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WatchGuard Network Security

Score8.7 out of 10

997 Reviews and Ratings

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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

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

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Screenshot of WatchGuard Cloud Customizable Dashboard

Key Features

Learn about the best (and worst!) features WatchGuard Network Security has to offer, as determined by TrustRadius' reviewers.
Based on 997 ratings of WatchGuard Network Security's features
View all features

Top Performing Features

  • Policy-based Controls

    Firewall policy controls enable administrators to create firewall policies controlling what data is allowed to traverse the firewall

    Category average: 8.8

  • VPN

    VPN's implement encryption and anonymize IP addresses

    Category average: 8.9

  • Active Directory and LDAP

    Integration with Active Directory and LDAP directories

    Category average: 8.5

Areas for Improvement

  • Proxy Server

    A proxy server changes your IP address and masks the origin of your network traffic

    Category average: 8.2

  • Reporting and Logging

    Custom and summary reports, and log files enabling analysis of security incidents, application usage and traffic patterns

    Category average: 7.8

  • Visualization Tools

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

    Category average: 7.6

Reviews

What users are saying about WatchGuard Network Security.
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WatchGuard Network Security a huge win for the value

Incentivized
Nathan Parrish
Professional Services Solutions Architect in Information Technology at SkyTide Group (11-50 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We've partnered with WatchGuard for many years. Our focus has been on the Firebox edge security appliances primarily, but we've also used the MFA and subscription services. WatchGuard Network Security has provided an excellent product for protecting network infrastructure and client resources. It's very cost competitive with other vendors and the support is great. Even as more workloads move to cloud services, we still find interface and payment systems in the local environments that need protecting.

Pros

  • WatchGuard Network Security streamlines the creation of policy objects, allowing them to be used in multiple security policies without recreating them or having to manually create global objects.
  • WatchGuard Network Security also provides a clear and simplified configuration interface rather than requiring a complex CLI.
  • There are a couple of options for centralized management, both in the cloud and on a private server, which allows for ease of visibility into multiple devices. Features are consistently being added to the cloud offering as well.

Cons

  • Some of the logic in the security policies of the Auth-Point Identity management doesn't follow the same as the appliances. It's not as clear as it could be when creating conditional access policies.
  • The Endpoint security offerings are still lacking some integration and feel like they need to be more mature before we'd consider deploying them.
  • I can understand the reasoning behind offering wireless network hardware, but it seems unnecessary and isn't as robust as other vendor hardware.

Return on Investment

  • Watchguard has been a great partner to work with. They provide exceptional value compared to other vendors as the pricing is more reasonable allowing for better margins.
  • Watchguard support has always been timely and thorough. As a partner, we have direct access to both technical and customer support. When something is critical, they've always provided immediate action including advanced RMA services.
  • We also have access to product trials to demonstrate use cases to clients and significant discounts on NFR SKUs for our own use. This allows us to be very familiar with these products and increases our deployment capability.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco ASA 5500-X with FirePOWER Services, Cisco Meraki MX and Juniper SRX

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365, ConnectWise RMM, IT Glue

Watchguard - Security and effective management

Incentivized
GILIAN HASS
IT Analyst in Information Technology at Hidro Jet Equipamentos Hidráulicos LTDA (201-500 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use WatchGuard in our company for edge firewall and security of our IT infrastructure. WatchGuard in our organization solves the issue of network security against attacks and external threats, and internal access control management to also prevent access to unwanted destinations, improper downloads, spam, etc. We use the solution in 2 units of the company and we interconnect the 2 with the WatchGuard VPN solution and it works perfectly. Watchguard possui uma interface prática para gerenciamento e configurações de políticas de segurança. Seu módulo de controle de aplicativos é muito funcional e de fácil gerenciamento, possibilitando recursos como: controle de banda para um aplicativo específico, apenas acesso e não transferencia, para determinados tipos de aplicativos, muito prático.

Pros

  • Control of web access of devices within the network.
  • Automatic address blocking after successive external attack attempts.
  • VPN feature between WatchGuard devices very transparent and stable.
  • Simple and very functional Policy Manager management console.
  • Simple and reliable spamBlocker feature, really holding back suspicious emails.
  • App control for managing which applications are accessed is very functional.

Cons

  • The mobile security part could be part of the package, without being purchased separately.
  • WatchGuard Mobile VPN client could have a smartphone version as well, not just Windows/Mac.
  • Management Server feature could be more affordable to manage devices seamlessly.

Return on Investment

  • Greater security of our IT infrastructure, allowing business continuity.
  • WatchGuard Mobile VPN that allows anytime access and remote work.
  • Internal content control, allowing you to limit access to work content only.

Alternatives Considered

pfSense and Sophos Firewall

Other Software Used

Watchguard Endpoint Security, Veeam Data Platform, Panda Patch Management

WatchGuard Review

Incentivized
Dave Huttner
IT Consultant in Information Technology at Destination Transport (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use WG firewalls and wireless access points. These help provide advanced security for my clients, great wifi coverage and VPN connections with MFA.

Pros

  • Firewall protection with its subscription services.
  • VPN access for remote clients with MFA linked to MS 365
  • wireless access

Cons

  • I'm honestly very impressed how things currently work.
  • Sometimes there are a few layers to go through to get at what you are looking for, but that is often needed due to complexity
  • I do not like working with the cloud managed firewalls. It seems very different than the locally managed.

Return on Investment

  • Most of my clients are small business with 2-10 users. They do not see the value of spending $1K+ on a firewall when they can get a consumer grade firewall for $300 and use it for 5+ years. This is my hardest sell for my small business
  • If I do get the client to see the value of WG products, I do have my reseller (Verus) to help me with setup and backup if I'm out. I would not purchase a WG product if I didn't have my reseller for help.

Alternatives Considered

SonicWall E10000 Series

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365, ConnectBooster, a Kaseya company, ESET PROTECT

WatchGuard keeps you protected

Incentivized
Mike Eldridge
Network Administrator in Information Technology at Innerspace Healthcare (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use WatchGuard Network Security as our main firewall and first line of defense into our network. We use the VPN features to give employees access to internal systems when they are remote. We also use various tools to control what is allowed and not allowed to be accessed from different sections of our network. I like the graphical user interface and ease of use. Also, with various promos we have been able to upgrade to a new version of our firewall every couple of years for the same cost that it would have been to just renew the service contract.

Pros

  • VPN Access
  • DHCP for multiple networks
  • Access Control

Cons

  • The Traffic Monitor search function does not always get the results you want
  • Sometimes it is hard to find what you are looking for
  • it logs me out too quickly

Return on Investment

  • We have replaced our firewall with new version twice now for the same price as just doing a contract renewal.
  • There is not a lot of time invested in keeping things running once it is setup. Time is money...
  • It keeps the bad guys out

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365, Adobe Acrobat, The Receptionist

Powerful and Great Security Solution

Incentivized
Wander Andujar
Encargado de infraestructura y telecomunicaciones. in Information Technology at Laboratorios de aplicaciones medicas S.R.L. Lam (501-1000 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

In my organization, WatchGuard Network Security is used to efficiently control the use of our network and to be able to deliver under internet policies in the safest way for all our users. We apply application control policies, bandwidth management, and control via navigation proxy. In this way, we avoid improper use in our organization of internet resources.

In addition, we manage our DHCP network and it allows us to have more control over the managed computers by allowing access controlled by internet permission management connected with the Windows AD and creating groups with specific permissions.

Pros

  • Internet packet filtering.
  • Application policy control
  • Navigation control through proxy.
  • Botnet Detection
  • Intrusion Prevention
  • DNS Watch
  • Gateway Antivirus
  • WebBlocker
  • SpamBlocker
  • APT Blocker

Cons

  • Should improve control of who or what consumes the bandwidth.
  • must improve to know which devices are connected to the network.
  • DNS detection improve the captured data.
  • improved control and live monitoring of internet consumption by users of a network.

Return on Investment

  • over the years we have used WatchGuard Network Security our perimeter security is very secure.
  • The costs for this tool have been well spent knowing that it has kept our entire network secure.
  • The costs of WatchGuard tools have remained very competitive over time.
  • The bug support is very good; they provide constant follow-up to users.

Alternatives Considered

SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA) and Fortinet Security Fabric

Other Software Used

Google Workspace, HYCU, Trellix Intelligent Sandbox, Skyhigh Cloud Access Security Broker, Nutanix AHV, Ubiquity by Gomeeki, Cisco 500 Series WPAN Industrial Routers (IR 500)

Usability

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