Item: WatchGuard Network Security
Rating: 9
Author: antonio gumba

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use WatchGuard firebox m570 firewalls on both ends for our branch office VPN (BOVPN). We use it also for our remote access users to connect to our internal network resources with WatchGuard authpoint for multifactor authentication (MFA) to authenticate inbound VPN users. Firebox devices are managed through the cloud, including updates.

Pros and Cons

Intrusion detection prevention.
Access policy.
Network failover.

Need log redirection to the cloud storage.
Resolve bug and fixes in a timely manner.
Price a bit expensive.

Return on Investment

Network protection.
Cybersecurity insurance compliance.
PCI DSS compliance.

WatchGuard Network Security Partner

I work with Insight Canada for any recommendations as our local Insight reseller. They do really the job of taking care of their customers. They listen and analyze our business requirements and provide the best suggestions or recommendations to provide effective solutions to our requirements. Insight Canada representative does their due diligence to connect us with solution providers to make sure they capture the requirement and provide a recommendation.

Implementation Rating

Watchguard implementation, in our case, was when we migrated our firewalls to the latest supported firebox firewalls. It was a key element of success to have a vendor like Insight Canada that connects us with Watchguard sales and experts to understand our migration or upgrade requirements. Once they have provided us the expert recommendation and costing, the WatchGuard online documentation is so effective in providing all the necessary information on the procedure of tasks in a Do-it-yourself manner. The WatchGuard support has always been on standby and available should we need assistance or encounter any issues along the way during the upgrade process until everything is successful.

WatchGuard Network Security Packaging and Licensing

The WatchGuard Network Security, packaged as a single appliance with a single license covering threat protection, reporting, and management capabilities, is very convenient for dealing with only one vendor. It, of course, very much indeed simplified packaging and licensing that has benefited our organization, especially on invoicing that we are using one vendor for all the network security solutions to meet cybersecurity and PCI-DSS compliance.

Alternatives Considered

I have only used Watchguard so far. That impressed me. I have used cisco before, but I find WatchGuard easier to use and has abundantly provided a single all-in-one solution for our business network security requirement. This includes remote workers that access our internal resources via secured VPN solutions provided by Watchguard.

Key Insights

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

Not sure

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

Watchguard network security is very crucial to the company running a business with internal users in a networking environment. Policies can be set up to meet or comply with cybersecurity standards, and emerging threats and viruses get blocked from the entry point to prevent any compromise on the internal network. It keeps the network clean with approved sites, ports, and protocols that are only essential to run the business applications on-premise or on the cloud. It prevents any outbound compromise from internal users and devices for any ransomware activity. It is an all-in-one package that handles remote employee authentication to access the internal resources, e.g. file server, cctv, alarm system, energy management system, server maintenance, network switches, building automation system, end-user workstation remote management and support, internal printers or multi-function devices which are all secured behind the WatchGuard Firebox M570 firewalls. The firewall cluster setting gives peace of mind for auto-failover in case of any hardware issues. The firmware and software upgrades are seamless with downtime so negligible in a cluster setup. Backup and restoration of image and configuration are easily managed either on the system manager application onsite or offsite or via Watchguard native cloud management on the devices.

Watchguard is an all-in-one network security package.

Overall Satisfaction with WatchGuard Network Security