WatchGuard Helps Protect Small Business.
Updated May 02, 2023

WatchGuard Helps Protect Small Business.

Jack Switzer | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Modules Used

  • WatchGuard Network Security
  • WatchGuard AuthPoint

Overall Satisfaction with WatchGuard Network Security

I use WatchGuard to manage our network access and network security directly. This product allows us to streamline the use and access to our servers internally and externally by providing secure internet routing to our internal workstations and a trusted VPN to protect our information, as well as access to our company files and tools for those who work from home.

Pros

  • Blocks unwanted threats and bots from accessing our email servers.
  • Provides secure WAP Deployment.
  • Allows us to manage and control what websites our employees can access.
  • Prevents potentially threatening Phishing and Spam emails from every coming to our servers.

Cons

  • For those who would like top level security and deployment of their security and protection, I would recommend easier quicker to use interfaces for users at smaller companies that do not have the experience with the provided services, so they can better utilize and deploy the software/equipment.
  • Have easy to understand, easy to access tutorials from the web interface to help new users and non IT Professionals to use the services provided.
  • Streamline the interface more to allow for easier understanding for all users, appealing to others so they feel less intimidated by the interaction with your services goes far, especially with smaller companies who have owners who want to know, have basic understanding of managing it, especially if they do not have an IT Professional or IT Consultant readily on staff. Not every company even knows they need this kind of protection, and trying to explain it to them, with the very technical and unique lexicon of words Information Technology and Security provides does at times prove to be difficult.
  • It can at times require a large amount of time to manage when time is not something we have.
  • It has kept us operational and off of the Black Lists where other companies around us have experienced data breaches.
  • The Firewall has provided a more solid constant router than what is provided by the ISPs in the area, which meant fewer outages.
We did not work with any partner. This product was researched, purchased, and privately implemented by the IT Administrator. We were very happy with the services provided, though having more information that is easier to understand the purpose and implementation of the services I feel would benefit first-time uses and help them not be overwhelmed.
The quick deployment and one-spot security management allow & Provide one source for all of our needs in managing our data and internet presence. It gives our owners a greater piece of mind and more freedom in allowing our employees to use the internet as a key resource for research and allows us to monitor and protect our tech footprint and not hover over our employees.
We have not had a chance to implement WatchGuard Cloud in a company a useable way that is simple enough for all of our employees to use yet. As it stands we have many different technicians in the field, and they are not computer-literate. The business need requires us to have quick access from iPads and be able to move between our CRM and a Cloud program that they will not hinder. Once we find a way to Simply implement this I can give a positive or negative review on this portion of our services.
  • WatchGuard Network Security
WatchGuard Network Security has proven to be the most secure, highest rated, and highest recommended leading into our implementation after much research. With them being the clear leader in this field, along with the fact that their services upgrade and do not simply become dated after a series of months, it allowed for current and future planning to upgrade our systems and keep us relevant.

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

I was able to easily implement and deploy the WatchGuard when initially charged with setting up the network infrastructure of my company's new office. Leading into the big move and me taking on the position of IT Administrator, the company was using a simple ONT Gateway, ISP Provided Router, and Netgear 10 Port POE Switch. There were zero levels of protection for the data that they carried outside of the Windows Defender provided by Windows 10 and Server 2019. I upgraded all of the Network as I built it into the building's construction and server room. The fact WatchGuard didn't require SIP Protocols to be set up made it much easier when dealing with an externally hosted VOIP, Yet still provided the security to stop bots from coming through our email that would clone our server data and protect our customers.

WatchGuard Network Security Feature Ratings

Identification Technologies
10
Visualization Tools
5
Content Inspection
10
Policy-based Controls
10
Active Directory and LDAP
3
Firewall Management Console
10
Reporting and Logging
10
VPN
10
High Availability
8
Stateful Inspection
6
Proxy Server
3

Using WatchGuard Network Security

12 - Order Intake Via the internet, Data Entry of important customer invoicing, overall Company accounting, IT Professional and Viral Marketing, Customer Service, and direct customer interaction over the phone and computer. Online research for products and services to provide the best return on investment and provide the lowest costs to our customers.
1 - Network security essentials, cloud management, Network set up and configuration. Network traffic monitoring, Cyber security skills to overwatch and keep up to date on all cyber threats. Bandwidth and network deployment to maintain a high level of expedient traffic without experiencing packet loss. The ability to communicate and translate this information in a simple manner to the less technically savvy users.
  • Internet and network routing.
  • Cybersecurity protection.
  • Internal threats to the company.
  • VPN Access for Work at Home
  • Call Routing to internal ATA Lines With out Voip Sip
  • Highly Protected VPN Access
  • Non SIP Smart Voice Data Phoneline Bridge
  • Stronger Spam Protection and information than Exchange And Windows Defender Alone
  • We use it for routing calls to the ATA Gateway.
  • We use it for Building Video Security.
  • We use it for powering devices that work over POE to give better building connectivity.
We have already renewed it once, and as long as we keep it as protected as we have been and as long as our IT Administrator stays consistent, this will be the one we use for the foreseeable future.

Evaluating WatchGuard Network Security and Competitors

  • Scalability
  • Integration with Other Systems
  • Ease of Use
We are are a growing business that couldn't afford to buy all new Equipment as we grew at once. This was easy to intergrate with our Network, our server, and our Internet provider to use as a router as well. Since then we have with out technology, and this has helped with the easy intergration of the new servers, and new WAP deployment for the company.
The only thing I would have done differently was have included this product with the server initial build, as it is easy to handle VPN deployment, and management for the work at home systems, as well as fixed the issues we had with the initial ISP router. Especially when the original ISP field had no idea how to use their router with a business network. They had no idea how to use their software.

WatchGuard Network Security Implementation

WatchGuard Network Security Support

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.
Yes we did, and it was to make sure we had the most complete protection and expandable features as we grew. We eventually intend to move into using the Fireguard cloud for the less vital information to deploy to our field technicians to include the billing and pricing information along with pictures from jobs that can be reviewed live.
They massively helped with the intial deployment and bridging protocals for the ISP to Server information. They also were very much on top of helping us activate our different features and deploying them. Their support staff is very knowledgable about the software and the proper intergation of it.
ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Good followup
Knowledgeable team
Problems get solved
Kept well informed
Immediate help available
Support understands my problem
Support cares about my success
Quick Initial Response
Escalation required

Using WatchGuard Network Security

ProsCons
Like to use
Relatively simple
Easy to use
Well integrated
Consistent
Quick to learn
Convenient
Familiar
Requires technical support
  • The Browser Interface.
  • The Port Bridge set up
  • The Monitoring Interface
  • The FAQ
  • The Knowledge Base
  • The Multiple subscription services.
I think once the intial explaination of what is infront of you is explained it is very easy to understand and use. If you have a hard time using FAQ or knowledge bases, there are many online tutorials on Youtube you can easily find, as this is a very well covered firewall. Once you know the issue, there are very very easy walk throughs that often take less than 10 minutes to watch and impliment.

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