

Barracuda CloudGen Firewall and Aruba Orchestrator are major players in the network security and optimization category. Barracuda seems to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive security features and scalability, though Aruba is strong in SD-WAN and WAN optimization.
Features: Barracuda CloudGen Firewall includes robust security components like TINA tunnels, intrusion prevention, and Layer 7 filtering, making it suitable for real-time data transparency and comprehensive threat detection. It also excels in VPN tunnel management and scalability by effectively managing numerous firewalls. Aruba Orchestrator focuses on SD-WAN optimization, policy management, and provides internal visibility with an integrated REST API that helps with efficient device provisioning and network tasks.
Room for Improvement: Users of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall mention the complexity of its interface and a high learning curve. The product may have underpowered features, unfriendly reporting, and configuration complexity, including VPN client issues. Aruba Orchestrator could improve in dynamic certificate changes, simplifying management menus, and enhancing training resources. Additionally, its cost can be prohibitive, with deployment scenarios making troubleshooting challenging.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Barracuda CloudGen Firewall and Aruba Orchestrator support on-premises and hybrid cloud deployments. Barracuda's customer service is supportive, despite the initial setup complexity. Technical support is generally positive. Aruba's technical support is also well-rated, though its customer service is straightforward but less comprehensive. Continuous improvements are evident but further enhancements are suggested for effective service response and issue resolution.
Pricing and ROI: Barracuda CloudGen Firewall offers flexible pricing and a transparent license model, including free hardware upgrades and an instant replacement plan, thus being cost-effective in the long run. Its price is competitive, given its feature-rich offerings. Aruba Orchestrator is priced mid-range and competitive for its optimization capabilities, though some users find it expensive based on required features. However, it offers a subscription-based, free-to-use option. Both solutions deliver good ROI by reducing spam and optimizing network performance.
I have seen a return on investment and financial benefit from using Aruba Orchestrator.
We don't see return on investment, but we love the technology, so we purchase because of the technology.
The centralized management and automation features have reduced manual monitoring efforts, saving our IT team several hours per week.
I have seen a return on investment as it helps to prevent cyber attacks and optimize network and user management.
It has drastically reduced the amount of infections from cybersecurity threats and makes managing close to 50 clients or more for our engineers much easier, hence saving a lot of time and cost.
The technical support of Aruba is very supportive and excellent.
I would rate my experience with technical support from Aruba as eight out of ten.
The support team is responsive and knowledgeable, assisting us promptly whenever we have faced configuration questions or technical issues.
Barracuda's partner support is better than the majority, and it stands out as one of their strengths.
The overall security has been satisfactory, with no breaches.
Its flexible licensing and hybrid deployment options allow it to adapt to evolving network requirements, ensuring continuous security and reliable operations.
Regarding scalability and the ability to scale and expand with Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, there is no issue, so I would rate it a ten.
When positioning into customers, some larger enterprise customers tend to move towards one of the top three: either Cisco, Fortinet, or Palo Alto.
We had Cisco infrastructure in the past before we replaced it with Aruba, and our experience is much better with Aruba compared to Cisco—far, far better.
Its robust infrastructure and real-time monitoring give us the confidence that our network remains secure and operational at all times.
We have very few issues with Barracuda Firewall, even in the case of zero-day vulnerabilities.
In my experience, Barracuda CloudGen Firewall has been reliable and very high performing.
The price should be improved as it is very high.
It would be great if they would have a fully multi-tenant solution on their Orchestrator.
Integration with AI would be helpful as modern attacks often utilize AI.
It would be beneficial to merge the existing application policy with the main policy into a single unified policy to improve manageability.
One area that could be enhanced is the user interface, making it slightly more intuitive for new users.
Regarding my experience with the pricing and setup costs, I find it expensive software compared to others.
Our experience with Barracuda CloudGen Firewall pricing and licensing has been reasonable and transparent.
The license price of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall is lower than others, and maintenance or support is included.
It is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive option available.
Integration capabilities with cloud and on-prem environments help my organization maintain a hybrid approach.
The security features of Aruba Orchestrator are really good; I don't think there is any issue with security.
It's really great that it connects today all the gateways and SD-WAN solution with the SASE and the zero trust network access.
This integration helps secure our data and applications from attackers trying to gain access and detect malicious activity.
The real-time monitoring helps us quickly identify unusual traffic patterns and potential threats, allowing us to respond immediately and maintain secure and uninterrupted network operations.
Barracuda CloudGen Firewall has positively impacted my organization by increasing the level of network protection against threats from twenty percent to forty-five percent.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Barracuda CloudGen Firewall | 2.7% |
| Aruba Orchestrator | 1.5% |
| Other | 95.8% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 5 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 5 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 33 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 10 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
Aruba Orchestrator combines WAN optimization with SD-WAN for seamless management, reduced setup times, and enhanced internal visibility. It integrates REST API and offers a single pane of glass interface, valued for its analytics, optimization, and security features.
Aruba Orchestrator provides unified management for SD-WAN devices, optimizing connections across branches to lower WAN costs. It enhances application capabilities and data access globally, enabling reports, health monitoring, and efficient MPLS connectivity. While offering robust tools, pricing and menu complexity are areas for improvement. Expanding multi-tenant structures and cloud flexibility could better meet user needs. Integrating dynamic security features would enhance its offerings. Although deployment is quick, simplifying complexities and improving training resources are essential for improved efficiency and user-friendliness.
What are Aruba Orchestrator's most important features?In finance, Aruba Orchestrator helps manage SD-WAN for branch connectivity and cost savings. In healthcare, it optimizes connections for data access across multiple locations. Retailers use it to streamline their network's connectivity, while educational institutions benefit from enhanced application performance and reporting capabilities.
Barracuda CloudGen Firewall offers strong VPN, scalable network management, and advanced threat protection. Its capabilities include dynamic VPN, SD-WAN, URL filtering, and malware protection, making it essential for network security in distributed environments.
Known for its robust security and user-friendly management, Barracuda CloudGen Firewall helps safeguard networks, manage traffic, and secure connections across distributed sites. It provides critical security features and solutions like firewalling and intrusion prevention for protecting environments such as data centers, offices, and remote locations. Room for enhancement includes the user interface, needing better tutorials, improved load balancing, and stronger tech support.
What are the most valuable features?Barracuda CloudGen Firewall is leveraged by industries to enhance network security and application performance. It caters to sectors requiring strong protection for IT infrastructure, managing traffic in data centers, and ensuring secure connectivity for distributed workforces, which is crucial in sectors like finance, healthcare, and education.
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