TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    APF Software Firewall

    N/AN/AAdvanced Policy Firewall (APF) is a free and open-source iptables(netfilter) based firewall system designed around the Internet 's deployed servers and the unique needs of custom deployed Linux installations. The configuration of APF is designed to be informative and present the user with an easy to follow process, from top to bottom of the configuration file.

    $0

    Sophos SG Firewall Appliances

    Score9 out of 10
    N/ASophos SG Firewall Appliances are designed to provide optimal protection for organizations of all sixes from small remote offices, to global organizations requiring high-availability andN/A
    Pricing
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Considered Both Products
    Open Source
    No answer on this topic
    Sophos
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Would buy again
    8 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    7 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    6 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    7 Answers
    Features
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Firewall
    Comparison of Firewall features of APF Software Firewall and Sophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Feature
    APF Software Firewall
    -
    Ratings
    Sophos SG Firewall Appliances
    10.0
    5 Ratings
    15% above category average
    Identification Technologies00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Visualization Tools00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Content Inspection00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Policy-based Controls00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Active Directory and LDAP00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Firewall Management Console00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Reporting and Logging00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    VPN00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    High Availability00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Stateful Inspection00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Proxy Server00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Small Businesses
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.5 out of 10
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Barracuda CloudGen Firewall
    Score9.4 out of 10
    Barracuda CloudGen Firewall
    Score9.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
    Score9 out of 10
    Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
    Score9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Likelihood to Recommend
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    APF Software FirewallSophos SG Firewall Appliances
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    It is well-suited for all sizes of organizations. It will help them to safeguard their network from various cyber threats like ransomware, phishing, malware, etc. It will provide them with many features like deep packet inspection, web filtering, application control, etc. in one place. It will also help them optimize bandwidth usage
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    • It helps you to protect your corporate network and data from external cyber threats.
    • It provides you with with advanced features like load balancing, web and app access, etc., to optimize bandwidth uses.
    • It enables you to configure an IPsec VPN to access organization resources remotely.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    • We would like more feature reach port blocking. This could be reorganized to make it easier on Network Admins to add or change ports.
    • I would like easier access to the CLI
    • I would like it to perform faster
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated Sophos SG Firewall a 9 out of 10 because it has consistently provided strong and reliable security for our organization over the past five years. Its unified features like IPS, VPN, web filtering, and reporting make it easy to manage and highly effective in protecting our network. The interface is user-friendly, and support from Sophos has been timely and helpful. I deducted one point only because deeper cloud-native integration and more advanced analytics would further enhance its future readiness.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    Management could use some improvements. Sophos management and workflows has always been designed by Engineers for Engineers. They do not always follow logical workflows in the real world. Once you figure this out it is easier to use but no where as smooth as many other products on the market.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated the availability of Sophos SG Firewall a 10 because, in our experience, it has been highly reliable and available whenever we needed it. We have not faced any significant application errors or unplanned outages. The system has been robust, ensuring continuous protection and minimal downtime, even during firmware updates or configuration changes. Its stability and uptime have been consistent, allowing us to trust it as a critical part of our network security infrastructure.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated the performance of Sophos SG Firewall a 10 because it consistently delivers fast and reliable results. Pages load quickly, reports are generated within a reasonable time frame, even for complex queries, and overall system responsiveness is excellent. Additionally, the firewall integrates seamlessly with other software and systems without causing any noticeable slowdowns or performance degradation. Its optimized performance has contributed to smooth network operations and minimal disruption to other services, making it a highly reliable solution for our needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    The biggest selling point for sophos is their vendor support. Those guys put a smile on our faces. There are multiple ways you can contact their support like chat, or telephone or email. They are very responsive and they do have very knowledgable and patient support staff. We have raised tickets at all odd hours and they have been addressed correctly
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated the in-person training a 10 because the sessions were thorough, engaging, and well-structured. The trainers had a deep understanding of the Sophos SG Firewall and were able to clearly explain both basic and advanced features. The hands-on approach allowed us to directly apply what we were learning, which made the training highly practical and valuable. Additionally, the trainers were available to address specific questions and provide real-time troubleshooting during the sessions, making it an overall positive experience.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I was very satisfied with the implementation of the Sophos SG Firewall, giving it a rating of 9. One key insight from the implementation process is that while the setup was relatively straightforward, it’s crucial to carefully plan the network configuration in advance, especially for high availability (HA) and VPN setups. Ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure and performing thorough testing before going live can significantly reduce issues later on. Additionally, leveraging the built-in wizards and configuration guides helped streamline the process, but hands-on testing was essential to ensure everything worked as expected in our specific environment.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    We use Sophos in conjunction with WatchGuard, for an extra added level of security. Sophos is a little more sophisticated and complicated but they work well together as added layers of protection against most cyber threats.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated the contract terms and pricing structure a 9 because, overall, they were fair and competitive. The unit pricing for the Sophos SG Firewall was reasonable considering the features and performance offered, and the billing frequency was flexible, allowing us to align it with our budget cycles. However, one area that could be improved is the pricing for multi-year commitments—there could be more significant discounts or additional incentives for long-term agreements. Overall, the structure worked well for our needs, but some adjustments could make it even more cost-effective.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated the product's scalability a 9 because Sophos SG Firewall offers excellent flexibility and can be easily scaled across multiple departments and sites. It provides the ability to add more firewalls, manage them centrally, and integrate with other security solutions as our network grows. However, the only reason I didn’t give it a perfect score is that, in some complex environments, managing a large-scale deployment with many firewalls can become a bit challenging, especially in terms of centralized management and monitoring. Despite this, the overall scalability is highly effective for most use cases.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Professional Services
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    I rated the professional services a 10 because the support we received was outstanding. The team was highly skilled, responsive, and provided tailored solutions to meet our specific needs. They guided us through the entire implementation process, from setup to optimization, ensuring that the firewall was configured efficiently and securely. Their expertise helped us avoid potential pitfalls and ensured a smooth deployment, which greatly contributed to the success of our project.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Sophos
    • Positive ROI due to the competitiveness of the product.
    • Positive impact as the device is fully functional and easy to operate.
    • Negative impact when it comes to log integration as it does not support industry logging standards.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots