WatchGuard Network Security vs. Zscaler Internet Access

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
WatchGuard Network Security
Score 8.8 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
Zscaler Internet Access
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Zscaler Internet Access™ (ZIA) is a secure web gateway (SWG), delivering cloud native cyberthreat protection and zero trust access to the internet and SaaS apps.N/A
Pricing
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Editions & Modules
Support
Contact sales team
Contact sales team
Basic Security
Contact sales team
Contact sales team
Total Security
Contact sales team
Contact sales team
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoYes
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Features
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Firewall
Comparison of Firewall features of Product A and Product B
WatchGuard Network Security
8.2
532 Ratings
5% below category average
Zscaler Internet Access
-
Ratings
Identification Technologies8.4488 Ratings00 Ratings
Visualization Tools6.9481 Ratings00 Ratings
Content Inspection8.3512 Ratings00 Ratings
Policy-based Controls8.9528 Ratings00 Ratings
Active Directory and LDAP8.7445 Ratings00 Ratings
Firewall Management Console8.6519 Ratings00 Ratings
Reporting and Logging6.9516 Ratings00 Ratings
VPN8.8509 Ratings00 Ratings
High Availability8.2463 Ratings00 Ratings
Stateful Inspection8.1475 Ratings00 Ratings
Proxy Server7.9341 Ratings00 Ratings
Identity Management
Comparison of Identity Management features of Product A and Product B
WatchGuard Network Security
-
Ratings
Zscaler Internet Access
5.0
2 Ratings
54% below category average
Multi-Factor Authentication00 Ratings5.02 Ratings
Endpoint Security
Comparison of Endpoint Security features of Product A and Product B
WatchGuard Network Security
-
Ratings
Zscaler Internet Access
10.0
2 Ratings
11% above category average
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
Threat Intelligence
Comparison of Threat Intelligence features of Product A and Product B
WatchGuard Network Security
-
Ratings
Zscaler Internet Access
8.5
216 Ratings
11% above category average
Network Analytics00 Ratings8.7217 Ratings
Threat Recognition00 Ratings8.3214 Ratings
Vulnerability Classification00 Ratings8.5191 Ratings
Automated Alerts and Reporting00 Ratings8.2205 Ratings
Threat Analysis00 Ratings8.8203 Ratings
Threat Intelligence Reporting00 Ratings8.5199 Ratings
Automated Threat Identification00 Ratings8.5192 Ratings
Zero Trust Security
Comparison of Zero Trust Security features of Product A and Product B
WatchGuard Network Security
-
Ratings
Zscaler Internet Access
8.9
262 Ratings
5% above category average
Continuous Verification00 Ratings8.7245 Ratings
Secure Web Gateways00 Ratings9.0236 Ratings
Network Flow Control00 Ratings8.2217 Ratings
Network Traffic Analysis00 Ratings8.8219 Ratings
Segmentation Leveraging00 Ratings8.6194 Ratings
Admin Access Control00 Ratings9.0230 Ratings
Network Data Encryption00 Ratings8.8207 Ratings
Network Topology Mapping00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
Best Alternatives
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Small Businesses
SonicWall NSA Series
SonicWall NSA Series
Score 8.4 out of 10
ThreatLocker
ThreatLocker
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Quantum Firewalls and Security Gateways
Quantum Firewalls and Security Gateways
Score 9.1 out of 10
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Score 8.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Palo Alto Networks Virtualized Next-Generation Firewalls - VM Series
Palo Alto Networks Virtualized Next-Generation Firewalls - VM Series
Score 9.1 out of 10
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Score 8.6 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
(547 ratings)
9.0
(295 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
7.9
(43 ratings)
8.4
(6 ratings)
Usability
7.9
(121 ratings)
8.8
(279 ratings)
Availability
8.9
(6 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Performance
7.7
(6 ratings)
5.5
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
9.5
(30 ratings)
7.2
(10 ratings)
In-Person Training
7.3
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Online Training
8.2
(3 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.1
(267 ratings)
8.3
(2 ratings)
Configurability
8.8
(5 ratings)
8.3
(2 ratings)
Ease of integration
6.9
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.5
(6 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.1
(4 ratings)
8.3
(3 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.1
(4 ratings)
7.3
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
WatchGuard Network SecurityZscaler Internet Access
Likelihood to Recommend
WatchGuard Technologies
One scenario where WatchGuard Network Security is well-suited for a task is when a site needs to be whitelisted. For example, if a site is whitelisted and hosted in a country blocked by geolocation, we can bypass the block and route traffic to the site. This is particularly helpful with CDN's.
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Zscaler
I feel the product is very good to set up basic standards and go beyond that in many aspects. However, due to being sometimes too simple, it limits the ability to do some other complex changes. Having the ability to do both would be ideal for some, if not all, of the products within Zscaler Internet Access. A simple setup to have it stand-up, and more advanced settings for those more experienced.
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Pros
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.
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Zscaler
  • Provides a secure VPN connection point for endpoint connectivity.
  • Provides the VPN connectivity in a fast and reliable connection state.
  • Very dependable, once connected the connection stays up and there's no fuss.
  • Very good at letting you know when you are not authenticated.
  • Very easy to authenticate and regain access when your session times out.
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Cons
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.
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Zscaler
  • ZS CLI support to turn off ZIA and ZDX service specifically on mac.
  • Better visibility into failed posture devices, including a timeline and the reason the posture failed (This is about the Zscaler mobile portal: Enrolled devices --> Failed posture devices).
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Likelihood to Renew
WatchGuard Technologies
We have been renewing and purchasing new equipment for the last 20 years. This is because the equipment is easy to use and manage and also quite affordable. Compared to other products, Watchguard just works and has not had the issues with device security seen in other products. They have been a reliable partner.
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Zscaler
While Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) delivers critical value in cloud security and RBI compliance, I rate renewal likelihood 7/10 due to evolving needs versus platform limitations. Below is my rationale:
Key Gaps:
1. Advanced Threat Costs:
ZIA’s add-ons (e.g., Advanced DLP, Sandboxing) incur 35%+ cost premiums – straining budgets as transaction volumes (UPI/iMobile) grow 50% YoY.
2. API Banking Scalability:
ZIA’s API rate limits throttle real-time policy sync during UPI peaks (10K+ TPS), forcing workarounds for finacle integrations.
3. RBI Future-Proofing:
Limited native support for upcoming digital rupee (CBDC) security rules requires custom development, increasing compliance overhead.
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Usability
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.
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Zscaler
Getting started was pretty straightforward. We can tell the product is way more robust than we are using it. It started as a replacement for previous DNS-blocking content filtering, but we're exploring how this will add value with an upcoming DLP redesign and with traffic optimization at some of our remote sites with severe bandwidth limits.
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Reliability and Availability
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.
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Zscaler
No answers on this topic
Performance
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.
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Zscaler
There are often performance issues reported
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Support Rating
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
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Zscaler
Zscaler's ZIA support is quick and knowledgable. They respond within 1-2 hours of you submitting your ticket. They are very thorough and are typically ready to jump on a live troubleshooting session. Our ZIA platform and how we use is it unique so at times tickets can be open for weeks but we alway get quality support compared to other unrelated product support in our enterprise
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In-Person Training
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.
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Zscaler
No answers on this topic
Online Training
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.
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Zscaler
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
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.
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Zscaler
good the engineer give excellent support and eplanation
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Alternatives Considered
WatchGuard Technologies
I was not involved with the decision making for WatchGuard versus another product. However, I know WatchGuard is significantly less expensive than other brands. My overall preference would be Ubiquiti due to their continuous improvement of the product with tons of great features. I know WatchGuard is making great advances, but the progress seems slower in comparison.
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Zscaler
The overall user community and scope of supportability outweighed the others on our short list. Netskope was a close second, but the risk, though small, was greater than that of bringing Zscaler aboard. We were looking for a mature, well-supported, highly functional, and fine-grained solution that met all our user and information security requirements.
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Scalability
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.
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Zscaler
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
WatchGuard Technologies
  • WatchGuard provides the features we need at a great price point.
  • Good technical support saves time by preventing unnecessary time taken up managing the product and resolving issues.
  • The appliance helps us meet minimum cybersecurity requirements for doing business with our clients.
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Zscaler
  • I would say it has a very good ROI, as whenever someone can't access something, they submit a ticket to our network engineer, and within minutes, the site is safely added to ZIA with best-practice configurations. After seeing a little of the UI from the Zenith event, it seems very user-friendly to control these policies.
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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

Zscaler Internet Access Screenshots

Screenshot of an overview of Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA), a cloud native security service edge (SSE) solution that builds on a decade of secure web gateway leadership. Offered as a scalable SaaS platform through Zscaler's security cloud, it replaces legacy network security solutions, preventing advanced attacks and data loss with a comprehensive zero trust approach. ZIA is integrated into the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ to provide superior defense-in-depth, secure connectivity, end user experience, and administrative visibility and control.