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WatchGuard Network Security

Score8.6 out of 10

892 Reviews and Ratings

What is WatchGuard Network Security?

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.

Categories & Use Cases

Media

WatchGuard Cloud Customizable Dashboard
Threat Monitoring Summary
Device Security Summary
Automated Reporting
User Authentication Summary
Endpoint Protection Summary

1 / 6

Top Performing Features

  • VPN

    VPN's implement encryption and anonymize IP addresses

    Category average: 9.1

  • High Availability

    Built-in capacity to prevent exposure if primary firewall stops working

    Category average: 9.2

  • Stateful Inspection

    Stateful inspection analyzes packet headers and contents of packets

    Category average: 8.8

Areas for Improvement

  • Active Directory and LDAP

    Integration with Active Directory and LDAP directories

    Category average: 8.4

  • Firewall Management Console

    Either command-line or web-based interface for centralized control and management

    Category average: 8.1

  • Visualization Tools

    Visualization tools present administrators with data on applications traversing the network, who is using them, and the potential security impact.

    Category average: 8

A trust-worthy backup

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

WatchGuard firewall appliance

mostly using it as a backup network security device because we have other brand appliances which have centrailized portal to manage devices and faster response UI

Pros

  • Work as it intended
  • fail safe
  • simple setup

Cons

  • Faster UI
  • Centrailized manage with older devices
  • automate task support

Return on Investment

  • just the UI response being slow
  • need access to LAN to manage the firewall so slower response to accident
  • it acts well as a temporary solution in our use cases

Alternatives Considered

Sophos Firewall and Datto Routers

Other Software Used

SentinelOne Singularity, Microsoft Teams, LogMeIn Central by GoTo

WatchGuard Network Security

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use WatchGuard Network Security systems for managing our multiple firewalled networks. The granular security controls and straightforward UI make it easy to configure things as we need them. The site-site VPN functionality and point-site VPN clients enable our offices to collaborate effortlessly and enables WFH to be a nondisruptive option. A small team can manage everything due to its accessible UI options.

Pros

  • Site to Site VPN
  • Customer Support
  • WebUI management interface

Cons

  • Local >> Cloud firewall management migration
  • OAth integration
  • Consistent interface among multiple management methods

Return on Investment

  • Cost:function is acceptable
  • Not overly complex, allowing us to manage in-house instead of having to use a third-party service provider
  • pretty much fire-and-forget, allowing staff efficiency

Alternatives Considered

UniFi Cloud Gateways and UniFi Switching

Other Software Used

SentinelOne Singularity, N-able N-sight RMM, Microsoft 365

Watchguard Rules

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use WatchGuard Firebox for all our branch offices and head offices to Threat detection along with User Bases Content Filtering to ensure a safe and secure environment. We also like because of the Zero Secure trust policy that Watchguard offers us. The Ease of deployment and management is also a great was for us to environment on a Month to month basis.

Pros

  • Deployment
  • Troubleshoot
  • Comprehensive security services
  • threat Detection

Cons

  • Customer support
  • Ease of troubleshooting traffic log items
  • Easier disaster recovery of a HW unit

Return on Investment

  • Uptime
  • ROI in the total investment
  • Ease to rollout the products with little impact

Alternatives Considered

Fortinet FortiGate

Other Software Used

CyberArk Secure Cloud Access, CyLock MFA, CyberArk Privileged Access Management

WatchGuard Network Security at a Small Business

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use this as our onsite firewall and for local network management as well as VPN for offsite employees.

Pros

  • Network setup and VLAN management.
  • Easy integration with other network equipment.
  • All the security features we need for access control and defense.

Cons

  • 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.

Return on Investment

  • This has saved money be preventing downtime from security issues.
  • It is far less expensive than farming out to an MSP. Easily in the lower 25% of costs and has all major features needed.

Alternatives Considered

Fortinet FortiGate

Other Software Used

Bitdefender GravityZone, ManageEngine Endpoint Central, Microsoft Defender for Business

Comprehensive Perimeter Security for Small Businesses.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use WatchGuard to provide perimeter security for our office network. Having a comprehensive advanced security solution in place allows us to have one place to manage our security and assist us in preventing/reducing spam, phishing, and Ransomware from entering our network. Our firewall is one of multiple layers that we trust to protect our organization and our data.

Pros

  • Intrusion Protection.
  • Monitoring of the traffic that is experienced on the specific interfaces (especially the WAN).
  • Scheduling of upgrades of the firmware.
  • Cloud Management of the Firewall.

Cons

  • Integration with MSP Tools (HaloPESA).
  • Integration into existing SIEM tools.

Return on Investment

  • WatchGuard is a well-established company in the industry, and we are confident in its security solutions.
  • This solution meets/exceeds our security objectives for CMMC and the DoD standards.
  • I wish their cloud management were much stronger and provided more features similar to those of Meraki. If it did, we would exclusively sell these devices.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco Meraki Dashboard and Cisco Meraki MX

Other Software Used

ThreatLocker, Todyl