Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) Reviews

We needed to connect the branches with the users, and, in turn, we needed to connect the users with the applications of the organization. However, we needed to secure this connection since the users were at home. The branches had Citrix SD-WAN and therefore we needed a solution that would integrate with the current solution that connected the branches to the central site.

The client's requirements were that the solution could:

• Be designed to prevent the most evasive cyberattacks
• Have Zero-Trust network access to enterprise applications
• Secure Internet access for remote users
• Protect branch office (SD-WAN) connections to the Internet and the cloud

I have worked with Check Point Harmony Connect, which is a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution, which unifies multiple cloud-delivered network security products to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks and simplify policy management.

I find it very easy to implement and deploy in the organization. One point to note is that it is a very user-centric solution.

The integration that this solution has with the different routers or perimeter equipment is exceptional. We were able to implement the solution on the same hardware as the SD-WAN equipment in each branch and central site.

One point to keep in mind is that it is a user-centric solution. 

Additionally, the solution has an integration with Citrix SD-WAN that allows a remote implementation in each of the branches. 

Mainly, Zero Trust Network Access is one of the most important features of this Check Point Harmony Connect solution. It's of the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) type since it gives us secure access to the organization as if we were physically in the organization. 

I find it very easy to implement and deploy in the organization.

A ZTNA architecture is designed to reduce cybersecurity risk by eliminating implicit trust within an organization's IT infrastructure.

Zero Trust Network Access can be a security breach if not used correctly. I have implemented it and it turns out that access to the organization's applications must be complemented with user awareness.

It is important to note that the Zero Trust Network Access feature is an important feature for the solution, however, at the same time, the organization's applications can be accessed if user access is available. A double authentication factor could solve this gap.

I've been using the solution for almost two years.

Check Point Harmony Connect is quite stable in the implementation I did together with Citrix SD-WAN.

Citrix SD-WAN appliances are SDN/NFV-ready platforms designed to host virtualized network functions (VNFs).

Hosting a Check Point virtual machine (VM) on Citrix SD-WAN branch appliances provides customers with granular control of their security and data.

Together, the integrated SD-WAN and advanced Threat Prevention platform provide secure and optimized WAN connectivity over Internet links and WAN connections. By dramatically simplifying deployments and reducing costs, Check Point and Citrix SD-WAN provide enterprises with an affordable and secure remote branch office security solution.

I find it very easy to implement and deploy in the organization.

I did not previously use a different solution.

This is a SaaS. For this reason, the cost, pricing, and licensing depend according to your necessity.

I also looked into Forcepoint SASE.

Even with our old anti-virus solution, users were able to download files and receive it through e-mail with no inspection or emulation. Also, they were able to use external pen drives or external HDs with no control of the data that was being transferred and where it was going to.

The internet navigation had no filter and even the traffic to porn websites or malicious websites was passing normally with no inspection.

If one of the machines were stolen or lost we did not have something to block access to the data inside the disk, sensitive information could have been lost.

Now that we use Harmony Connect, the files are inspected and we are sure that no malicious content is inside the company. Before installing Harmony Connect all the downloads were made by anyone with no check on that information.

Anyone could download something malicious and as we use shared folders with sensitive information one infected machine could go to any other server or user machine and cause a big data loss or machine infection.

Now, it very easily allows users on home office safe access. If they had any type of issue with the machine, the disk is already encrypted.

Emulation of files, control of USB connections, and full disk encryption are great features. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we were not confident in having everybody working from home with an unsecured system where the user could, for example, copy all data from the computer to an external HD or Pendrive. if they did, we would not even know that it happened.

Now, after using the Harmony Connect Endpoint, we have full control of the actions that the user does with the company data and we can also monitor/block their access to the internet.

We have noticed that sometimes even performing just a few changes in the portal, the installation takes a long time to finish.

The access to the portal should be faster. It shouldn't crash a lot. We have a lot of crashes right now. 

We noticed that, for some days of the month, the portal would be down and not accessible depending on the time that we tested. Sometimes we performed some changes after work or at dawn to minimize the impact that it could cause to the users. However, sometimes the portal is not online as we expect it to be or we need to reload the page a few times before it works.

I would give it a score of eight out of ten due to the portal being slow.

I've been using the product for about six months.

The stability is not that good; sometimes the portal fails.

In terms of scalability, it's easy to increase the users/licenses in the environment.

Check Point support takes a long time to resolve issues.

Neutral

We previously used the Kaspersky antivirus.

The initial setup was not straightforward. 

We had a vendor assist with the implementation and we had a very good experience.

We have seen an ROI.

Usually, other products are cheaper than Check Point.

We evaluated all other antivirus/endpoint sollutions.