Indeed this is a very powerful opensource solution but as you say it requires some technical expertise and tweaking (but actually which firewall technology does not require some now?). Fortunately the community and project documentation are rich and very helpful. Extra packages availability is also rich, it goes from the simple CLI tool like bmon to fully graphically managed RADIUS, SQUID, SNORT servers for instance (see : doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Category:Packages). It also support natively High Availability Sync thanks to CARP and pfsync protocols (see: doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Configuring_pfSense_Hardware_Redundancy_%28CARP%29). Few days ago I set up VPN SSL configuration with OpenVpn in TAP mode, all done through the GUI (no need to edit any files through CLI) what quite impressed me (usually bridge creation is done through CLI).
To conclude I really invite people looking for a free firewall solution to give a try with pfsense :-)
Just keep in mind such a solution is devoted to projects requiring "not so much speed", I mean 40G or even 100G firewalling and either not UTM inspection.

it_user221874

Manager IT at a energy/utilities company with 501-1,000 employees

Mar 31, 2015

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The proxy filtering is valuable except for blocking HTTPS which it can't do.

What is most valuable?

MAC Filtered DHCP and DNS
Captive Portal
VPN
Proxy Server
Proxy Filter

How has it helped my organization?

It has provided us with secure internet browsing and a strong monitoring ability.

What needs improvement?

Proxy filters are not supported for the blocking of HTTPS sites.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used it for two to three years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

No issues encountered yet.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

No issues encountered yet.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No issues encountered yet.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

I have not gotten any support from the customer service center because I can get all the solutions on their web blogs.

Technical Support:

I think it is perfect.

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

I was using another product, but it didn't have a bandwidth controller and monitoring tool like this product does. I switched because I can find everything in one window.

How was the initial setup?

Its installation setup & procedure is so simple that a layman could install it.

What about the implementation team?

I installed it by myself and used Google for assistance.

What was our ROI?

It's positive.

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

I just downloaded the program from the website free of chard. The best thing is, this product can be installed on any machine.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No other options were evaluated.

What other advice do I have?

It is recommended, as it is a stable product.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

it_user221874Manager IT at a energy/utilities company with 501-1,000 employees

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Jul 13, 2015

Can any one have experienced to deploy Pfsense on Hyper-V ... I am planning to deploy this scenario.

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it_user79791

Network Admin at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

Jan 20, 2014

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The product is missing a graphic report implementation tool but performance, scalability and customization are valuable

What is most valuable?

Performance, cost effective, scalable, customizable

How has it helped my organization?

After switching from Cisco, Juniper, Astaro and Microsoft network response improved and more control of packet (for me, pfpacket technology is better than packet filter.)

What needs improvement?

Graphic report implementation tool (now possible with extra software)

For how long have I used the solution?

5+ years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No, perfect scalability from 20 to 500 users

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

Cisco, Microsoft and when TMG progressively died it was necessary to switch to unix technology, many corporations require low budget and high performance.

How was the initial setup?

The initial approach is very complex because of the multiple functions, but after a short learning curve it is able to handle the standard functions.

What about the implementation team?

In my case, I buy network appliance from Lanner Inc. ltd (watchguard supplier) and deploy the image depending on the desired size and functionality required by the customer.