additional features they could consider including in any update would be symbols and tools. They could also include URL groups and all Office updates, the regular things that people do on a daily basis. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for the past year and a half. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable solution. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We haven't yet tried scaling, that will take another six months. I'll be in a better position to answer then. 

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is fine overall.

How was the initial setup?

I've now configured three times and although it gets easier, deployment is a little complex. We had some issues with the company, unrelated to the product, more to do with the licensing procedures in India which could be simplified. Deployment only took about half an hour and the solution doesn't require any maintenance. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Licensing costs are generally set for three years. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

PaloAlto, FirtiGate

What other advice do I have?

Before installing this product it's worth taking some lessons from the website which also provides some support. It's almost better than the technical support which is offline. If you have a good vendor with hands-on experience that's also helpful for first time deployment. After you've implemented once, it's easier the second time. 

I would rate this solution an eight out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Support Services Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 51-200 employees
Real User
An easy to use firewall solution that improves our security
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution seems pretty stable. We've had no issues so far."
  • "It's easy to use, but it's hard to configure exact settings. They need to make it easier to access advanced features."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution mainly as a firewall.

What is most valuable?

The solution improves security.

What needs improvement?

It's easy to use, but it's harder to configure when you want detailed settings. They need to make it easier to access advanced features.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution seems pretty stable. We've had no issues so far.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We haven't had to scale anything so far, so I'm unsure about the scalability of the solution.

How are customer service and technical support?

I've never had to deal directly with technical support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We did not previously use a different solution.

How was the initial setup?

Implementation is straightforward. The only thing that was difficult was that we had some special cases and we had to dig in a lot to find the information for accessing very specific features. Deployment took about a week, however, we did about 6 months of research beforehand. You can deploy the solution with maybe one or two people, but we used five. We only need one person for ongoing maintenance.

What about the implementation team?

We handled the implementation ourselves.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We don't have any costs above the licensing of the solution itself.

What other advice do I have?

We are using the on-premises deployment model.

The solution is easy to implement, however, if you do decide on this solution, I would make sure that you have someone that has experience with this kind of solution or to hire someone to implement the solution properly. It will make everything much easier in the long run.

I would rate the solution 9.5 out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Technical Presales Consultant/ Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
MSP
Top 5
Good security, easy to use, and has a simple installation
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is very easy to use and straightforward."
  • "The initial setup, specifically when activating the license, is a nightmare and is quite difficult."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is primarily used to secure networks, just like PSF, but much better. Sophos XG has a UTM, which is much more security inclusive than a firewall, as it takes a look at the threat management landscape from a unified point of view. They have a firewall and they have an IPS inside the same box. They have a sandbox, they have a web filter, they have a web application firewall, they have a mail gateway, and they have a DMP. These are all inside one box. It's excellent at protecting networks from security threats as well.

What is most valuable?

The solution offers everything in one product.

It's excellent at protecting networks from malicious threats.

The solution is very easy to use and straightforward. 

Once you get past the license activation, the installation is easy.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see the technical support improve. They have the worst technical support I have ever seen in my whole life.

The initial setup, specifically when activating the license, is a nightmare and is quite difficult. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for five years now. It's been a while. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We're a distributor, however, the company is still quite new. At my last company, I had 150 clients on Sophos. 

How are customer service and technical support?

Technical support is just awful. They are not helpful or responsive. We are not satisfied with the level of support on offer. They need to improve this aspect. They simply do not reply.

They have very bad response times. It's very strange. Before, when I was dealing with Cyberoam, before Cyberoam was acquired by Sophos, it was good. Now, it's Sophos XG, and, while Cyberoam support was amazing, Sophos support has just gone down the drain. I don't know why.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is a nightmare. The installation, getting the box to get up and running, is a hectic process, due to the fact that the box basically would not activate any feature unless the license is activated. And the license is only activated with the cloud. When you are doing that, it's just a sort of a nightmare. Now they have a new feature in which you can just create a license and you can activate the license on the appliance. However, generally speaking, it's one of those appliances that, if it's not registered on the portal online, won't even start. It can be a nightmare sometimes. That said, after the license is activated, it's just plain simple and easy.

What about the implementation team?

I previously was an implementor and would set up the solution for clients.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

You need to pay for the license. You need to pay for the hardware as well. The cost depends on the model of the hardware and on which license. They have different editions, and licenses you're going to go with. They have different modules, and the cost depends on which modules you'd like to activate for security features. Not everyone will buy Sophos to utilize all the features. Usually, it's just the firewall, and IPS, sandbox, and the web filter that people are looking for. Not many people have Sophos or VM servers on-prem to protect them.

What other advice do I have?

We use both cloud and on-premises deployment models. 

Now, I am using the solution personally at home, however, before, where I was working, I used the solution for three years, specifically implementing Sophos XG for customers.

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. 

I'd recommend the solution to other users and companies. For small and medium businesses, Sophos is a good security vendor.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
IT Manager , SAP HANA Administrator at Tara Paints & Chemicals
Real User
Overall work well, reliable, but reporting needs more information
Pros and Cons
  • "Overall the solution works well."
  • "The reporting could be improved in this solution by adding more details."

What is most valuable?

Overall the solution works well.

What needs improvement?

The reporting could be improved in this solution by adding more details.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for approximately five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There used to be problems with the stability of the solution a few years ago but now the solution is stable and reliable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have approximately 400 users using this solution in my company and we plan to increase usage in the future.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support has been good.

How was the initial setup?

The initial installation is straightforward.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is priced well.

What other advice do I have?

I am satisfied with the solution.

I rate Sophos XG a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Sales Manager at INFOSEC
Real User
Stable with a good cloud-based console and great for enterprise-level organizations
Pros and Cons
  • "The product has a console that is based in the cloud for all their products. In this console, they have email security, firewall security, endpoint security, et cetera. All of the products on offer in the console are very useful for us."
  • "The manuals or guides we are given are too simple. When we are implementing the product, it is difficult for us as we don't have more detailed information."

What is most valuable?

The product has a console that is based in the cloud for all their products. In this console, they have email security, firewall security, endpoint security, et cetera. All of the products on offer in the console are very useful for us.

The solution is stable.

The solution works well for enterprises and large-scale organizations.

What needs improvement?

The manuals or guides we are given are too simple. When we are implementing the product, it is difficult for us as we don't have more detailed information. 

The technical support on offer is slow. When I have questions, they answer me very slowly. Sometimes within 24 hours, I have a response. However, it can be longer. In Mexico, Sophos doesn't have technical support locally. It's in Argentina or in other countries. It would be nice if support was available in the country.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is okay. That said, as an enterprise solution, it can be a bit unstable during the initial implementation.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution works well for enterprise-level organizations.

How are customer service and technical support?

We're not overly satisfied with technical support. We'd like to see local support, from within our country. Due to the fact that it is coming from outside, the response is very slow. We'd like it to be faster. We aren't completely satisfied with the level of service we get. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is difficult in that there isn't enough documentation available to walk a user through the process. It can cause some issues. It's not exactly straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

Sometimes we need to work with other resellers. We don't always implement the solution by ourselves. 

What other advice do I have?

We are partners with Sophos.

We are using the 130-type of solution.

We take a hybrid approach to deployment. Some servers are on-premise and some servers are in-cloud.

I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Sophos XG Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2024
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Firewalls
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Sophos XG Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.