Symantec Data Center Security vs VMware NSX comparison

Broadcom and VMware are both solutions in the Cloud and Data Center Security category. Broadcom is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0, while VMware is ranked #3 with an average rating of 7.8. Broadcom holds a 1.6% mindshare in CDCS, compared to VMware’s 12.1% mindshare. Additionally, 81% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of VMware users who would recommend it.

Symantec Data Center Security

Read 11 Symantec Data Center Security reviews

782 Views
469 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

VMware NSX

Read 105 VMware NSX reviews

7,202 Views
3,601 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Symantec Data Center Security

VMware NSX

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 14, 2024

VMware NSX and Symantec Data Center Security compete in the data center security category. VMware NSX seems to have the upper hand with its integration and scalability in virtual environments.

Features: VMware NSX provides micro-segmentation for enhanced security, automation capabilities, and integration within VMware ecosystems, offering significant scalability. These features enable seamless network management and performance optimization. Symantec Data Center Security focuses on granular policy management, intrusion prevention, and server hardening, delivering robust endpoint protection and system lockdown to defend against sophisticated malware.

Room for Improvement: VMware NSX needs enhancement in integration with Kubernetes and container technologies, support for physical network topology, and a more intuitive upgrade process. Improved visibility in traffic flow introspection and routing protocol support is also necessary. For Symantec Data Center Security, refinement of complex policy structure, user interface enhancement, and more automated threat detection are needed. Users also suggest better integration with third-party solutions and performance improvements in virtualized environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: VMware NSX offers flexibility across private, hybrid, and public clouds, supported by robust technical assistance, although faster responses are desired by some users. Symantec Data Center Security is effective in on-premises and private cloud settings, with customer support being generally favorable, though direct assistance satisfaction varies.

Pricing and ROI: VMware NSX is considered expensive, with costs varying by features and requirements, yet seen as cost-effective when fully utilized, offering substantial ROI through efficient network management and infrastructure savings. Symantec Data Center Security is perceived as more costly than some competitors, attributed to its comprehensive security features, prompting prospective users to carefully evaluate their needs to justify the investment.

To learn more, read our detailed Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Symantec Data Center Security

Ranking in Cloud and Data Center Security

11th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

VMware NSX

Ranking in Cloud and Data Center Security

3rd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

105

Ranking in other categories

Network Virtualization (2nd), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (8th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (9th), Network Automation (5th), Microsegmentation Software (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Cloud and Data Center Security category, the mindshare of Symantec Data Center Security is 1.6%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware NSX is 12.1%, down from 18.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud and Data Center Security

Featured Reviews

Shahram Dehghani

Security Technical Manager at Modaberan Fanavari Pasargad

A robust solution that provides comprehensive protection for data centers, offering agentless security, powerful intrusion prevention, and a wide range of security features

The primary focus of data center security often revolves around serving customers who offer services to other clients within the data center. For example, if I operate a data center and provide security services, third-party customers might purchase virtual machine products within my data center. These products are automatically deployed, and we safeguard these virtual machines using intrusion prevention system features. This aspect is considered the most valuable part because when we set up these security policies, it's as if we're fortifying the entire infrastructure. It's not just about having good technical support; it's about having a robust IPS and comprehensive DOS prevention system on those operating systems. The advantage of Data Center Security is its ease of use and that it serves as a single unified platform, where I can apply all my security policies to protect that server.

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MagdyRaafat

Services Presales Solutions Architecture - UAE & Gulf at Dell Technologies

Enhanced security and streamlined management drive efficient connectivity

Open source is a standard solution where you take a gray box or white box and put the software from your end. You can do programming with Ansible and make the network work in the software-defined mode, providing automation and management capabilities. I am currently working with VMware. It integrates easily with everything and can work with any system. When discussing micro-segmentation, it enhances security, providing more secure data in your data center while allowing for extra layers of security outside your data center. If you have an ACI, there is communication between locations, keeping your data secure in your data center and throughout the path it takes, such as to SD-WAN or the cloud. I work with cloud solutions including AWS, Azure, GCP, and private cloud. My overall rating for VMware NSX is 8.5 out of 10.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The tool will then detect any anomalies, such as an intruder who has breached the network, which can trigger the system lockdown feature if it's enabled and meets the defined threshold."

"The console and tools are very user-friendly."

"The ability to finely control permissions and restrictions on servers or assets through a customizable rule set is a key strength."

"The monitoring in the management console allows us to find out what is going wrong, and it gets reports even before the user reports it."

"We use the product to prevent unauthorized access to data, systems, and servers. It provides essential features for data center security."

"Good file integrity monitoring features."

"The granularity of applying the policies is valuable."

"The real strength lies in its straightforward approach, offering just two key policies: prevention and detection."

More Symantec Data Center Security pros

"The most valuable features of VMware NSX are the tight integration with the VMware Hypervisor natively and the management console. We have a lot of other integrations where you are able to see the virtual machine's end-to-end visibility."

"VMware NSX offers some of the best features for security, such as micro-segmentation."

"The installation is straightforward, it took a couple of hours."

"Firewall security is one of VMware NSX's vital features"

"VMware NSX's overlay network is its most valuable feature, as it aligns with any network philosophy and allows for efficient addressing mechanisms. Additionally, the ability to extend the on-premise network into the provider space is beneficial. There are many features provided."

"The solution is very stable and reliable."

"The Distributed firewall is simple to add to the network and rules are easy to implement."

"It provides a single pane of glass. You can do the switching, routing, load balancing, IPS, IDS, etc. Everything is under one umbrella. So, there is no vendor dependency over there."

More VMware NSX pros

Cons

"There is plenty of room for improvement with this product, and it could start with platform metrics."

"Agent management is a challenging task."

"A user or administrator making the policy in the DCS should have a very thorough knowledge of the operating system or policy making. You have to be very specific about the data structure."

"The support is very bad. They're not fast at all. Trend Micro's support is much better."

"The product blocks certain processes, even after allowlisting them."

"This solution clashes with Microsoft defender, which results in performance degradation on the machine."

"They need to develop a more flexible product that can be scaled such that it fits well into a small business or a bigger, enterprise-level solution."

"Adding more compatibility with common products like Microsoft would be a plus."

More Symantec Data Center Security cons

"The first time setting it up was difficult."

"They could do more with cloud management."

"The initial establishment can be complex."

"VMware NSX can improve the migration tools from the older environments to the new environment. For example, the NSX-V has become a legacy solution, it's out of support, but customers are able to keep using it. For migration purposes, it's better for them to provide a proper tool. It will be easy to migrate from an old environment to a new one."

"It needs to be cheaper."

"They have to work more and more on the integration for public cloud services and have cyber security platform integration."

"We would to have a reverse proxy. This would add great value to the solution."

"It could be more user-friendly, but it's manageable. When we add a specific node to this particular NSX and the configuration changes, it won't push through the errors where required, but it'll accept it. However, while using it, we will have issues. It can also be more stable."

More VMware NSX cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is a bit costly."

"It is notably more expensive when compared to other solutions."

"Compared to some other solutions, such as CrowdStrike, Symantec is more expensive."

"The price of VMware NSX is optimal. Additionally, the price of the solution can be negotiated with the vendor. Many areas of the solution can impact the cost, such as features, time for onboarding, and support needed."

"I'm unable to give information on the pricing or licensing cost of VMware NSX because I've never been someone who looks into the economic part of any security or virtualization solutions. That's handled by an entirely different team, and I don't even have the slightest idea about the costs associated with the solution, though I've heard pricing for VMware NSX is on the higher side."

"VMware has a subscription and perpetual license. In the New Year, they're changing many things about the licensing model. Previously, NSX was licensed according to the number of sockets inside the appliance, so we bought VMware licenses based on that. However, that may have changed this year. We are still contacting the vendors to understand the new licensing strategy."

"The price of VMware NSX is reasonable."

"There is a license required for this solution and there is also a support license available. The price of the solution could be better."

"There is a license required for this solution, we pay annually."

"The price of this product is too high."

"I was not involved in the purchase of the solution but I hear it is on the expensive side."

More VMware NSX pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Computer Software Company

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Symantec Data Center Security?

The granularity of applying the policies is valuable.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Symantec Data Center Security?

Agent management is a challenging task. We cannot do it from the console. We will have to use other tools.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Symantec Data Center Security?

One key use case for data center security is protecting files within the data center. This is especially important for Linux systems, where locking down specific files is essential to prevent unaut...

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...

See all answers

What do you like most about VMware NSX?

The product has valuable features for security and network extension.

See all answers

Comparisons

Trend Micro Deep Security vs Symantec Data Center Security

Compared 65% of the time

Symantec Endpoint Security vs Symantec Data Center Security

Compared 24% of the time

More Symantec Data Center Security Competitors

Illumio vs VMware NSX

Compared 18% of the time

Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX

Compared 16% of the time

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX

Compared 15% of the time

Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX

Compared 6% of the time

More VMware NSX Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Data Center Security

July 2025

Download Symantec Data Center Security product report

Buyer's Guide

VMware NSX

July 2025

Download VMware NSX product report

Also Known As

No data available

VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender

Overview

Docker containers make it easy to develop, deploy, and deliver applications where containers can be deployed and brought down in a matter of seconds. This flexibility makes it very useful for DevOps to automate deployment of containers. Symantec Data Center Security: Server Advanced provides agentless Docker container protection that allows you to achieve the performance benefits of Docker without sacrificing security. Full application control enables administrator privilege de-escalation, patch mitigation, and protection against zero day threats in today's heterogeneous data centers.

Broadcom

VMware NSX is a sophisticated solution utilized for micro-segmentation, network security, software-defined networking, and private cloud construction. It aids in the transition from physical to virtual infrastructure, ensuring efficient network virtualization and security of production workloads.

VMware NSX empowers organizations to manage network functions, implement distributed firewalls, and enhance security within virtual environments. Crucial for disaster recovery and load balancing, it supports cloud-native application development and enterprise clients. Its ease of use, scalability, and seamless integration with existing VMware solutions ensure streamlined network management and swift deployment. Despite its extensive features, areas like pricing, routing functionality, and compatibility with certain platforms require attention.

What are the key features of VMware NSX?

Ease of Use: Simplifies network management with an intuitive interface.
Scalability: Adapts to growing infrastructure needs seamlessly.
Micro-Segmentation: Enhances security by dividing networks into smaller, manageable segments.
Integration: Seamlessly works with existing VMware solutions and third-party applications.
Dynamic Routing: Optimizes network traffic efficiently.
Security Options: Offers robust firewall features and security measures.
Automation: Facilitates quick deployment through comprehensive automation capabilities.
High Bandwidth: Ensures high-performance network operations.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Enhanced Network Security: Superior protection for virtual environments.
Efficient Disaster Recovery: Reliable support for business continuity.
Reduced Deployment Time: Fast implementation and configuration.
Improved Network Management: Centralized and streamlined control of network resources.

VMware NSX is widely implemented across industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Organizations in these sectors utilize it to bolster security, enhance network efficiency, and support cloud-native applications. By extending on-premise networks into provider spaces and managing virtual access networks, VMware NSX significantly optimizes infrastructure operations.

VMware

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

City of Avondale, Lumeta, Kroll Ontrack, Heartland Payment Systems, Baystate Heallth, Exostar, Tribune Media, iGATE, NTT Communications, Synergent, California Natural Resources Agency, Bloomington Public Schools, Columbia Sportswear, Join Experience S.A, Schuberg Philis

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX

July 2025

Free Report: Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX

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