Item: Barracuda CloudGen Firewall
Rating: 6
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our Barracuda NextGen CloudGen firewall users being used to secure our companies main and backup internet connections. We also use it for the failover of our main internet to our backup. I replaced a WatchGuard firebox with this firewall because the cost of maintenance was high on the WatchGuard and the management of the Barracuda was much simpler and could be done without a locally installed client like with the WatchGuard. You can manage the Barracuda from anywhere with Barracuda cloud control even running firmware updates from your phone on all you Barracuda devices. It just makes my job so much easier.

Pros and Cons

Ease of management, you can remotely manage it from anywhere with cloud control.
Instant replacement service will send a new firewall to your door the next business day if you have a failure.
Support is very responsive and is very knowledgeable.

My main complaint would be that I cannot set a time out for client to site VPN connections.
Another thing that isn’t very great is the SSL VPN is run through a webpage and is somewhat complicated for an end-user. I have stayed with the IPSec VPN because the SSL VPN is not Intuitive for my users.

Return on Investment

We saved multiple thousands of dollars the first year out with the firewall in maintenance fees. We paid for the firewall and 3 years of service and still saved money.
The ease of management allows me to do my job more efficiently. I save a lot of time when doing my day to day job because I can get to my firewall virtually anywhere.
I feel a lot safer and my business more secure knowing that I have configured things the way they need to be and it was simple and not overly complicated.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco ASA and WatchGuard XTM - Discontinued Product

We used a much alder Cisco ASA router that was chocking our bandwidth and it couldn’t really be compared. It was clunky and horrible at best. Our WatchGuard was overly complicated and difficult to manage and required a version matching thick client installed locally to manage the firewall. The Barracuda solved a bunch of issues from both of these devices and allows me to really save time and money with its easy to configure the interface and inexpensive yet quality device and interface allow me to feel like I am getting a great value for my security.

Support Rating

They are very quick to answer the phone and I think I haven’t waited more than 5 minutes in the queue and if you have to hang up they actually call you back when it’s your turn in line. They have a secure tunnel that you can open for them to get into your device and help you with basically anything. It’s pretty magical if you ask me.

Key Insights

Do you think Barracuda CloudGen Firewall delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Barracuda CloudGen Firewall's feature set?

Yes

Did Barracuda CloudGen Firewall live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Barracuda CloudGen Firewall again?

Yes

Likelihood to Recommend

I would say a small business with a basic firewall and security needs would be a perfect fit for the Barracuda CloudGen firewall. I know that they soon end up leaving the NG models and are moving forward with the F series firewall. I think the F series is a much more difficult to manage device and doesn’t offer simplistic configuration or use and lacks cloud control so I don’t understand the move on Barracuda’s part to nix a great easy to manage the firewall. I do think that the NG line is maybe too simple for bigger businesses and would lack some main features that they would require.

Barracuda changed my work life forever

Overall Satisfaction with Barracuda CloudGen Firewall (formerly NG Firewalls)