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it_user743514 - PeerSpot reviewer
Works at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor
We are getting a high value return from our deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "The customization and control of URL filtering and the integration with other Forcepoint solutions are great features."
  • "I am looking forward to the full integration of the endpoints that they offer for web security and DLP."

What is most valuable?

Forcepoint Web Security is a complete web security solution, not just a web filter, like many other solution offerings. The customization and control of URL filtering and the integration with other Forcepoint solutions are great features.

How has it helped my organization?

It has definitely added to the security level of the company network and keeps out accidental or purposeful web traffic that can be malicious or inappropriate.

What needs improvement?

I am looking forward to the full integration of the endpoints that they offer for web security and DLP.

For how long have I used the solution?

Three years.

Buyer's Guide
Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,823 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

It was already done when I came onboard. I have made significant improvements to the deployment.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Not once after the deployment was corrected. Although, we do have an issue with the Real-Time Monitor service stopping on occasion.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No, this solution can be scaled quite high as long as you understand how to expand the architecture.

How are customer service and support?

Customer Service:

Customer service is at an extremely high level.

Technical Support:

The technical support has improved drastically over the three years that I have been administering it.

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

I have, but at a different company.

How was the initial setup?

it was a fairly straightforward implementation.

You need to plan it out carefully, so your deployment is good.

What about the implementation team?

This was and continues to be an in-house deployment.

What was our ROI?

We are getting a high value return from our deployment.

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

Make sure to understand your environmental needs. Take your time scoping the project, otherwise you will have hardship later on down the road.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Yes, others were evaluated.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
AmgadYousry - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Infrastructure at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 10Leaderboard
Offers robust web security features and excellent stability
Pros and Cons
  • "SWG allows me to track internet usage patterns, helping optimize bandwidth and understand how much time each employee spends online."
  • "I would suggest focusing on improving the GUI's stability, especially when implementing new filters or patches."

What is our primary use case?

I use Forcepoint SWG to monitor and control my employees' internet usage for both security and productivity reasons. 

What is most valuable?

What I like about Forcepoint SWG is that I can ensure that employees access only appropriate websites, protecting the organization from malicious threats. Moreover, SWG allows me to track internet usage patterns, helping optimize bandwidth and understand how much time each employee spends online.

What needs improvement?

In terms of improvement, some of my clients find that certain security details could be enhanced in Forcepoint SWG. Additionally, I would suggest focusing on improving the GUI's stability, especially when implementing new filters or patches. Occasionally, there are issues with crashes during these updates, and smoother transitions would greatly enhance the user experience. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Forcepoint SWG for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability of the solution as a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Forcepoint SWG is scalable and can handle organizations with over 100,000 users. Additionally, through multiple deployments and clustering, it can scale even further, making it well-suited for medium to enterprise-level companies.

How are customer service and support?

I would rate Forcepoint's technical support as a nine out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for Forcepoint SWG is straightforward and user-friendly. The basic configuration is not very complicated, and you can have the solution deployed in a day. However, when it comes to more advanced configurations or customer-specific enhancements, it can get a bit complex. While the initial steps are smooth, customization might require more effort and expertise.

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

I would rate the affordability of Forcepoint SWG as a two out of ten. It is relatively expensive. While some other products, such as firewalls and application firewalls, offer similar functionalities, they might be more cost-effective. However, the specific web security features provided by Forcepoint contribute to its high price.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate Forcepoint SWG as a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway
May 2025
Learn what your peers think about Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,823 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2203710 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
A stable and scalable solution that helps with DLP and POS protection
Pros and Cons
  • "The tool categorizes the user profiles which is very comfortable."
  • "The product needs to have more mobility."

What is our primary use case?

We use the product for DLP and POS protection. 

What is most valuable?

The tool categorizes the user profiles which is very comfortable. 

What needs improvement?

The product needs to have more mobility. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for four years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the tool's stability a nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution's scalability is good and my company has 1000 users for it. I would rate the tool's scalability an eight out of ten. 

How was the initial setup?

The product's setup is straightforward. 

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

The solution's price is good. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the product a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Director at Foresight Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
Reseller
Easy to set up with well-integrated web security and decent technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is easy. It's not difficult."
  • "It takes 20 to 30 minutes for policy replication."

What is our primary use case?

We are the implementation partner for Forcepoint, and then we configure and integrate Forcepoint into the customer enrollment.

We personally use cloud Websecurity and cloud Email security of Forcepoint.

What is most valuable?

The initial setup is easy. It's not difficult. 

They have well-integrated web security. They have the enterprise DLP included in the cloud as well.

Technical support has been okay.

What needs improvement?

The Bitglass part, right now, we are trying to learn it, and then trying to acquire skillsets around it. 

For cloud web security, there are definitely areas where it requires improvement, Policy changes take 20 to 30 minutes for enforcement.

Granular control based on applications can be further enhanced.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been dealing with the solution for six or seven years and Websense for the last 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable. That said, at times we do get complaints from customers. Some of the government and banking sites not being accessible via cloud proxy. At times it is required to bypass them or route it through different data centers. Though Forcepoint has no say in some websites restricting the access if they can out with a solution to detect and bypass or redirect the traffic through a working data center it will add further value. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We are integrators. We are supporting from 1,000 systems to somewhere around a 10,000 to 20,000 user base.

How are customer service and support?

We have used technical support in the past. There are two aspects. How quickly they respond is one aspect. Then, whatever the answer that they provide, is it of any use. In terms of the response, it varies. Sometimes they will be able to solve it, and then sometimes it may have to be internally taken up to the next level.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very simple and not overly difficult. 

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

I cannot speak to the exact pricing of the solution.

What other advice do I have?

We are integrators. While we typically do cloud deployments off-late, for on-premises, we have deployed Hybrid and on-premises Websecurity deployments.

I'd advise users, if they want to make use of it, to learn the technology and then the approach the product is trying to take. I'd advise users only proceed once they understand it. That way, they'll be in a good position to manage it. As with any technology, learn the basics and building blocks of it.

I'd rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1303923 - PeerSpot reviewer
AGM - IT Infrastructure at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Stable, with excellent technical support but does not scale well
Pros and Cons
  • "For the most part, the solution, when set up correctly, works fine."
  • "Overall the software is occupying too much memory space. If they could remedy that, it would be a better experience, because today Windows is occupying too much memory space as well (in terms of the RAM), and this software has also started occupying all the memory. Due to this, I have less space for my other office products and data. I can't, for example, operate a huge Excel sheet or other datasets."

What is most valuable?

For the most part, the solution, when set up correctly, works fine.

What needs improvement?

Sometimes we find the solution behaves erratically. It may be related to our configuration, which may be incorrect. We are using desktops, laptops, and workstations and the laptops are set to mobile status. We do make connections outside the office premises as well, and desktops or workstations are predominantly located in the same place. 

Overall the software is occupying too much memory space. If they could remedy that, it would be a better experience, because today Windows is occupying too much memory space as well (in terms of the RAM), and this software has also started occupying all the memory. Due to this, I have less space for my other office products and data. I can't, for example, operate a huge Excel sheet or other datasets. 

Product grouping should be made more flexible. We should be in a position to define the product groupings. Also, sometimes the standard product grouping that they are using is not applicable in this part of the world. If they could move it, if they could make it more flexible, it would make our life easier. Otherwise, we are forced to use our own definitions a lot. This sometimes causes problems with performance. The product grouping really should concentrate more on this particular geographic region.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for about five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

In my opinion, it's a very stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Companies really have to know how their organization will scale before purchasing the solution. Otherwise, they will be limited. In our case, we've grown far beyond our expectations, and are now facing issues. These products are not that scalable even though the company claims that they are.

The solution is used quite regularly. On average, we use it up to eight hours a day.

How are customer service and technical support?

We've used technical support in the past. We are one of the major clients for most of these products in India, so we get proper attention from the company. We've been satisfied with the level of support we've received.

How was the initial setup?

We didn't face any major issues at the time of implementation. We were using the facility management of both HP and IBM. They each have their own in-house capability to manage the software. Also, the OEM would have supported them well. As such, we didn't see major issues on any of the software implementation. There were just a few initial hiccups that can happen on any major project.

What other advice do I have?

The version I'm currently using is about four years old.

My recommendation to other companies would be that they should spend more time analyzing their workload including access approvals and whitelisting/blacklisting. They should have a very clear way of defining the blacklist or whitelist.

Companies should also spend more time on sizing the product and considering how they will grow in the future when sizing it. That clarity is a must to decide the proper product size that will last over years as a company potentially grows. 

I'd rate the solution 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
reviewer1946076 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager IT at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Scalable and lets you restrict attachments and allow or disallow users to access templates within the organization, but it has some stability issues, and setting it up is challenging
Pros and Cons
  • "Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway does most of its job well, but I especially like its data security feature."
  • "What's missing in Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is a specific level of micro-control on protocols or devices, for example, where you can control a particular user or user device."

What is our primary use case?

I'm using Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway for web security, particularly DLP. It's mainly to control internet usage for users in terms of what's allowed and what's not. It's also a DLP solution that I use to monitor the data, including information about any data transfers within the organization.

What is most valuable?

Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway does most of its job well, but I especially like its data security feature. It also is beneficial that it lets you restrict attachments and allow or disallow users to access templates within the organization.

What needs improvement?

What's missing in Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is a specific level of micro-control on protocols or devices, for example, where you can control a particular user or user device. This is what should be improved in the solution.

I want a micro-level management feature added in the next release of Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway for more than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

My organization had some issues with Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway, where sometimes it behaves differently, though it could be version related. The solution has some stability issues, though not very severe so I would rate its stability as seven out of ten. It had minor issues that didn't cause a massive breakdown.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is scalable because it works well even with ten thousand to fifty thousand employees. You can scale it up or down, so the solution is a ten out of ten in terms of scalability.

How are customer service and support?

I'm not fully satisfied with Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway support. Though the response time is good, the resolution takes too much time sometimes.

My rating for technical support is six out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway, setup-wise, is complex unless you get some support. It's challenging to set up using an internal ID.

I'd rate its setup as three out of ten.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway with the help of Forcepoint support and a third party.

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

The pricing for Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is expensive. You pay per user and functionality. I'd rate it a four on a scale of one to ten. Compared to the competition, Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is one of the most expensive products.

What other advice do I have?

My company uses firewalls, such as Fortigate, and web security products, such as Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway.

My rating for Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is seven out of ten.

My company is a Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway customer.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Director at Foresight Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
Reseller
Offers great visibility and controls can easily be put in place
Pros and Cons
  • "Provides good visibility and good filtering features."
  • "Managing the endpoint for both DLP and web security should be simplified."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is to control internet access based on security profiles. Users are restricted to legitimate sites and then, based on the business use case, we provide access to streaming sites and the like. We are customers and resellers of Secure Web Gateway and I'm a company director.

What is most valuable?

All the secure gateways are more or less the same. The value of Secure Web Gateway is the visibility it offers and the ease by which we can put controls in place. We enabled the cloud DLP so we can see what's happening to the data. The solution also provides good filtering features. 

What needs improvement?

One improvement I'd like to see would be to simplify managing the endpoint for both DLP and web security, so that endpoint management becomes easier. The dashboard is a little old so a new GUI would be helpful as well as updated reporting tools. It currently lacks some features that other solutions have. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for over eight years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's reasonably stable but sometimes there are issues in the cloud. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is good, our entire organization uses this product including engineers, marketing and administration. 

How are customer service and support?

I'd say that customer service is above average.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward, we deployed in-house and implementation required one person. The initial setup takes two or three days, but rolling it out and making sure that everybody has the required access, and that business applications are accessible, can take a month or so. 

What was our ROI?

The ROI is like insurance, it's the knowledge that you're protected. The fact that it's taking care of my security needs, is a return.

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

I'm unaware of licensing costs but there is an extra cost for additional reporting.

What other advice do I have?

It's important to test any solution before making a decision to purchase it. Evaluate your needs and expectations, and carry out a POC. 

I rate this solution eight out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Customer
PeerSpot user
reviewer1471029 - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Officer at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees
MSP
URL filtering plays a critical security role, but we have had problems with downtime and support
Pros and Cons
  • "The critical role is web URL filtering."
  • "I have been in contact with technical support several times, and I am not happy with them."

What is our primary use case?

The critical role is web URL filtering.

What needs improvement?

The functionality of this product in the current version is not up to our expectations.

This product does not have an integrated strategy for securing your web gateway with DLP.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway for approximately 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have had issues with downtime, where the service was out one time for 48 hours and nobody knew what was happening.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I don't know of any issues with scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have been in contact with technical support several times, and I am not happy with them.

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

We recently stopped using this product and migrated to Zscaler.

How was the initial setup?

Setting up the solution for our clients can be difficult because we are dealing with different timezones and different geography. It also depends on their data center.

The clients sometimes depend heavily on the partners, rather than take time to understand the product themselves.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution a seven 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 Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.