

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series and Check Point Quantum Force compete in the next-generation firewall category. While Palo Alto VM-Series is praised for its scalability and ease of use, Check Point Quantum Force tends to have the upper hand with comprehensive threat prevention and manageable policy setup.
Features: Palo Alto VM-Series is known for its Unified Threat Management, integration capabilities with solutions like AWS and Forescout, and Layer 7 inspection. Check Point Quantum Force offers a robust intrusion prevention system, application and identity awareness, and advanced logging features.
Room for Improvement: Palo Alto could improve its user interface, enhance cloud solution integrations, and offer better cost transparency. It faces criticism for licensing complexity and higher pricing. Check Point users suggest simplifying UI, enhancing technical support, and streamlining VPN configurations due to its steep learning curve.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Palo Alto VM-Series is noted for flexible deployment across hybrid and public clouds and efficient technical support, despite occasional delays. Check Point Quantum Force is versatile but can be complex in setup, leading to longer deployment times, with responsive support hampered by a steeper learning curve.
Pricing and ROI: Palo Alto VM-Series is priced higher but justified by its robust features and reliability, with customers experiencing positive ROI through increased security. Check Point Quantum Force is similarly expensive but offers extensive security features, resulting in a positive cost-benefit ratio and improved operational efficiency.
This is a time-saving measure because we don't need to deploy a cluster or a firewall each time; we just create a virtual system on the management server using the same appliance.
Not having major security incidents has been far less expensive than dealing with data that could cost us hundreds of thousands or even millions in recovery and downtime.
Incident response time has reduced significantly, and downtime due to network issues has been minimized, leading to an improved return on investment.
Customers can see data within a week, indicating a quick return on investment.
If we have an urgent security problem, it would be nice to get a faster response.
The support team we engaged was knowledgeable and well-versed with the application.
We have escalated issues to Check Point technical support multiple times and have received timely and very good responses.
The support quality could be improved.
Resolving issues promptly.
They are responsive and provide high-quality assistance.
If specified correctly, even the smaller boxes offer high session and bandwidth rates, making the solution highly scalable, even up to telco-level requirements.
It is easy to scale up by adding capacity through clustering or upgrading the license, and it effectively handles spikes in remote user connections or increased east-west traffic without noticeable bottlenecks.
While the performance itself scales well technically, you need to be prepared for the financial side of the growth.
They are easy to upgrade, and with credit licensing, they scale effectively according to demand.
The solution is scalable and can easily handle an increase in the number of users.
It is easy to use with an excellent graphical user interface and extensive documentation, which contributes to its high scalability.
We have not experienced major crashes or unexpected downtime that affected our network security.
While the solution is generally stable, there are complications, such as requiring SmartConsole for deployment and upgrades, which can be time-consuming.
I have worked with Check Point products for 15 years and haven't found any stability or performance issues.
Hardware is generally very stable.
I have not experienced any major problems or downtime.
Perfection is unlikely as the dynamic nature of traffic and constant changes can result in occasional bugs despite regular updates.
AI-driven features would be highly valuable—particularly those that enable bulk operations and efficient handling of large numbers of objects or object groups.
One thing that would help in improving Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is having more flexible dashboards that I can tailor without relying on templates.
Other products, like FortiGate, are perceived as more intuitive because they are easier to configure from the start.
Integration with CSIRT across all use levels would make it easier for administrators to stay updated on the blocked entities without manual intervention.
Most customers go for partner-enabled support, which involves multiple layers, leading to delays.
Having those features missing, we are not proposing Palo Alto Networks VM-Series to all customers.
In comparison to Fortinet and other products, the pricing may be considered high.
licensing is very pricey
Compared to other solutions, the pricing of Check Point NGFW is high.
Palo Alto is expensive in terms of pricing, particularly when comparing features to cost.
The cost involves purchasing through a vendor, which might mark up due to the supply chain.
Pricing for Palo Alto Networks is higher than other OEMs, but considering the robustness and features, it gains customer trust.
The firewall's default behavior of blocking all traffic, including a cleanup rule that blocks everything from external to internal sources, is highly valuable for protecting our network.
The most valuable features in my experience include perimeter firewalling, cloud and mobile security, application control, URL filtering, DLP, threat prevention, intrusion protection, and safeguarding against malware, botnets, and zero-day attacks.
Since implementing it, we have noticed a lot less getting through that maybe other antivirus within firewalls had failed to catch.
We use these tools to prevent all known and unknown threats using Palo Alto Networks' Wildfire and other data filtering tools to gather information, analyze traffic, manage malicious traffic, and offer visibility, control, and attack prevention.
Palo Alto's robust threat intelligence supports new updates, and I can open cases directly with their Threat Intelligence team.
The DNS security significantly enhances security through visibility and detection, allowing control over crucial traffic like DNS, which is often exploited by ransomware.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) | 2.9% |
| Palo Alto Networks VM-Series | 2.7% |
| Other | 94.4% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 164 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 94 |
| Large Enterprise | 198 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 31 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 15 |
| Large Enterprise | 24 |
Check Point Quantum Force NGFW provides centralized management with scalable security for network perimeters. As a reliable firewall, it ensures advanced threat prevention and offers seamless integration, making it suitable for various network environments.
Offering comprehensive security, Check Point Quantum Force NGFW helps control ingress and egress traffic, secures data center firewalls, and integrates seamlessly with cloud and on-premises setups. Users appreciate its application control, deep packet inspection, and identity awareness features for enhanced protection against cyber threats. Despite pricing issues and interface complexity, its IPsec VPN and robust logging provide valuable insights into network activities.
What are the key features of Check Point Quantum Force NGFW?Check Point Quantum Force NGFW is deployed across industries for securing network boundaries, supporting critical data center operations, and enabling secure VPN connections. In finance, it helps meet stringent compliance standards, while in healthcare, it's crucial for protecting sensitive patient data through robust security protocols.
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series offers robust threat prevention and advanced security capabilities. Key features like traffic control and malware protection enhance its usability in cloud and hybrid environments.
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series specializes in delivering comprehensive network security with features such as traffic inspection, threat management, and firewall functionalities. It supports secure remote access and integrates easily with third-party solutions. With features like GlobalProtect VPN and Advanced Threat Protection, enterprises leverage the VM-Series in cloud, on-premises, or hybrid deployments to protect data and enhance cybersecurity. Despite its strengths, improvements in cloud solutions, integration, and scalability are needed.
What are the most important features of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series?In industries like finance, healthcare, and technology, Palo Alto Networks VM-Series plays a crucial role in network security. Companies implement it to secure remote access, protect sensitive data, and ensure compliance. Its compatibility with cloud environments allows versatile deployment across sectors needing stringent cybersecurity measures.
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