Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) Reviews

My main use case for Check Point NGFW is using it as a next gen firewall for perimeter security, for branch connectivity, VPN access, and deep packet inspection of north south traffic. That is the main use case.

Check Point NGFW has positively impacted my organization, which has around two thousand employees, by keeping us protected from cyber threats. It's challenging nowadays, but with Check Point NGFW deployed for perimeter security, we effectively block unwanted or malicious intrusions, allowing all organizational users to stay safe while performing their tasks without disruption. The positive impact is evident as users remain focused on their work, which contributes to improving our organizational economic growth.

The best features Check Point NGFW offers include application control, which makes it granular control for managing applications. There are thousands of applications in the Check Point repository, making it easy to write a policy according to requirements based on application needs. Another feature such as URL filtering works efficiently, allowing us to categorize websites for user access. We can create allow and deny policies based on organizational needs. Additionally, there is IPS for preventing threats, which can take action against malware or unwanted traffic trying to enter the network. This keeps us safe and protected against cyber threats.

Check Point NGFW also has an antivirus capability and allows identity-based policies with easy integration of LDAP or two-factor authentication methods. HTTPS inspection stands out as Check Point NGFW excels in identifying threats because it inspects all traffic, including encrypted traffic, for malicious activities. Check Point has good hardware capabilities to accelerate and manage overall traffic load, accommodating heavy loads easily. SmartConsole centralizes firewall management for better control over multiple firewalls and policies.

For improvements, I believe integrating AI-driven features for bulk operations or complicated tasks would be beneficial for Check Point NGFW. A feature that allows users to prompt the AI for backend tasks would save operational teams time and streamline processes. Additionally, improving the dashboards for better visibility and metrics regarding attack traffic would also benefit the monitoring team.

I have been using Check Point NGFW for two and a half years.

I rate the overall stability of Check Point NGFW at a ten out of nine because, while it performs exceptionally, SmartConsole needs improvement regarding performance. Sometimes it takes time to install policies, but I believe future enhancements will improve this aspect.

Overall, I would rate Check Point NGFW as a nine for its good performance, leaving one point for future improvements, particularly in SmartConsole performance.

The scalability of Check Point NGFW is good. We can utilize its entire feature set, including URL filtering, application control, IPS, and threat intelligence. Integrations with LDAP and other two-factor authentication solutions are easily accomplished, adding to its good integration perspective.

Check Point NGFW's customer support is very good. Occasionally, responses can be delayed, but I understand there are circumstances on their side, which is acceptable. I hope their support will improve in the future.

My experience with Check Point NGFW's pricing reveals it is a bit higher than other vendors. However, considering the security and features Check Point NGFW offers, it's justified. Licensing can be complex and requires careful planning due to add-on licenses, so it's essential to plan what licenses our organization needs accordingly. The initial learning curve for new administrators can be challenging since it is not very user-friendly. However, for those who understand the product, handling all tasks becomes easier. For beginners, it can be complicated to grasp the Check Point NGFW architecture, and advanced reporting could be improved with better visuals or dashboards.

I recommend others looking into using Check Point NGFW to utilize all available licensing for application control, URL filtering, and IPS. It's essential to enable HTTPS inspection to understand its impact on firewall performance and plan accordingly. If the hardware is sufficient, higher models should handle heavy loads effortlessly. I suggest exploring SmartConsole features, as there are many available. Although not everything can be utilized, maximizing its capabilities is beneficial. Additionally, the inspection settings for IPS and TCP/UDP protocols should be adjusted according to best practices to ensure smooth operations without blocking legitimate traffic due to strict configurations. Overall, I rate Check Point NGFW a 9 out of 10.

On-premises

We use Check Point NGFW to secure the perimeter of our customers. It is a great solution that enables us to prevent any type of attack from external threats by securing our infrastructure up to level seven of the ISO OSI stack. We implement blades like IPS, anti-bot, and antivirus. We deploy different solutions such as physical Check Point or VSX, and we have also deployed on VMware and on physical appliances. The deployment is very easy, and after deploying the firewall and enabling all the blades, we just need to manage it.

The best feature of Check Point NGFW is the Threat Prevention blade, specifically EPS. In recent months, Check Point has offered automation to automate threat prevention, making it a very strong blade to secure our perimeter. This blade has blocked many external attacks that could have led to data loss or server compromise for our customers. Additionally, Check Point NGFW can be used in cloud environments like Azure and AWS. It's a great solution, easy to deploy due to templates in cloud environments. Other valuable features include Identity Awareness, which allows us to manage access to resources by user rather than by IP address.

It's not easy to say what needs improvement because it is a very strong solution. I think the VSX technology could be made easier to manage with elastic scalability and evolving technology. However, overall, Check Point is a strong solution that works very well, and I'm satisfied with it as is.

I have been using the solution for about seven years.

Scalability is very good. For example, if you have a VSX cluster, you can add a new member and use the VSX configure feature to push all the configurations to the new gateway. This makes it equal to the other members. Also, the scale set on cloud environments is the best concept of scalability because you can have templates that create new instances in case of high CPU utilization and decrease when it goes down.

The customer support is very, very good. We have premium direct support with all our solutions, and within a few minutes, we can be in contact with the TAC of Check Point. Also, the R&D provides us with custom fixes when needed.

Neutral

We also use a Fortinet solution, which is a competitive vendor. Fortinet offers vDOMs that allow for the creation of logically separate firewalls. However, Check Point is better. In the last three years, Fortinet has had a lot of CVEs that impacted security, whereas Check Point hasn't. Check Point is very secure.

The setup is not complex. We just need to install the operational system Gaia with an ISO file and perform a first-time wizard to set the initial configuration like DNS, NTP, and network interfaces. After that, we connect the firewall to the management server, which can be a Security Management Server or a Multi-Domain Management Server. Then, we can start creating new policy packages, new rules, and install them on the gateway.

In terms of time savings, Check Point NGFW saves time. By using NGFW with VSX, we can deploy many virtual firewalls using the same hardware. This is a time-saving measure because we don't need to deploy a cluster or a firewall each time; we just create a virtual system on the management server using the same appliance.

We evaluated Fortinet and Palo Alto. When we need to do a cost estimation for our customers, we consider these vendors. However, my team's experience is very strong with Check Point, so we try to buy a Check Point solution whenever possible.

I advise others to use Check Point NGFW because it is a great solution. I rate Check Point NGFW a nine. Considering the time of deployment, the quality of support, and the features and blades the vendor offers, it is on top of the world in this field. A nine is the right number.

Hybrid Cloud

Other

We are working with Check Point NGFW as an internet firewall, a data center firewall, and a core firewall. We also deal with customers using the Maestro firewall for data centers.

One of the main advantages I have seen with Check Point NGFW is centralized management. The number of vulnerabilities is very few compared to commodity products, so customers don't have to worry even if it is exposed to the internet. Specific features include threat prevention, threat cloud, Infinity Portal for centralized cloud management, URL filtering, content awareness blade, identity awareness blade, and VPN blades. Customers only need to subscribe to what they require, so resources are free for other uses.

Check Point NGFW should concentrate more on the SMB market, as solutions in this space are not as strong in security. In terms of SD-WAN technology, Check Point's offerings are not as mature as competitors. There are some issues during initial setup, particularly with establishing connectivity with the Infinity Portal.

I have been working with Check Point NGFW for one year.

During initial setup, deployment teams usually face issues establishing the initial connectivity with the Infinity Portal.

As far as I have seen, Check Point NGFW is very stable. I have worked with Check Point products for 15 years and haven't found any stability or performance issues.

Check Point NGFW is very scalable. They offer multiple solutions from SMBs to enterprise data centers, making it an easily scalable solution with no issues in scalability.

We have escalated issues to Check Point technical support multiple times and have received timely and very good responses, especially from the local support team available in our country.

Positive

I have worked with almost all the major products: Fortinet, Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, and FTD.

There can be issues during the initial setup, particularly with establishing connectivity with the Infinity Portal.

I am currently in presales and not directly involved in deployment, but I have been part of a deployment team before.

Compared to other solutions, the pricing of Check Point NGFW is high. However, for customers particularly concerned with security, such as in enterprises, data centers, financial sectors, or government sectors, the pricing is justified. If a customer is not highly focused on security, a less expensive firewall may suffice.

I have experience with major vendors such as Fortinet, Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, and FTD.

I would recommend Check Point NGFW due to their long history of providing secure solutions and their pioneering stateful inspection technology. Their threat cloud is one of the richest AI clouds available. They also offer strong R&D, which results in fewer vulnerabilities in their products. Overall, I rate Check Point NGFW an eight out of ten.

On-premises

We use Check Point NGFW for security purposes. Our clients use it for security reasons, as mentioned during the call.

The most valuable feature is the availability of two consoles. In the normal GA login, I can create interfaces and configure interface IPs, while in the SmartConsole, I manage the NAT quality and firewall access. This allows me to effectively configure the Check Point firewall.

Check Point would benefit from having a single console for both basic and policy configurations. Currently, two different consoles are required, which could be more streamlined.

I have experience working with Check Point NGFW as part of the implementation team, working in both production environments and configuring firewalls.

I rate the stability of the solution as nine out of ten. While the solution is generally stable, there are complications, such as requiring SmartConsole for deployment and upgrades, which can be time-consuming.

Scalability must be carefully planned for, considering future growth and user base increases. The solution is suggested with a five-year plan in mind to accommodate growth. In cloud environments, scalability is adjusted based on customer requirements.

I rate technical support from Check Point at ten out of ten. The support is excellent.

Positive

The initial setup can be complex. Proper planning and scope of work are crucial to ensure a smooth setup.

I work as a network engineer in the implementation team. We handle deployments and configurations of Check Point firewalls.

In comparison to Fortinet and other products, the pricing may be considered high. Customers often look for budget-friendly options and may choose based on cost considerations.

As a technical expert, I would recommend Check Point NGFW. However, from a customer's budgetary perspective, they must evaluate their options.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

We use Check Point NGFW for network security purposes, where we have configured VPN, site-to-site VPNs, and advanced threat prevention for protecting our network infrastructure.

We utilize Check Point NGFW for network security, implementing the firewall for different aspects, such as threat prevention for securing our network and using tunnels to connect our different branches to one another.

In my experience, Check Point NGFW offers some of the best features.

VPN is one of those standout features.

The best features of Check Point NGFW are the site-to-site VPN capability, the advanced feature of VPN configuration, threat prevention, and advanced URL filtering, having all the security features present in the next generation firewall.

Check Point NGFW improves our security positively. The security improvement has improved significantly by using Check Point NGFW.

The pricing is a little bit high, so it should be considered from a customer aspect.

I have been using Check Point NGFW for almost one and a half years.

In my experience, Check Point NGFW is stable with no issues regarding reliability.

Check Point NGFW has been easy to scale as our needs have grown.

The customer support was good, and we just need to raise a ticket from the customer support portal where the device has been registered, and we received instant support from the technical engineer.

I would rate the customer support between nine to ten; the support was excellent.

Positive

I did not use a different solution before Check Point NGFW.

The initial setup with Check Point NGFW is a little bit complex for those who are new to it.

Check Point NGFW has definitely shown improvement in terms of time and money cost-wise.

The pricing, setup cost, and licensing were straightforward, but the pricing is a little bit high compared to other vendors such as FortiGate and Sophos.

We considered FortiGate as one of the options before choosing Check Point NGFW.

I advise others looking into using Check Point NGFW to understand their infrastructure, scenario, and needs, and then decide on scalability before choosing Check Point NGFW.

We are partners with Check Point, but we are not a customer in other business relationships. As a partner, we work with different vendors such as Sophos, FortiGate, Check Point NGFW, and ASA.

On a scale of one to ten, I would rate Check Point NGFW a ten; it is excellent.

On-premises

Other

We use Check Point NGFW for enterprise firewalling, VPN, data loss prevention (DLP), user authentication, and zero-trust connectivity. All the functions of Check Point NGFW are utilized.

The most valuable features in my experience include perimeter firewalling, cloud and mobile security, application control, URL filtering, DLP, threat prevention, intrusion protection, and safeguarding against malware, botnets, and zero-day attacks. Check Point NGFW's multi-layered security architecture enhances data protection strategies by unifying security management, which is crucial in environments with too many separate products. The application and identity-based inspection are critical for understanding the data packets within the network.

The primary area for improvement would be the configuration process. While Check Point NGFW is not inherently difficult to configure, it might be intimidating for newcomers. Other products, like FortiGate, are perceived as more intuitive because they are easier to configure from the start. This has led to a perception that may affect market share.

I have been working with Check Point NGFW for many years, probably around ten years.

I have encountered stability issues primarily with VPN, which required a code upgrade. However, overall stability is high, and I rate it a nine out of ten.

Check Point NGFW is quite scalable. I have used units that never exceeded their capacity. If specified correctly, even the smaller boxes offer high session and bandwidth rates, making the solution highly scalable, even up to telco-level requirements.

My experience with Check Point's technical support has been positive, especially during setup processes. Even challenging issues like those with VPNs have been resolved efficiently with their help.

Positive

The initial setup of Check Point NGFW can be daunting for new users, but once you understand it, the setup is straightforward. For me, it's an eight out of ten in terms of ease of the initial setup.

The perception is that Check Point NGFW is expensive, especially when all software modules are included. For larger enterprises with comprehensive service requirements, it is reasonably priced. However, in the medium-sized business market, it can be seen as expensive, leading to switches to alternatives like Fortinet.

I rate Check Point NGFW an eight out of ten. It's a solid solution, particularly for large enterprise businesses, especially in banking and government, where there is always a need to diversify between different products. The overall product rating I would give is an eight.

On-premises

We use Check Point NGFW to provide more protection for our network from internal and external sources. I also work on creating checks, rules, troubleshooting, and generating daily reports.

Check Point NGFW makes it easier to handle and use the firewall efficiently. It helps protect our network from internal and external threats.

The firewall's default behavior of blocking all traffic, including a cleanup rule that blocks everything from external to internal sources, is highly valuable for protecting our network.

In the rule creation process, we need to decide on the source address, destination address, and services. There are improvements needed in this area.

I have used Check Point NGFW for one and a half years.

To maintain stability, I monitor high utilization and CPU usage, enabling and disabling connections as necessary.

Check Point NGFW is not scalable enough. However, it enhances performance with high availability, shifting to a secondary firewall if one fails.

When I can't resolve an issue technically, I consult with a senior engineer. I rate the technical support seven out of ten.

Neutral

I did not work with any other firewalls before Check Point. I am familiar with CCNA routing and switching.

The initial setup involves connecting cables, opening the IP address using a browser, and configuring the firewall. It takes about one hour.

Only one person is required for the deployment.

Check Point NGFW is very important because it is easier to handle and use.

I don't have information regarding the pricing, as it is considered an internal matter of the organization.

I did not evaluate any other options. I chose Check Point firewall based on my knowledge of CCNA routing and switching.

Check Point NGFW is easy to use, create rules, and take backups. It simplifies backing up and managing processes with click-and-go options.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

On-premises

My main use case for Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is segmentation of VLANs, and the logging feature is great for my day-to-day operations.

A specific example of how I use segmentation and logging in my environment involves segmenting equipment into different VLANs, terminating all the VLANs on the Check Point firewall, and using the logging features to debug what's happening if there are any issues.

The best features Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) offers include the logging feature, and the IPS and IDS is also great.

What makes those features stand out for me is that the logging is very easy to get an overview on what's happening inside the network, and the IPS and IDS is very much hand-off; you just set it up the first time and it's up and running.

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) has positively impacted my organization by providing more oversight over what's happening in the network, so the cybersecurity aspect of risk management has improved drastically.

The way risk management has improved is that getting an overview and seeing what's happening inside the network and then being able to take decisions on what to allow and not allow is much easier than on other firewalls.

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) could be improved by streamlining the licensing process a bit.

The challenges with the licensing process come from its complexity.

I have been using Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) for seven years.

In my experience, Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is very much stable; we have had some bugs since we deployed it, but the support has been good at helping us resolve them.

The scalability of Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is not very good; what you buy the first time is what you get, and it's hard to scale from there, but we over-scoped the deployment.

I rated the service 9 out of 10 because the support could be a little better; that's the only thing that it could improve to get a 10. Other than that, the firewalls themselves are very sturdy and they just work.

Positive

We previously used a Cisco ASA 55000 series, which was pretty much out of date, so we needed to upgrade to something better, and we landed on the Check Point firewalls.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) was good; it was pretty much straightforward with no hidden costs.

Before choosing Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW), we evaluated other options, including a POC on Palo Alto, but Check Point won the POC.

My advice to others looking into using Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is to definitely pay for Check Point Professional Services to assist with the deployment and the design of what you're trying to do, as it saves you a headache later. I rate Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) 9 out of 10.

Hybrid Cloud

Microsoft Azure

My main use case for Check Point NGFW is perimeter security, and we use it on-prem.

I use Check Point NGFW for perimeter security specifically in our data centers.

The best features Check Point NGFW offers are centralized manage control and centralized load manage control.

The AI power enhances the features of Check Point NGFW.

The AI powered features provide real time threat detection.

Check Point NGFW has positively impacted my organization by improving security and reducing incidents.

We have seen a 2% reduction in incidents.

Check Point NGFW could be improved if support was better.

My experience with support has shown that there are delays.

I have been using Check Point NGFW for three years.

In my experience, Check Point NGFW is not stable.

The scalability of Check Point NGFW is satisfactory.

I find the customer support to be very challenging.

I would rate the customer support a seven on a scale of one to ten.

Neutral

Before using Check Point NGFW, I was using Dell SonicWALL, and we switched to Check Point NGFW because it is a better solution than Dell SonicWALL.

The initial setup with Check Point NGFW has been straightforward.

I have seen a return on investment with Check Point NGFW in terms of time saved and fewer people needed for operations.

My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing has been straightforward.

Before choosing Check Point NGFW, I also evaluated options such as Palo Alto.

I don't have anything else to add about my use case.

I don't have anything else to add about the needed improvements, as of now.

My advice to others looking into using Check Point NGFW is to go for it.

I think Check Point NGFW is a great product, and other customers should experience it.

On a scale of one to ten, I would rate Check Point NGFW an eight.

On-premises

The tool helps with VPN and connecting mobile devices. We also use it for identity security. It filters internet access and controls applications. The firewall has an intrusion prevention system and stops data loss. 

Internet access and filtering are important, and data loss prevention is definitely key. The threat access builder is useful. Application control is also big for us. We use it to check and block application downloads, looking for malicious or rogue software. This feature is very helpful.

Sometimes, the firewall doesn't pick up on certain things. If an attacker is clever and uses a low-profile indicator, the firewall might flag an anomaly but not give enough information to decide if it's worth investigating. The threat intelligence component also has challenges. It doesn't always tie alerts to active campaigns or threat actor groups. We often have to do extra work and use other products to figure these out.

I rate the solution's stability a seven out of ten. 

I rate the tool's scalability an eight out of ten. My company has 2500 users. 

The tool's support was responsive in critical situations, but for non-critical issues, they sometimes dropped the ball or didn't get back quickly enough. We had to do a lot of follow-ups and escalations to our technical account manager.

Neutral

Before choosing Check Point NGFW, we used Palo Alto Networks. We switched because of issues with Palo Alto. Their customer support wasn't very responsive. Some policies weren't working right, letting things through that should've been blocked. We compared different pricing options and features before deciding on Check Point NGFW. The main differences between Palo Alto and Check Point NGFW were mostly in how they worked for us. They both offer good next-gen firewalls, but we had some problems with Palo Alto. Sometimes it wouldn't notify us quickly when something got through. Its prevention wasn't always as strong as we wanted.

We felt Palo Alto's traffic inspection was only partial, not checking everything thoroughly. Check Point NGFW seemed to offer better inspection. Check Point NGFW also had better threat intel and application control. With Palo Alto, we couldn't see all our applications, only some of them. This caused shadow IT problems. Cost was also a factor in our decision.

The initial setup of Check Point NGFW is relatively straightforward. It's similar to other firewalls I've used and not too complex. If you have all the prerequisites in place, it's fairly easy to set up. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the easiest, I'd rate the setup process around seven or eight.

The deployment takes about a week. We had a deployment process that involved going through change management, getting approvals, notifying stakeholders like the infrastructure team, and deploying the solution.

We used a consultant for the deployment because we were dealing with other initiatives and it was a tight situation timing-wise, even though we could have done it in-house.

Aside from the consultant, we had two or three staff members involved in the deployment. Their job roles were mainly on the security side - security architects, engineers, and analysts. Their roles were fluid, so they could take on various tasks if they had the knowledge or interest. For maintaining the solution, the number of staff required depends on the scale of the deployment. In our setup, about two people were in charge as the main points of contact.

I saw definite operational impacts from using Check Point NGFW. It helped prevent breaches, data security issues, and security incidents. We constantly saw attempts being blocked and picked up by the firewall. This was an improvement over Palo Alto, where some things got through without being detected. With Check Point NGFW, we got a significant return on investment because it prevented a major incident from happening and escalating.

I rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten. It costs around 100,000-200,000 dollars per month. Besides standard licensing fees, we paid extra for enterprise-level premium support. There were also onboarding costs factored in. These additional costs made it more expensive overall. The total cost was around 100,000 dollars, which was challenging for our budget. Check Point was also pricey, not much different from Palo Alto Networks. However, we decided switching to Check Point was better because it offered more capabilities for a similar price.

I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten. 

Hybrid Cloud

Amazon Web Services (AWS)