We use it for monitoring our web access, providing authentication and for security purposes.
Technical Department Manager at Direcbusiness Technologies, Inc.
Has good VPN features and capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "We get good usage out of the features. It has enabled us to gain popularity. It has great features."
- "The VPN features and its capabilities are great."
- "We had a difficult time assigning IP addresses to specific MAC addresses."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
We get good usage out of the VPN features and its capability; it is a great feature.
What needs improvement?
In terms of improvement, one of the features we are having a hard time getting a hang of is MAC addressing, like when we assign IP addresses to a specific MAC address. That is something that can be improved. For the next release, I think, it should have better feature integration.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for seven years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. We use the product for around 70 to 100 users.
How are customer service and support?
The support that we used was great.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was pretty straightforward. The setup took around one to two weeks.
What about the implementation team?
We did all of the deployment by ourselves and we use one person for maintenance.
What was our ROI?
I think, for the XG, I think the MAC addressing. We were having a very hard time assigning MAC addresses with specific IP.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We haven't chosen any other product, besides Sophos.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Sophos XG an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Firewall Engineer at a marketing services firm with 1-10 employees
Offers good security for SMBs
Pros and Cons
- "As a security solution, it's a very good security solution."
- "They should improve the hardware. If they can do that, it will be a very good product."
What is our primary use case?
I use it for one of our universities in Palestine. It's an Arabic university and there were about more than 10,000 students. So, our user base ranges from 1 to 10,000. I use it as the main firewall. I use it for High Availability (HA). That's the main use case why we use Sophos XG. We do intend to keep using it.
What is most valuable?
As a security solution, it's a very good security solution.
What needs improvement?
Some features are not available on the graphical interface. So you need to return to the command line to solve some issues that are faced by the customer. I used it for enterprise networks, I decided that it is not very good for enterprise networks. There is some issue with its hardware. I have faced two problems and that were resolved by Sophos earlier. They changed the appliance. In other products, I have not seen such problems in the hardware. So I think that the hardware is not heavy duty. You can say it's not heavy duty like other vendors. The performance is not as it says on the datasheet. They should improve the hardware. If they can do that, it would be a very good product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I am using the appliance from XG 110. We use versions 105 TO 370. I use more than one product for small to medium size businesses. We also use Intercept X firewalls. We deploy Sophos XG on-premise.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable for some things. It can have an extendable host. The appliance can be customized for more than one connection point. You can put it in the same fibre and DSL connection.
How are customer service and technical support?
They have proper support in the technical point of view, and their English language is not clear. You know that they are not native English speakers. That's one of the things that I faced. But they have very good knowledge.
How was the initial setup?
The installation of Sophos is very easy and straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's not very expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend it for small to medium businesses, not for enterprise businesses. I'll rate it 8 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Buyer's Guide
Sophos XG
September 2025

Learn what your peers think about Sophos XG. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2025.
868,787 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Network Team Lead at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees
It is user friendly and reliable, but it needs granular control over the traffic
Pros and Cons
- "It is very user friendly and easy to manage from the administrative point of view. It is good, reliable, and easy to implement."
- "It is a very basic and entry-level firewall. It doesn't give very granular control over the traffic. It should have more granular control over the traffic. This feature should be there similar to Palo Alto and Cisco. It should have such advanced features."
What is most valuable?
It is very user friendly and easy to manage from the administrative point of view. It is good, reliable, and easy to implement.
What needs improvement?
It is a very basic and entry-level firewall. It doesn't give very granular control over the traffic. It should have more granular control over the traffic. This feature should be there similar to Palo Alto and Cisco. It should have such advanced features.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for the last two years. We are using the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Its stability and reliability are fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
If you want to have multiple firewall rules, it has this type of scalability. When I compare it with some other products, such as Palo Alto, I can't find similar scalability in Sophos XG. In Palo Alto, we can have rules based on applications or app IDs, and we can create multiple rules for a single ID. We can create a single user or single IP, but such options are not there in Sophos XG. Granular level scalability should be there in Sophos, and they should do better.
How are customer service and technical support?
I appreciate their support. Their support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use Palo Alto. Palo Alto provides application IDs, which is a very powerful feature. Sophos XG is a very normal next-generation firewall with URL filtering, application filtering, and all such features. It is not something extraordinary. It is a very normal next-generation firewall.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. It is a single day task to do the initial configuration and move the traffic over there. The firewall hardening, of course, will take some time depending upon the traffic, but the initial setup is a single day task.
What other advice do I have?
It is a normal firewall. All the basic features are there. However, it is not as advanced as some of the other solutions, such as Palo Alto. As we have more security threats, we need more granular control, but these features are not available in Sophos XG.
I would rate Sophos XG a five out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Networking Engineer at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Easy to set up, good support, and the display of bandwidth usage statistics is interesting. There is a drill down menu showing bandwidth usage for each application. Easy to configure e-mail rules.
Pros and Cons
- "What we found valuable is the way they deal with emails, as well as the way the bandwidth usage is shown."
- "We are having challenges when using Zoom with Sophos XG deployed."
What is our primary use case?
Right now, we are using this product as a perimeter firewall just to deal with emails and to protect servers, as well as other equipment that is on the network.
What is most valuable?
What we found valuable is the way they deal with emails, as well as the way the bandwidth usage is shown. I find this information to be very interesting.
What needs improvement?
We are having challenges with social media because ever since this issue of COVID-19 came into existence, the idea of using online discussions has become relevant. Before this, they were not made the priority because they were not considered to be important. Now, we've discovered that we need to use a lot of these online applications.
We are having challenges when using Zoom with Sophos XG deployed. Our wireless network is not stable through the connection. More work needs to be done there, since the FW is doubling up as a wireless controller.
I would like to see improvements made to the display and visibility. I'm also using Sophos XG firewall as our wireless controller, but as it is now, I can't see my access points on the firewall. My wish is to see the Wireless network and reports also on this firewall cum- controller.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Sophos XG for almost three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Sophos XG is stable and we have no problems with it.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I think there is a limitation on the issue of scalability, and it is related to the interfaces that we bought. Right now, all of the employees are using it. The traffic that passes through it covers close to 2,000 users.
For us, our bandwidth is growing so we may have to scale further, in terms of the hardware networking components.
How are customer service and technical support?
We are constantly in touch with the distributor in Zimbabwe and they are excellent.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Prior to Sophos XG, we were using Cyberoam for our firewall. We switched because Cyberoam was acquired by Sophos.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very simple. It takes perhaps an hour to complete, which included importing rules from Cyberoam.
What about the implementation team?
We completed some certifications for using this product, but for the implementation, we were assisted by IDSS. In some instances, we are doing the maintenance on our own. When we have a challenge, on a case-by-case basis, we might contact the vendor and may require them to come in and assist.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The issue of a recurring license is a hassle because every year, we have to subscribe. It causes us problems in our organization.
What other advice do I have?
We are expanding and setting up a new data center, and I want to put a new firewall in. We have an interest in diversifying, in terms of vendors, so that we do not create a single point of failure in case one product fails. Ideally, we want to have different products.
This is a product that I can recommend for anybody who is looking for a firewall.
I would rate this solution a eight point six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network & System Administrator at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Easy to set up, monitor, and block traffic, but the stability could be better
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features are the central management, the user VPN, and communications."
- "I need to open the email to see what it contains and the value of it before I know whether to access it or not."
What is our primary use case?
We are using this product to monitor traffic, payments, and VPN access to our branches. Some are using VPN with hooks, Sophos XG 210, and the main one they are using in the data center is Sophos XG 310.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are the central management, the user VPN, and communications.
You can monitor and block traffic.
What needs improvement?
In regards to email as an example, if you experience any malware, it is contained in the container but doesn't give you any information about the email, or what is contained in the email. You only have the option to reject it or to release it.
I need to open the email to see what it contains and the value of it before I know whether to access it or not.
Stability needs improvements.
For how long have I used the solution?
We started with Sophos SG UTM 9, then we upgraded to XG. We have been using the latest version of XG for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability could be better.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable and good for small businesses.
We have approximately 120 users.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have contacted technical support three to five times per year.
It's good, but I don't have many questions to ask.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, I was using Sophos SG. We were not using any other software from any other vendor. We have only dealt with Sophos.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was simple. It was not complicated.
If you are familiar with the technology, the implementation will not be difficult.
It also depends on the business needs.
From testing and switching from SG to XG, it took approximately one week to deploy.
What about the implementation team?
We had help from the vendor. The maintenance and the VPN connection is done in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is not expensive, it's a reasonable price.
There are some additional fees for additional tools.
What other advice do I have?
I can recommend Sophos XG to others who are interested in using this solution.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Administrator Server and Networks at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Good filtering capability, but the interface is slow and it is difficult for beginners to understand
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is web filtering."
- "The reaction time of the GUI is terrible when compared to other manufacturers."
What is our primary use case?
We use this product to protect all of the connections to our sites and for web filtering.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is web filtering.
What needs improvement?
The behavior with the zones was a little bit tricky to understand and the beginning of the project.
Sophos XG is difficult to manage and it is difficult to understand when you first begin.
The reaction time of the GUI is terrible when compared to other manufacturers.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Sophos XG for about a year and a half.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable product, although the web GUI is slow. We plan to use it for another couple of years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This is a small site, and we have 15 users.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for Sophos XG was not straightforward. We already had experience with Sophos UTM, but they are completely different systems. The deployment took us one week to complete.
What about the implementation team?
We deployed this solution in-house.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I now have a proof of concept with a FortiGate firewall and we are trying some test cases on it.
What other advice do I have?
For now, this is not a product that I can recommend.
I would rate this solution a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Chief Operational Officer at Merchant Light LLC
Easy to set up, keeps extensive logs, and scans all traffic for malware
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is that it scans all of the data for any kind of malware."
- "It would be helpful if they had a set of standard templates because it would assist in the beginning, when you are just getting started."
What is our primary use case?
We are going to be hosting our own website and we are using the Sophos XG because we want to make sure that it is well protected. We also want to make sure that the rest of our LAN is not compromised.
In addition to using this firewall ourselves, we resell the product to our customers. We have a well-trained team that can perform the implementation and deployment.
How has it helped my organization?
Our network is now much better protected than it was. If you don't have your network and your infrastructure secured, as a business, which is about more than just putting a firewall in place, then you're asking for trouble. There is a lot of hunting going on, and it's not just the large corporations. It's the small businesses, too.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is that it scans all of the data for any kind of malware.
It logs everything that goes in or out, and the logs are helpful.
The simplicity of the setup is very good. I can add whatever ports I need and it's pretty easy to set up.
What needs improvement?
It would be helpful if they had a set of standard templates because it would assist in the beginning, when you are just getting started. They do have a template, but I mean specifically for different use cases. For example, an existing template for setting up a web page would suggest what kind of security we need to have in place. They do have help menus and videos, but additional templates would be useful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for about eight months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability has been rock solid and it hasn't gone down once.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
For me, there is essentially no limit when it comes to scaling. I have never used all of the connections but the limitation is between 50,000 and 200,000. I would say that scalability is enormous. If we had a bigger network then I would probably get a bigger Sophos.
At this point, we're just starting and only have three or four people who are regularly using it.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support is awesome.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did have a Cisco router prior to using Sophos XG, but I don't know much about Cisco or how to get it operational. I also realized that it was getting old, so we switched to a high-end Sophos model. With malware in this day and age, where we have a 6000% increase in the number of malware attacks compared to two years ago, we wanted to be well protected.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. If I can do it then anyone can do it. The deployment took a couple of hours. Because we are new to this type of solution, our strategy will be to begin by blacklisting everything and then whitelisting only the things that we need.
What about the implementation team?
Our in-house team handled the implementation and deployment. We have more than 200 people that are very well trained, so we can set up pretty much anything.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We paid for our licensing for three years, upfront, and there are no costs in addition to the standard fees.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I evaluated several options and sought out advice before selecting Sophos XG.
What other advice do I have?
I am happy with this solution, which is one of the reasons that we are selling it. I don't like to sell or recommend things that I have not used. I have tried a lot of the features but I would say that there is a lot more potential I haven't even tested at this point.
I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
Owner/President at TeamLogic IT of Oklahoma City
Easy to manage, performs well, and the pricing is good
Pros and Cons
- "The cloud-based interface makes it easy to manage."
- "The weakest point is the technical support because they are difficult to get into contact with."
What is our primary use case?
We are a managed service provider and the primary firewall that we sell and maintain is Sophos XG. It is also used in the company.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is that it is a next-generation firewall.
The fact that it is integrated between endpoints and the firewall, and then the firewall and a central Sophos operation center, is very good.
The cloud-based interface makes it easy to manage.
The integration with the Intercept X approach means that Sophos XG can do things that none of the others are doing.
What needs improvement?
The main area that needs improvement is the documentation.
Sophos needs to be a little better at communicating with partners about changes, issues, patches, and so forth.
The weakest point is the technical support because they are difficult to get into contact with.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the Sophos XG series for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution has been very stable and it's a good product, otherwise, I wouldn't be using it.
How are customer service and technical support?
The technical support team is knowledgeable and they are good, although it is very hard to get a hold of them. You sometimes have to wait in queue for over an hour to speak with somebody. To me, that is the most frustrating thing about Sophos.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not use another similar solution prior to Sophos XG. Since the MSP business started, it has been our primary firewall product because of the pricing and support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex, as is setting up any next-generation firewall today. You have to know what you're doing with firewalls in general, although beyond that, it isn't as bad as some of the firewalls that I have seen.
The deployment typically doesn't take longer than a few hours or a day, depending on the type of client and what it is that we have to do.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The Sophos pricing, in general, is better than SonicWall, Fortinet, WatchGuard, or anybody else. Because of the partner program, the pricing I get is extremely good compared to what I would get from any of the others.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated several firewall products and I think that Sophos is better in terms of ease of use, performance, and pricing.
What other advice do I have?
I would highly encourage others to evaluate Sophos and adopt it. I've discovered that compared to other products, it is easier to manage and I think that it operates better.
Overall, I think that they've got a pretty complete set of features and they seem to be on a really good path. My only complaints are about the documentation and the availability of technical support.
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner

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