WatchGuard Firebox Reviews

WatchGuard Firebox serves as the main firewall for customers' premises and data centers, a VPN server and a site-to-site VPN server. It is utilized for web filtering, and we have also deployed XDR solutions on it.

Cloud integration is one of the best features.

I have been using WatchGuard Firebox as a partner for eight years.

I rate the solution’s stability a ten out of ten.

We've deployed for companies with over one thousand people. Firebox is scalable. For instance, it supports high availability with a primary and secondary box configuration. You can purchase a high-availability device to enhance reliability. Additionally, if you need to expand, you can upgrade the device by paying for the upgrade, and they'll provide you with a more powerful unit.

The technical support is awesome. We are a scalable partner with them. Whenever we need expert assistance from WatchGuard, a whole team is connected with us, helping us when things get difficult. You have to work hand in hand with them.

Positive

The initial setup is straightforward. You can deploy it on-premises or using the cloud. If you configure the device to connect to the cloud, you can deploy the Firebox based on templates. You can add a template for a specific client and deploy it for a particular use case. For example, if you're setting it up for a restaurant or a cafe, you can have templates tailored for those businesses. This significantly reduces deployment time, especially if you have several customers of the same type of business.

One person is enough for the solution's deployment, but it will run in less than an hour.

A network security engineer meets with clients to gather configuration requirements. He prepares a configuration template before the implementation. When he arrives at the site, he turns on the device, applies the template, tests everything, and then migrates the settings from the existing router or firewall to the Firebox.

The price is reasonable. It's a powerhouse. The device is stable and fast. Its software is excellent for deployment. It outperforms its stated capabilities. I haven't had any malfunction or damage in eight years due to power outages or similar issues.

With WatchGuard Firebox, we have deployed IP as part of our security measures. Thanks to the additional layer of protection provided by the IPS, our clients and networks are more secure. Additionally, we benefit from a gateway antivirus and an intelligent antivirus that employs AI for enhanced protection. This intelligent antivirus scans all files and information flowing through the gateway.

WatchGuard Firebox's threat detection and response capabilities are highly effective and fast. We've witnessed its efficiency firsthand during various events, such as DNS service attacks. It swiftly halts the attack and notifies you of the details promptly.

The notification time usually doesn't take long, maybe around five minutes after the event.

We have two shifts of engineers monitoring our NOC. They look at the devices, check alerts, and can take action based on the alerts received. We have one expert for tier one and another for tier two.

You can have a powerhouse in a box with the best price on the market. WatchGuard Firebox offers the best price. We work with Cisco and other brands, but their firewall and UTM solution has the best price in the market.

If you deploy a UTM, you deploy Firebox. For example, if you deploy another solution for EDR, you’re going to have two separate EDR solutions. You’re going to have a UTM disconnected from whatever you use from another brand. What ends up happening is that when you purchase all the security solutions from WatchGuard, you’re going to have all solutions combined in a single pane of glass. The learning curve and investment you make will be solid, with one solution that is easy to use, understandable, reasonably priced, and highly effective in security.

Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

I used WatchGuard Firebox for small configurations and to give Active Directory access to some users so they could bypass the firewall. I also used the solution as a VPN.

WatchGuard Firebox is easy to configure and has a nice user interface.

The solution's pricing could be improved.

I have been using WatchGuard Firebox for one year.

I rate the solution ten out of ten for stability.

Around five users are using the solution in our organization.

I rate WatchGuard Firebox a seven out of ten for scalability.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy, I rate the solution's initial setup a six or seven out of ten.

The pricing depends on the quality of the product we are buying and the support. WatchGuard Firebox has good quality, but it is expensive.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven or eight out of ten.

The solution has some specific rules that detect multiple traffic from the same IP address. It will generate a report and send it to the administration's account email address so that we can analyze it and give the correct feedback for us to take action.

With the high competition in the market with AI, everything is done a lot faster, and all the companies are trying to lower the cost of their IT solutions. Companies that don't make the correct investments in their IT solutions face malware attacks and ransomware attacks. Every company needs security because any kind of disruption will be extremely costly for the company to get out of.

The solution's VPN capabilities have greatly improved our remote work security. It was very easy to configure and use. It was a bit tricky to configure on the remote computer, but everything was okay.

The solution's management interface eases the setup and ongoing maintenance of the solution. I did an update a couple of months ago, and it was very easy. I rate the solution's documentation a six out of ten.

I would recommend WatchGuard Firebox to other users because it's a well-known company that has been in the market for quite some time. It might have some vulnerabilities, like every other product in the market. Once the vulnerability is detected, it quickly makes patches for the system.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

The utilization of the WatchGuard Firebox system is as follows: the head office, located in Barbados, has two remote offices in New York and Toronto that utilize Cisco for their VPNs, which are running to these two locations for the branch offices. The email system has three locations for redundancy, two in the UK in Purley and London, and one in Toronto, Canada. Employees who work from home, access the office through mobile VPNs.

The WatchGuard Fire Box has greatly improved the functioning of our organization, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the use of VPNs was primarily limited to IT support. However, with the rollout of the WatchGuard Fire Box, all of our staff members in Barbados, Toronto, and New York were able to seamlessly transition to working from home. The WatchGuard Fire Box also provides a unified track for virus scanning, which enhances the security of our connections. Additionally, we have moved our email off-island, which has made the SPA filtering from WatchGuard redundant. Overall, the WatchGuard Fire Box has played a critical role in enabling our organization to adapt to the challenges posed by the pandemic and work efficiently from home.

The most valuables feature of WatchGuard Firebox are the VPNs, and web filtering where we can stop users from going to malicious sites.

The VPN aspect of the WatchGuard Firebox is an area that could potentially benefit from improvement. We encountered difficulties while attempting to integrate Windows 11 laptops into the system, which resulted in unreliable connections. After some research, we discovered that this was primarily due to compatibility issues with Windows 11 and required a patch. However, it was still a challenge as it seemed that even when we tried to keep the laptops on Windows 10, they still exhibited the same issues as Windows 11 machines. Despite WatchGuard attributing the problem to Microsoft, we were eventually able to find a solution and all the machines are now functioning seamlessly.

The solution comes with a web interface that facilitates configurations, but it doesn't have the same level of functionality as the installed client or system manager. The web UI could be further improved.

In a future release, the detection of ransomware would be helpful. Ransomware is our biggest fear.

I have been using WatchGuard Firebox for approximately 20 years.

I rate the stability of WatchGuard Firebox a nine out of ten.

Approximately thirty individuals are currently utilizing the Watchguard Firebox solution. This includes a diverse range of individuals from the CEO and directors, to managers, secretaries, clerks, and even our receptionist. Given the recent trend of remote work, it has become increasingly necessary for all individuals within the company to have access to the firewall for their daily job duties.

As a government agency, our budget has been impacted by the current economic circumstances, which has resulted in a reduction in funding. Consequently, it would not be feasible to allocate additional resources toward increasing usage within the next year or two. Nonetheless, we will strive to maintain the current level of functionality and make any necessary updates to ensure a smooth operation.

I rate the scalability of WatchGuard Firebox a nine out of ten.

There is a time difference when I have tried to receive support causing some challenges.

I rate the support from WatchGuard Firebox a seven out of ten.

Neutral

We used Check Point previously.

The deployment took us a couple of hours and it was simple.

The deployment process for the WatchGuard Firebox in our department was a rather straightforward one given the size of our team. Being the head of the department and the sole person responsible for handling firewalls, I was in charge of conducting the entire process from start to finish. This involved a considerable amount of research to determine the most suitable option, followed by cost analysis to ensure that we were making the most cost-effective decision. Ultimately, I was responsible for making the selection, conducting the implementation, and overseeing the entire process, which required me to take on a multitude of tasks and responsibilities.

I rate the setup of WatchGuard Firebox an eight out of ten.

We did the deployment of the solution in-house.

We have seen an ROI from using the solution.

I rate the ROI of WatchGuard Firebox a nine out of ten.

Despite the fact that there is always room for improvement, the current pricing of the solution is still lower compared to its competitors.

I rate the price of the WatchGuard Firebox an eight out of ten.

We have evaluated SonicWall and Cisco, but the choice to choose WatchGuard Firebox was based on cost and reputation.

We use two people for the maintenance of the solution.

I would recommend it and tell them to try it. It is a cost-effective, reliable solution.

I rate WatchGuard Firebox a nine out of ten.

The solution controls who can connect to the Internet and who cannot and which protocols and services are allowed to pass through. It manages VPNs, including back-office VPNs. It also provides web-blocking features for users who want to restrict access to certain types of content.

Compared to competitors in the same segments, WatchGuard Firebox is an excellent firewall to implement.

WatchGuard Firebox offers DNS protection along with geofencing features. Additionally, the SSL VPN combined with multifactor authentication is excellent and a standout feature. 

The product is expensive. The pricing could be improved.

WatchGuard Firebox offers various models, each designed to meet different needs. While it's true that the models share many features, consolidating the lineup into fewer models could be beneficial. For example, they could have distinct models for small, medium, and large enterprises, each capable of scaling according to the number of users or throughput requirements. This approach would streamline their offerings, making it easier for customers to choose the right Firebox for their needs.

I have been using WatchGuard Firebox for 25 years.

The solution is very stable. I rate the solution’s stability a ten out of ten.

The solution’s scalability is good. 20 customers are using this solution.

I rate the solution’s scalability an eight out of ten.

WatchGuard support is highly effective. They maintain an excellent support and help desk service.

Positive

Once, I had to connect with a Cisco device on the remote side, which also went smoothly. It was between a customer and a third-party firm conducting business with my customer. They needed to establish a connection to their Cisco Firewall, and the implementation process was as smooth as setting up the back-end VPN.

The initial setup is straightforward. A simple installation for a small business takes about four to six hours. One IT guy is enough for the deployment.

I rate the product’s pricing an eight out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.

The solution is transparent and easy to set up and maintain. 

WatchGuard Firebox has always been very effective for many customers who use Firebox to connect their remote sites. Additionally, many customers log in to a Firebox using the WatchGuard Mobile VPN with multi-factor authentication. This setup has proven to be very stable, high quality, and easy to configure.

Customers find WatchGuard Firebox to be an expensive solution, but some of them recognize its necessity. However, some customers initially fail to see the need for a firewall. Yet, when it comes time for renewal, after a year or three, they begin to understand its importance, often aided by a chart explaining its benefits. Just like a car requiring periodic servicing, a firewall also necessitates attention.

I recommend WatchGuard Firebox to others because it's a very good product. Firstly, it boasts numerous nice features. It's straightforward to implement, maintain, and understand. One particularly appealing feature is the real-time traffic monitoring.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

We use the product for added security layers, allowing us to control and manage our network traffic effectively.

The product's most valuable feature is DNS filtering, which blocks users from accessing unwanted websites.

The product's technical support services need improvement. 

We have been using WatchGuard Firebox for a few years.

We never encountered stability issues. The system never went offline.

I rate the platform’s stability an eight out of ten.

The technical support team takes time to respond.

Positive

We did use a different solution previously. We switched to WatchGuard Firebox because it offered added security features. 

While your supplier assisted with most of the setup, it still took some time to become accustomed to using the product effectively. The installation process spanned about two days, with the first day focused on physical installation and the second day dedicated to configurations. Beforehand, your provider inquired about your existing services, such as multiple Internet providers and virtual networks, to ensure seamless integration with the WatchGuard Firebox.

We took help from a third-party consultant for product implementation. Additionally, there were four staff members from our organization involved in the process.

As per my knowledge, the product is more affordable than alternatives like Barracuda, which was reported to be way more expensive. However, I wasn't involved in the detailed discussions about these aspects, so I can't provide more in-depth insights. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.

Before choosing WatchGuard Firebox, we evaluated other options. Some of the alternatives we considered included Norton and Barracuda. However, Barracuda was ultimately deemed to be out of our price range. Norton was also considered but not chosen, partly due to pricing concerns. Ultimately, a partner highly recommended WatchGuard, which influenced our decision to select it as our security solution.

In our environment, we've deployed the WatchGuard Firebox primarily to secure remote access for users. Previously, we relied on remote desktops, but due to security concerns, we transitioned everything to VPN connections facilitated by the Firebox.

Initially, the ease of management and configuration of the Firebox for administrators was around four. However, as we became more familiar with the technical details and how to use it, that rating increased to an eight.

Firebox operates effectively in the background, blocking potential threats without a need for constant monitoring. It allows us to focus on other tasks knowing that our network is protected. As for ROI, it's challenging to provide specific metrics without detailed analysis, but overall, the enhanced security by the Firebox justifies the investment.

I rate it a nine out of ten.

We primarily use WatchGuard Firebox for security and connections. It's a web and endpoint, and we have different connections to associates and customers through internal networks, which is a big part of it.

The performance has been satisfactory for all of them, and I appreciate how it simplifies configuration. While it does require a certain configuration process, once completed, it works seamlessly. Personally, I find the ease of configuration to be the most valuable aspect of this product.

We're primarily using the on-prem version, but we do use the cloud-based version a little bit as well. When I was with my previous company, we had many customers with WatchGuard devices, and the cloud-based services were quite good. One feature that I really liked was the ability to configure settings and push them straight to the cloud, which made it easier to distribute them to different firewalls.

One thing, which I have been finding a bit annoying, is that it's too dependent on the Windows operating system. The configuration systems and software required to access WatchGuard always run on the Windows system. As my workstation is Linux, I need to have access to Windows to use WatchGuard. It's a little inconvenient for me, but it's not a big issue. For me, that's the most annoying thing, and I would like it to be more Linux-friendly.

In the next release, I would like to see better software and configuration systems that could also be used on Linux.

I've been using it for about ten years. We are using the latest version of WatchGuard Firebox.

It's been a rock-solid solution with no issues. I would rate it a ten out of ten. The WatchGuard Firebox has been a reliable and stable solution for us. Only once in the ten-year period did we experience some issues with the product, but practically never any issues with the solution.

It is a scalable solution. I would rate it a nine out of ten.

Overall, there are around 50 to 70 users using WatchGuard Firebox in our local office. There are also people using this solution in our head office in other countries.

The customer service and support team was good.

Positive

I have used some SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) products and some Cisco products. But very little. Because most of the time, I use WatchGuard Firebox.

In the beginning, around ten years ago, it was a little bit challenging. However, the support was excellent in Finland, where I am located. The team who worked there provided good courses, and now, everything else is much more straightforward to install than before.

They are so easy to configure, from the littlest firewall to the biggest one. That's very good cohesion in the whole lineup of devices. It's easy to change the model if you need more performance, and you can easily change the hardware. From the very small five boxes to the bigger ones, it's easy to change the model if you need more performance. When you purchase the WatchGuard Firebox, you usually get the software with the option that the new hardware comes with.

course, it takes longer if you want to modify everything to ensure that your email gateway is working as it should and your VPN tunnels are set up properly. However, it's still very fast. So, I just quickly put the network cables in, and it starts working. But, of course, it's important to get everything working correctly, which takes some time, not because of the WatchGuard Firebox, but because you need to put every server you'll be using in working order and ensure that everything is working well with the firewall. It takes time. But once everything is set up, it's good to go.

In a new installation, it will always take time to get everything working as desired. There will always be something that needs to be done and different things you may want to enhance. But, with WatchGuard Firebox, you can get it working very quickly and then modify everything later.

Usually, we have two people for maintenance because there are usually other things happening at the same time. When we know that we need to do something bigger for the firewall, we exchange the hardware for a better or newer one or do software updates. The big picture of software updates is made in stock. So usually, one guy maintains the firewall, another update the servers, and they oversee the maintenance and anything else that needs to be done. The job role of the maintenance team is IT administrator.

We usually keep up with the support subscriptions and usually make a three-year contract or buy a 3-year subscription. And then, it's time to update the hardware at the same time. Our size of the firewall has been from €5,000 to €7,000. I don't exactly remember the price, but that size of hardware was what we needed.

I would definitely recommend using WatchGuard Firebox. Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Our primary use case for this solution is a primary firewall.

The features I found most valuable are probably the built-in VPN functionality and the scalability because they can both be centrally managed. It is very easy to scale. It is also very granular, so you can be as restrictive or as non-restrictive as you like. This means you can be very precise with it.

The area where I think this product can be improved is the user interface and the reporting. It can be quite difficult to find the correct logs and to actually find out what is going on. The digging can be time-consuming.

I have been using this solution for a year now.

I would rate the stability of this solution an eight out of 10, with one being unstable and 10 being very stable.

I would rate the scalability of this solution a 10, on a scale of one to 10, with one being not scalable at all and 10 being very scalable.

We currently have about 200 users.

From my experience with their customer service team, I would say that they seem quite knowledgeable and fairly quick to respond.

Previously, we used FortiGate. FortiGate is a much more mature product. I feel like FortiGate is a lot easier to work with. Firebox, you're able to achieve the same outcomes, but it can be a lot more complicated to do so.

The initial setup can be somewhat complex. I would rate it a six out of 10, with one being not complicated at all and 10 being very complex.

Our deployment was done through a third party.

I would rate their pricing plan a four, which means it's definitely on the cheaper scale.

I would recommend this product, but you need to make sure that you've got the technical capability to work with it because it can be quite complicated. Overall, I would rate this solution a seven out of 10, with one being poor and 10 being excellent.

Our main use case for WatchGuard Firebox is to protect companies from Internet threats.

The most effective and helpful features of WatchGuard Firebox, especially when purchased with the full suite of applications, are its bundled applications and subscriptions for comprehensive protection against various threats. It is essential to renew licensing and subscriptions to safeguard against potential penetrations.

One area for improvement could be making the interface even more user-friendly.

I have been working with WatchGuard Firebox for a couple of years.

WatchGuard support is generally helpful and does a good job, although occasionally I may need to call for clarification on some technical matters.

Other products like Fortinet and Palo Alto have had security flaws, but WatchGuard Firebox fits within the budget of the client.

I also work with Cisco, and Cisco's CLI is highly customizable, though it requires more time to learn initially. Cisco's support is also quite good.

The main difference between Cisco and WatchGuard Firebox is the support structure. With Cisco, you can directly communicate with the manufacturer, while with WatchGuard Firebox, support is through local channels only, without the option to directly contact WatchGuard via email or open a ticket.

Managing WatchGuard Firebox is easy for experienced users. Initial setup and deployment typically take a couple of days, including preconfiguration before installation on-site to avoid potential issues.

The price of WatchGuard Firebox is generally lower than Cisco, making it easier to sell to customers. However, if the price were slightly lower than it is now, it would be even more appealing. Some customers underestimate the importance of the subscriptions included with the boxes, but with experience, I have seen how critical they are for protecting against hackers and data breaches.

WatchGuard Firebox works well for network security, email protection, and phishing prevention. It is cost-efficient and offers features like EDR or XDR without being overly expensive.

Overall, I would rate WatchGuard Firebox as a seven out of ten. It is a solid tool.