Watchguard Review
We currently use WatchGuard firewalls in most of our offices to protect the network. The firewalls are easily configurable and have great …
Overview
What is WatchGuard Network Security?
WatchGuard Network Security is a network security and firewall software. WatchGuard includes secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication, and network intelligence products and services designed for SMB’s.
Recent Reviews
How WatchGuard Network Security Differs From Its Competitors
Awards
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Popular Features
- Policy-based Controls (427)8.787%
- Firewall Management Console (421)8.686%
- Content Inspection (415)8.585%
- Reporting and Logging (418)8.080%
Reviewer Pros & Cons
Pricing
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Basic Security
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Total Security
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Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.watchguard.com/wgrd…
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Product Demos
Tutorial: Get Started with a WatchGuard Firebox
YouTube
Features
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Product Details
- About
- Competitors
- Tech Details
- Downloadables
- FAQs
What is WatchGuard Network Security?
The WatchGuard Firebox family of firewalls offers critical network security solutions for businesses of all types and sizes, including tabletop and 1U rack-mounted appliances to Cloud and virtual firewalls. Firebox appliances deliver critical security services from standard IPS, URL filtering, gateway AV, application control, and antispam, to advanced protections such as file sandboxing, and DNS filtering. High-performance deep packet inspection (DPI) means users can leverage these security services against attacks attempting to hide in encrypted channels like HTTPS. Additionally, every Firebox offers SD-WAN right out of the box for improved network resiliency and performance.
WatchGuard Network Security Features
Firewall Features
- Supported: Identification Technologies
- Supported: Visualization Tools
- Supported: Content Inspection
- Supported: Policy-based Controls
- Supported: Active Directory and LDAP
- Supported: Firewall Management Console
- Supported: Reporting and Logging
- Supported: VPN
- Supported: High Availability
- Supported: Stateful Inspection
- Supported: Proxy Server
WatchGuard Network Security Screenshots
WatchGuard Network Security Video
WatchGuard Network Security
WatchGuard Network Security Competitors
WatchGuard Network Security Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows, Linux, Mac |
| Mobile Application | No |
| Supported Countries | Global |
| Supported Languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese |
WatchGuard Network Security Downloadables
- WatchGuard M290 & M390 Datasheet: UTM performance, ideal for small and midsize organizations with up to 250 users looking for a rack-mounted solution.
- WatchGuard M590 & M690 Datasheet: UTM performance, ideal for growing midsize organizations with up to 1,000 users.
- WatchGuard M4800 & M5800 Datasheet: Typically deployed at the corporate headquarters, these appliances serve as the “hub” appliance, responsible for managing and securing all communications between the head office and all remote employee and small business sites.
- WatchGuard Total Security Suite Brochure
- WatchGuard Network Security Case Study
- WatchGuard Corporate Brochure
Frequently Asked Questions
WatchGuard Network Security is a network security and firewall software. WatchGuard includes secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication, and network intelligence products and services designed for SMB’s.
Fortinet FortiGate, Sophos SG Firewall Appliances, and Cisco Meraki MX are common alternatives for WatchGuard Network Security.
Reviewers rate Stateful Inspection highest, with a score of 9.
The most common users of WatchGuard Network Security are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Reviews and Ratings
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Reviews
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June 20, 2024
Watchguard Review
We currently use WatchGuard firewalls in most of our offices to protect the network. The firewalls are easily configurable and have great security features to secure our networks. The device is the first line of defense into our network. We use many of the available features to secure all incoming and outgoing traffic.
- Security
- Application Control
- Traffic managment
- Logs
- Bandwidth meter
June 19, 2024
Great Product
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Use several NGFW clustered in different countries, physical and virtual appliances as well. Same interface, with no learning curves. Used at the perimeter, connected sites with branch office VPN, and for some, used as a VPN SSL for roaming users. They were bought with the total security suite which provides advanced defense-related features. Globally we use all (or near) the possibilities offered by those devices, and they work as expected.
- Firewall rules with auto-ordering
- Bandwidth consistency
- Branch Office VPN
- Centralized appliance (Dimension) at no cost is a great solution to consolidate reports from several appliances
- No possibility to negate terms in rules such as "allow everything from x.x.x.x/yy except x.x.x.z"
- Mixing rules of pure firewalling with those concerning VPN SSL ends up in something not pleasant and not easily readable, should have a dedicated tab for VPN SSL rules, as the one for IPSEC VPN rules
- No proxy support for SFTP or FTPS (I know it's quite hard to achieve that)
- The embedded rule for NTP has never been corrected to remove TCP for port 123
June 18, 2024
Good option for small and mid size businesses.
Our network has a couple of WatchGuard devices (Router/FW). The devices have been working for years and seem reliable enough. In my opinion configuration/changes are not as easy and intuitive as many others are (from other manufacturers).
- Function as a router.
- Enforce FW rules.
- Port Monitoring.
- IPS
- Configuration
- UI/Dashboard
- Traffic Monitor.
June 13, 2024
Proven Opinion, Confirmed
We use the VPN to make VPN connections and to secure our services through security services that are included in the device, such as IPS, Anti-Virus and APT Blocker, in addition to blocking the exposed services to the whole world through the geolocation module. We can easily verify connections through the log server. Compared to other vendors, it is much easier to protect ourselves.
- Easy Configuration
- Offline Configuration
- Easy to Deployment
- Ready-made configuration
- Policy Filtering Arrow Up Arrow Down
- Search by Policy
June 07, 2024
Great Product for the Price!
We use our WatchGuard [Network Security] across our organization's network. It provides great throughput even while security services are enabled. We're also using its VPN capabilities to keep devices protected for our remote team. We love the option for fiber connectivity and have taken advantage of it to bring a fiber connection all the way down to our switches.
- Easy to configure
- Configuration is extremely flexible
- Great security features.
- Would be nice to see more AI driven traffic monitoring
- Would be nice to be able to detect suspicious traffic within the network
- Cloud management is lacking
June 05, 2024
WatchGuard Network Security gets the job done
Used as a firewall to lockdown insecurities, proxy for more secure websurfing, VPN utility for all us to manage remotely and users to work from home. Once we are already setup at each of our clients, it's just steady maintenance and adding things we introduce into the client. We use SSLVPN for some clients and others we've upgraded them to IKEv2. One client we actively are using WatchGuard Network Security Authpoint as well.
- VPN
- Support
- Policies
- Proxies
- Clear Network Monitoring tool
- Simpler way to access logs from users without WatchGuard Network Security Dimensions
- Allow ports to be altered from within a policy instead of having to create a new one or edit the one used.
- Make logging option on the front page as a tickbox to avoid having to go to second tab and then clicking the logging button and then ticking the log feature.
We use WatchGuard's Fireboxes for our main perimeter security. The products acts are our primary deference for traffic into our organisation. It gives us great insight into our network traffic, types and quantity of traffic we are managing. It allows us to have web proxies at our perimeter in addition to our other security products.
- Support
- Web Proxies
- Traffic Management
- Policy Management
- Ability to find where network alias objects are in use
June 03, 2024
WatchGuard Network Security
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
t is used for network security, mostly for connectivity between offices; It is very complicated to manage them and monitor the administration carried out by each connected user.
- The connection between offices
- The VPN connection
- and security blocking on the Internet and intranet and web services
- Review of incoming emails within the internal network, and a better detail of what happens with emails that enter and leave.
- In Dimension better granulation or detail how to see the information
- APs can be viewed locally and Managed locall
May 30, 2024
Powerful and Great Security Solution
In my organization, WatchGuard Network Security is used to efficiently control the use of our network and to be able to deliver under internet policies in the safest way for all our users. We apply application control policies, bandwidth management, and control via navigation proxy. In this way, we avoid improper use in our organization of internet resources.
- Internet packet filtering.
- Application policy control
- navigation control through proxy.
- Botnet Detection
- Intrusion Prevention
- Should improve control of who or what consumes the bandwidth.
- must improve to know which devices are connected to the network.
- DNS detection improve the captured data.
May 29, 2024
WatchGuard
I use WatchGuard Network Security to protect the company infrastructure, VPN Branch Office secure access to external collaborators via VPN client. Management of multiple WAN connections via SDWAN. I also manage navigation rules with groups on Active Directory (Application controller, web blocker etc.).
- simple and intuitive configuration
- excellent monitoring management via real-time logs, host watch etc.
- device management via dimension and/or WatchGuard Cloud is excellent
- possibility of managing bidirectional communication on sslvpn (openvpn) connections so as to be able to exploit this channel to route traffic to the remote peer.
May 28, 2024
Good Firewall
We use WatchGuard for firewalls, DHCP, DNS and other networking abilities it offers. For our larger clients its proven to be a truly robust firewall. for out smaller clients, the T series is a beneficial part of their networking ecosystem for DHCP and DNS services, as well ad still being a solid firewall.
- Firewall
- Network Switching and routing
- dhcp and dns
- traffic routing
- training
- documentation
- local user database management
- ad authentication
May 28, 2024
All in one Network security solution
We use WatchGaurd to configure our AuthPoint VPN users and manage the security while users remote into the inside network. The biggest problem this product addresses is the security of the internal network. The scope of our use case is on the enterprise level and allows users to securely access the data.
- Security
- User management
- Authpoint Configuration
- resend token function
When I get to the engineers at WatchGuard their support is fantastic. Configuration and issues causing conflict are always responded to well and relatively quickly with the right motivation relating to response need.
- Escalate quickly
- work from a position of information.
- Answering calls quickly and efficiently
- Quickly asking about urgency of issues
May 06, 2024
Watchguard Network Security.
We use Watchguard Network Security and its products to protect our network from outside threats, manage our inside network, and handle multiple connections in-house. It allows us to separate personal Wi-Fi from our business network and connections from the web to an outward-facing website. It also allows us to use multiple internet connections for redundancy.
- Great interface.
- Excellent support.
- Works as needed.
- N/A
May 06, 2024
great product
We love WatchGuard products. It is easy to renew the license each year, and when it's time to replace them I have had great success with their support team in helping me do this! Would recommend them to anyone interested in an easy secure firewall product.
- url filtering
- intrusion prevention
- DOS monitroing
- interface could be better
May 02, 2024
Experience with WatchGuard products
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
In our organization, WatchGuard network security products are used to protect the perimeter and protect endpoints. Every day we filter out a very large flow of unwanted traffic. We use a web blocker together with program control to fully control user traffic. The ease of monitoring and configuration of this equipment reduces support labor costs. The all-in-one principle is a big plus. Helps resolve security issues, search for intrusion attempts and vulnerabilities. Field of activity: retail.
- Easy Configuration
- High degree of protection against attacks
- Long Life time
- Best support team
- Increased global settings changes across many devices
- Expand DDOS protection
- More integration systems
April 22, 2024
Great for SMBs
We are an SMB and have been using WatchGuard products across Canada to secure our headquarters, branch offices, and remote workers. Keeping on top of threats, trends, and vulnerabilites has become an easier task through the cloud dashboard. We also use WatchGuard Network Security WatchGuard's Secure Wi-Fi for our infrastructure. WatchGuard Network Security WatchGuard's Secure Wi-Fi cloud is easyily managed and has simplified our WiFi adoption.
- VPN, Mobile VPN
- Proxies
- WebBlocker
- Traffic management
- Reporting
- TDR EOL
April 22, 2024
WatchGuard 2024
We use WatchGuard as our network firewall both for ourselves and for about 50% of our managed services clients. The device serves as the gateway to our network as well as routing traffic between on long list of VLANs. Having the Total Security Suite gives some of the security features that we use in our organization.
- Web Filtering
- DNS Filtering
- Geofencing
- Web filtering exceptions need to be entered twice due to the format
- The quantity of policies can get to be large
- had some glitches in the web ui though I generally prefer the WSM
April 22, 2024
The right value!
As a managed service provider, we've used WatchGuard Network Security fireboxes as our "platform" of choice for our customer firewall deployments. We employ the Watchguard Total Security Suite to ensure that our customer networks are fully protected. on deployments where there are multi-site, we use the BoVPN and SD-WAN to direct traffic to appropriate sites and resources.
- Training
- Partner Program
- Demo/NFR Units
- Network Switches are not in the portfolio
- The wireless devices are nice, but don't seem to fit our stack for the pricepoint.
- At least in my situation, Authpoint is difficult to sell when compared to other identity providers.
April 19, 2024
WatchGuard Security Services and Firebox
WatchGuard provides one of the most complete firewall products I've used. We use their products as our primary offering to clients to secure small, medium, and large locations. These are also some of the easiest firewalls to configure and understand. We chose to use on-prem management via system manager which allows us to centrally manage, review, and monitor our firewalls.
- A complete MFA solution to secure workstations, servers, and firewalls
- Cloud based management
- A subscription service that's worth our clients money and our time
- Cloud management + on-prem sync
- MFA for requiring domain credentials
- Ability to turn poe on and off
April 19, 2024
WatchGuard Systems Security
Between our company and our clients, we have over 15 WatchGuard Firebox systems setup in various locations across the country. Have always had good service when needed and the equipment has always been reliable. Highly recommend these units for any SMB partner that needs enterprise level security and reliable service and support.
- Protection from DOS attacts
- Secure VPN access from remote locations
- Reliable Branch Office VPN even if one site has Dynamic IP
- UI (both through WSM and Web Interface) could be more user friendly
April 15, 2024
Loving my WatchGuard
WatchGuard's Total Security Suite features intrusion prevention, spam blocking, and DNS filtering, offering me enhanced network visibility and the ability to act against threats directly from the web management page. it simplifies securing my network with VLANs and allows for easy cross VLAN secure traffic as well as blocking ALL un-authorized outgoing traffic
- Geo Blocking allows me to use a VPN and only allow Geo Specific access.
- IPS - gives me peace of mind that the baddies are not on my network.
- with Traffic monitoring, I can easily troubleshoot connectivity issues.
- I cannot think if anything that I could improve upon.
April 15, 2024
WatchGuard appliances
These devices provide the first line of defense for all web traffic into and out of the offices I manage. Traffic is scanned for viruses, etc. Web sites are also blocked based on category granularly based on employee type.
- Management
- Warranty/Support
- Subscriptions
- Network throughput on smaller appliances
- More rack mount options
April 15, 2024
Best Firewalls for the $$
We are an MSP and utilize WatchGuard firewalls at many of our client's locations.
- Easy to setup and manage
- IP/Content blocking
- Remote monitoring
- Cost
- VPN setup was a little confusing at first
- DNS Server limit
- SSO
We utilize these WatchGuard Network Security devices at each of our locations, with a redundant cluster at our primary location. The sites are connected using the branch office VPN system. Remote users have several VPN options. This has enabled us to provide vendors with limited network access and a VPN connection while providing our employees with full network access. We also implemented several of the security subscriptions including the Geolocation service which improved web-based attacks on our client computers.
- They are quick to provide solutions to zero-day exploits.
- They quickly replace warranted hardware.
- Technical support will continue to provide good service, even when there is not a fast solution.
- There have been occasions where a basic functionality such as having two DHCP servers was not supported and required a feature request to address the issue.
- There are somewhat limited routing functions in the devices that we use.
- The secondary units sold in a cluster cannot be repurposed as a stand-alone unit. This lowers the cost but limits any future uses.