Item: WatchGuard Network Security
Rating: 10
Author: Benjamin Doyle

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I have been using Watchguard Firewalls for over 5 years. We use them to provide perimeter security for our clients both big and small. We look after a large client base, with clients ranging from 5-500, previously it has been difficult to find a solution that is affordable to clients in SME and enterprise. It is very useful that we can recommend Watchguard as a solution to any client or business whether they are 5 or 500 users, and be able to offer enterprise-grade features like IPS, gateway AV, DLP, zero-day threat protection, and advanced endpoint protection but have it scaled to the size of their business. Being able to manage all the devices under one account in Dimension makes managing multiple clients easy as well, especially when you have a large client base to look after.

Pros and Cons

Primiter Firewall.
Central Management.
Gateway AV.
Zero-Day Threat Protection.

Smaller T series units can lack power.
Better VPN APP aimed at IT personnel.
Built-in 2 factor auth without using authpoint.

Return on Investment

VPN has meant my users are secure even when they are not in the office, this has reduced risk when they are using public networks and home networks that IT cannot regulate.
The increased security provided by the firewalls has enabled us to positively answer questions on customers' RFI assessments to their potential customers.
Central Management in Dimension saves our engineers time by not having to jump onto every firewall one by one.

WatchGuard Network Security Partner

Nuvias are the provider we use for procurement and training. We are very happy with the service they provide.

Implementation Rating

Watchguard's firewalls are easy to deploy even without training, although training is recommended. Some of the advanced features, such as TDR, or certificate deployment for deep packet inspection, can impose a bit of an inconvenience on end-users.

WatchGuard Network Security Packaging and Licensing

Having a single license to manage all of the features on the appliance means everything from Quoting to purchase and installation is straightforward. When multiple devices are employed across clients or sites having the single license package simplifies renewals and management.

Other Software Used

Sophos Intercept X, Trend Micro Worry-Free Services Suite, Cisco Meraki MR

Key Insights

Do you think WatchGuard Network Security delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with WatchGuard Network Security's feature set?

Yes

Did WatchGuard Network Security live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of WatchGuard Network Security go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy WatchGuard Network Security again?

Yes

Likelihood to Recommend

If you need all the features of an enterprise-grade firewall then a Watchguard is an excellent choice. Large enterprises have a lot of options for this however SME customers may find that a lot of hardware has too great a price tag for their budget, Watchguard is perfect in this scenario as they are completely scalable. The enterprise-level hardware is excellent too. If a customer needs IPS, Gateway AV, DLP, Zero Day protection, VPN, redundancy/high availability, endpoint protection (Threat Detection and Response) Web proxying, URL protection, and more then I would be recommending them a WatchGuard firewall.

Excellent choice for SME and Enterprises alike

Overall Satisfaction with WatchGuard Network Security