TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Cisco Firepower 1000 Series vs. WatchGuard Network Security

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Cisco Firepower 1000 Series

    Score8 out of 10
    N/AThe Cisco Firepower® 1000 Series for small to medium-size businesses and branch offices is a family of four threat-focused Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) security platforms designed to deliver business resiliency through superior threat defense. The vendor provides that they offers exceptional sustained performance when advanced threat functions are enabled. The 1000 Series’ throughput range addresses use cases from the small office, home office, remote branch office to the Internet edge. The…N/A

    WatchGuard Network Security

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/AWatchGuard Network Security is a network security and firewall software. WatchGuard includes secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication, and network intelligence products and services designed for SMB’s.N/A
    Pricing
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Editions & Modules
    Firepower 1000
    1,000-5,000
    per appliance
    Support
    Contact sales team
    Contact sales team
    Basic Security
    Contact sales team
    Contact sales team
    Total Security
    Contact sales team
    Contact sales team
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Considered Both Products
    Cisco
    No answer on this topic
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    I have had Fortinet Security experts try and compare the ease of use and advanced security functionality of their products but have always been left unimpressed. Many people seem to argue that Fortinet is a much better product but there is nothing that I have seen that Fortinet …
    Incentivized
    Chose WatchGuard Network Security
    We found WatchGuard [Network Security] has a great combination of deep down controls of traffic when desired but [is] still easy to configure and maintain. We also trust their published throughput numbers compared to specialty configs needed to match published throughput with …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    89%
    Would buy again
    17 Answers
    96%
    Would buy again
    356 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    94%
    Delivers good value for the price
    17 Answers
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    341 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    17 Answers
    98%
    Happy with the feature set
    364 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    87%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    13 Answers
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    314 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    94%
    Implementation went as expected
    17 Answers
    97%
    Implementation went as expected
    340 Answers
    Features
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Firewall
    Comparison of Firewall features of Cisco Firepower 1000 Series and WatchGuard Network Security
    Feature
    Cisco Firepower 1000 Series
    8.3
    33 Ratings
    4% below category average
    WatchGuard Network Security
    9.1
    460 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Identification Technologies8.031 Ratings8.7419 Ratings
    Visualization Tools7.230 Ratings8.5417 Ratings
    Content Inspection8.330 Ratings9.1444 Ratings
    Policy-based Controls8.733 Ratings9.2457 Ratings
    Active Directory and LDAP8.429 Ratings8.8388 Ratings
    Firewall Management Console7.232 Ratings8.5450 Ratings
    Reporting and Logging8.333 Ratings9.0446 Ratings
    VPN9.128 Ratings9.5441 Ratings
    High Availability9.232 Ratings9.5399 Ratings
    Stateful Inspection8.828 Ratings9.3413 Ratings
    Proxy Server00 Ratings9.4298 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Small Businesses
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.4 out of 10
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.4 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
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.3
    (34 ratings)
    8.5
    (475 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    7.0
    (2 ratings)
    7.7
    (37 ratings)
    Usability
    8.0
    (5 ratings)
    7.9
    (118 ratings)
    Availability
    8.1
    (2 ratings)
    9.2
    (4 ratings)
    Performance
    8.3
    (29 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.5
    (34 ratings)
    9.5
    (29 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (3 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.1
    (264 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (3 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    8.1
    (2 ratings)
    9.1
    (3 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.1
    (4 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.2
    (3 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.2
    (3 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Cisco Firepower 1000 SeriesWatchGuard Network Security
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cisco
    I think it is well suited for smaller companies or (as in our case) extension to a central system with higher performance. My personal guess is, that it can be quite annoying with those delays in bigger environments, when 20 or more devices needed to be managed. From the point of security, support and updates it works quite good and seem to have no downsides.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Watchguard is well suited for small businesses without significantly complex networks and infrastructure. WatchGuard firewalls perform well on IPv4 networks and offer basic security features that match other vendors that target the small business market. WatchGuard firewalls are less appropriate for mid-sized business and larger. There is limited IPv6 support, and the firmware often lacks some or all of more advanced features that businesses that size often need.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Cisco
    • My organization is all Cisco and wants to stay in the Cisco life cycle, Firepower 1000 series is great for small to medium-size office.
    • Very robust enterprise-grade security solution with updated threat features to handle any current and upcoming threats. The solution is backed by Cisco to ensure constant security updates. Integrated AnyConnect remote client VPN is a big plus to allow for secure remote workers access. Easier to set up a site to site VPN due to the large user base and case studies published on integrating to other manufacturer solutions.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    • Incoming Torrent attempts were blocked, but outgoing (by a user) were permitted. Similarly, other direct attempts were summarily blocked.
    • provides full administrative support for analysis of usage and scope.
    • strong Wi-Fi support and security - area wi-fi maps
    • They think of all the things secure and I don't have to worry about it.
    • I have not identified anything else that needs improvement - I am well satisfied.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Cisco
    • ACLS in gui are PIA cant see object details
    • Objects in ACLs dont show IP addresses
    • Have to renames every object to name+ip to make acl GUI useable
    • Speed to data can use improvement.
    • Health warnings should allow you to resolve you have to dig n search in some cases.
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    • Better integration with VoIP services, such as templates for policies handling traffic for Bria or Asterisk endponts and servers.
    • Get webblocker to work without breaking secure websites.
    • Lower cost on endpoint agents for antivirus and include application control and webblocker with the agents.
    • Make the cost per endpoint with TDR and Netowrk access control lower than the cost of Antivirus licensing that is not integrated.
    • Make it easier to set up network access control and VLAN assignment by device, perhaps with templates.
    • Get webblocker and application control working with QUIC.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Cisco
    It is quite good, robust and reliable but not always so easy to manage and configure. The tools could be improved and the price is not low for an entry level firewall
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    I'm giving this note to WatchGuard Network Security due to its ease of daily support (after acquiring necessary knowledge in the solution), which allows agility in configuration changes, its integration of several reliable security features (such as SSL VPN, VPN Virtual Interfaces between companies, and others) and functional and stability in operation, with no downtime in the equipment due to problems or malfunctions
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Cisco
    Firepowers are secure, reliable, central management and configuration is easy and they fit in well with our existing Cisco infrastructure. Good feature set and support. Good management and control with chassis manager and central control with additional Firepower Management Centre.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Although it might take some time to figure out, we have been able to use WatchGuard's online reference library and tech support to create/implement/modify all of our filtering rules and exceptions needed. There really has not been a shortcoming other than perhaps a learning curve.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Cisco
    Has not let me down yet.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Availability has always been a strong point of this product, it is rare that watchguard does not have a solution for customers' network monitoring needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Cisco
    Great performance even on the lower end model of the series. You can push a lot of traffic through these devices without much performance impact. If you decide you want to inspect encrypted traffic however, you may take a big hit on the cpu and memory of the box, but they still manage to keep up even with all the bells and whistles turned on.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    The performance of WatchGuard Network Security is very good, in the years that we have used the solution we have only had a single error and Watchguard itself was able to solve it. Furthermore, when purchasing any product, the partner always evaluates the capacity of the solution to recommend the most appropriate product for our needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Cisco
    I have had troubles with Firepower Management Center and the FTD's in the past. Sticking to a Gold Star image and upgrading when the "bugs" are fixed is great. That still doesn't mean you are left vulnerable though. The extra features are just not enabled yet. Great product and calling support is readily available for any issue.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    We have only had to contact them once during the initial set up to help bring the internet back on line. After that for the most part our systems have been automated, and could easily be checked form their online FAQ and Knowledge base that they provide. Everything else is easily handled from their browser based interface
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    WatchGuard Technologies
    We participate to a in person training and the three days of learning was really useful and complete to gain skill to solve the major part of the problem we encounter during our life. And more the in person training give us the opportunity to create a network with other WatchGuard partner.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    WatchGuard Technologies
    Online training is good for learning how to use the product. It does not teach security strategy because that is not its intent.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Cisco
    Utilize the new FMC cloud which is available in Cisco Defense Orchestrator.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    I had my key information for setting up the firewall, and they assisted me in finding the settings and appropriate places to enter data. They also helped troubleshoot when I didn't understand some of their feature concepts, and we got it running.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Cisco
    Cisco Meraki MX is much more simple to configure it if you compare to Cisco Firepower 1000, but it is more limited to pur some complex configurations. The Cisco Firepower 1000 Series is typically deployed as a physical appliance, while the Meraki MX can be deployed as a physical or virtual appliance.The Firepower 1000 Series has a more complex user interface, with a steeper learning curve, but offers more customization and configuration options. The Meraki MX has a simpler, more intuitive interface,
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    I think the solutions are comparable, but the cloud management piece is critical for MSPs these days. We need to be able to schedule and push out updates as soon as they are stable and ready. Insurance companies and government regulations mandate this.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    WatchGuard Technologies
    This product is very scalable since previously everything related to Watchguard was on premises but that has now changed with the inclusion of watchguard cloud. Now the product has evolved to have full control of firewalls at the cloud level.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Cisco
    • We have seen improved throughput on our internet.
    • It took several attempts with Cisco engineers to configure the device; it requires a deep set of knowledge to set up in a more complicated environment.
    • This will allow us to move forward with a more stable and configurable environment with security available we didn't have before.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    WatchGuard Technologies
    • at least 3-5X a year (that I know of), this device has single-handedly prevented members of our staff from inadvertently connecting to services they did not intend and could have resulted in security disruption
    • although you can never rule out human-behaviour-engineered threat, it's helpful to know that our network has a higher level, enterprise-class control and monitoring behind it
    • any time our network might be showing signs of abnormal performance, the WatchGuard control panel is the first place I turn to help identify the level of concern. It can quickly set my mind at ease and help to identify the specific device that might be out of compliance
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    WatchGuard Network Security Screenshots

    Screenshot of WatchGuard Cloud Customizable DashboardScreenshot of Threat Monitoring SummaryScreenshot of Device Security SummaryScreenshot of Automated ReportingScreenshot of User Authentication SummaryScreenshot of Endpoint Protection Summary