Forcepoint NGFW vs. WatchGuard Network Security

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Forcepoint NGFW
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
Forcepoint Next-Generation Firewall delivers network security at scale. They can be deployed from anywhere through the Secure Management Console (SMC) and unify policy management, incident response and reporting.
$900
one-time fee (approx)
WatchGuard Network Security
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
WatchGuard 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
Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
Editions & Modules
Forcepoint NGFW N60
$900
one-time fee (approx)
Forcepoint NGFW N120
$1314
one-time fee (approx)
Forcepoint NGFW N350
$7850
one-time fee (approx)
Forcepoint NGFW N1200
$13600
one-time fee (approx)
Forcepoint NGFW N2200
$36000
one-time fee (approx)
Forcepoint NGFW N3400 & N3500
varies
one-time fee
Support
Contact sales team
Contact sales team
Basic Security
Contact sales team
Contact sales team
Total Security
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Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsFirewalls are bought predominately through partners and third-party VARs. Pricing for purchase and lease and support options vary by reseller.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
Features
Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
Firewall
Comparison of Firewall features of Product A and Product B
Forcepoint NGFW
8.1
Ratings
6% below category average
WatchGuard Network Security
9.0
Ratings
4% above category average
Identification Technologies5.00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Visualization Tools5.00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Content Inspection10.00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Policy-based Controls10.00 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Active Directory and LDAP8.00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Firewall Management Console10.00 Ratings8.40 Ratings
Reporting and Logging8.00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
VPN9.00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
High Availability9.00 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Stateful Inspection7.00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Proxy Server00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
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Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
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Score 9.9 out of 10
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Score 9.9 out of 10
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Score 9.6 out of 10
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Score 9.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Palo Alto Networks Virtualized Next-Generation Firewalls - VM Series
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Score 10.0 out of 10
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Score 10.0 out of 10
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User Ratings
Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.4
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
7.7
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(0 ratings)
7.9
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
9.2
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
6.0
(0 ratings)
9.5
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.2
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.2
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Forcepoint NGFWWatchGuard Network Security
Likelihood to Recommend
If you are looking for a smaller network/security team, the ease and low complexity create an easy to manage environment. One engineer can easily manage 100 nodes/locations. If you are just starting to get security conscious and predict regular adjustments to policy, routing, and access, this is a very good system for making easy to understand and low impact changes on a regular basis without operations interruption.
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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.
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Pros
  • Easy to manage and make changes on - ACL's are done with ease.
  • Easy USB initial configuration - The easy initial setup of a new location and firewall saves massive time. Settings are automatically pushed to new nodes upon contact with the controller.
  • Low Complexity - This system does not have a lot of complexity requiring extra hours, training, or personnel to manage.
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  • 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.
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Cons
  • Poor Reporting - It exists but even when calling in to support for assistance, they have no idea how to tackle customizing reports or searching for specific data.
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  • 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.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
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
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Usability
The Graphical User Interface is very easy to read, understand and work with. The usability of this product is very high.
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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.
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Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
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.
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Performance
No answers on this topic
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.
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Support Rating
Support has varied over the history of the company. Terro is a name that comes up often with the best of service from this company.
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For something that is considered business critical they should be far more responsive. Security isn't something to take lightly in today's work environment and so long as its working you are happy. But when it doesn't and you need that professional assistance, they weren't always there and I ultimately resolved my issues with the help of Google.
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In-Person Training
No answers on this topic
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.
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Online Training
No answers on this topic
Online training is good for learning how to use the product. It does not teach security strategy because that is not its intent.
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Implementation Rating
No answers on this topic
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.
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Alternatives Considered
There are similar hardware and license costs between the two products. The Forcepoint NGFW product is by far easier to use and manage.
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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.
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Scalability
No answers on this topic
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.
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Return on Investment
  • Efficiency/Productivity increase. The company moved from Cisco firewall and routing hardware to Forcepoint NGFW. It now takes fewer people and fewer hours to manage the new product. This has allowed the company to put the man-hours to use on other projects and tasks.
  • Long term viability. This has been a concern in the past when the company started as Stonegate, merged to become Stonesoft then got purchased by McAfee, then McAfee got purchased by Intel. However, with Forcepoint the product seems to have found a stable home.
  • Low complexity. The Web GUI based system for management has reduced the cost of personnel and training required. There is no longer a need for the company to have higher trained and higher salary cost employees to manage the system. Mid-level admins at lower salaries are capable of managing the GUI based system with ease.
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  • 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
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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