Symantec Proxy and Fortinet FortiGate SWG compete in the network security category. Fortinet FortiGate SWG seems to have the upper hand due to its attractive pricing and ease of use.
Features: Symantec Proxy is known for its advanced caching, extensive URL database, and robust proxy capabilities that include threat detection and web isolation. Its content filtering and database categorization meet high user satisfaction. Fortinet FortiGate SWG shines for its straightforward configuration, SD-WAN, and VPN security features, offering high reliability and easy manageability.
Room for Improvement: Symantec Proxy is criticized for SSL inspection challenges and performance issues under heavy loads like O365 integration, with pricing and deployment complexity being pain points, especially post-Broadcom acquisition. Fortinet FortiGate SWG could enhance its pricing, responsiveness in technical support, and simplify the complex CLI-heavy setup. Users desire better cloud integration and enriched reporting capabilities.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Symantec Proxy's deployment is primarily on-premises with limited cloud options, often requiring high expertise and resulting in slower support services after the Broadcom acquisition. Fortinet FortiGate SWG, though also largely on-premises, allows for hybrid cloud deployment and has calls for more responsive technical support and better issue resolution.
Pricing and ROI: Symantec Proxy is considered expensive, particularly after Broadcom's acquisition, with licensing complexities affecting costs. Despite high costs, some users note enhanced network security and scalability benefits. Fortinet FortiGate SWG, while more cost-effective than peers like Cisco, faces pricing critiques due to its subscription model and added licensing fees, though many find it offers good value for enterprises seeking comprehensive security at a reasonable price.
For supercritical businesses, there should be a return on investment due to the enhanced security features and resilience.
Support services are lagging and not very responsive.
It meets the growing demands of my network.
Fortinet SWG is a stable solution.
Stability depends on the platform on which it is deployed and the number of users.
We would like the VPN to act as a web filtering solution because users outside the company don't have web filtering.
I would rate the technical support of Fortinet a six or seven out of ten.
The product needs improvement in support services, as they are lagging and not very responsive when we raise concerns or queries, especially in terms of significant impact.
AI features could potentially improve the proxy by helping build rules more efficiently, suggesting unused rules, and enhancing preference setting.
Fortinet products are very expensive compared to competitors like Sophos and SonicWall.
On a scale from one to ten, I would rate the pricing for FortiGate AWG as nine, which is perfect.
Pricing is difficult to specify as Broadcom sells platforms that include multiple products, making it hard to determine the exact cost for the proxy component.
These features have proven effective in protecting our network, handling large volumes of traffic smoothly without any issues.
The most valuable features are content inspection, caching, SSL encryption, decryption, WAN optimization, and more.
The integration with FireGlass has been essential since both solutions are from Broadcom, enhancing compatibility.
Fortinet FortiGate SWG is a comprehensive web security solution provided by Fortinet. FortiGate SWG combines web filtering, malware protection, data loss prevention (DLP), and application control capabilities into a single integrated platform. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce compliance policies, and provide secure access to web resources.
FortiGate SWG Benefits:
FortiGate SWG Features:
FortiGate SWG is typically deployed as a hardware appliance or as a virtual appliance in on-premises environments, but it may also be available as a cloud-based service. It is part of Fortinet's broader security fabric ecosystem, allowing integration with other Fortinet products to provide a unified and coordinated security infrastructure.
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by FortiGate SWG users.
David Carlson, CIO at Camco Mfg., says that "Non-IT people could plug it in, connect it to the fiber, and get it running without IT help".
Suresh Vijayen, Product Manager at IX Telecom, writes that FortiGate SWG "Provides helpful technical support, but its dashboard needs to be more user-friendly".
Chandan Munshi, Chief Technical Officer at Provision Technologies LLP, states that "The user interface is intuitive. Anyone can configure the firewall with little knowledge of the product. The back-end is robust with good security."
Symantec Proxy is designed to provide web security, web access control, and secure web gateway functionalities for organizations. It helps protect against web-based threats, enforce web usage policies, and provide secure access to internet resources.
Symantec Proxy Benefits:
Symantec Proxy Features:
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Symantec Proxy users.
PeerSpot user, Consultant at a financial services firm, says that Symantec Proxy "...enables us to manage bandwidth for users based on their privilege levels. For example, if a user wants to use a certain application or resource, we can provide access based on their privileges."
PeerSpot user, General Manager & founder at a engineering company, writes that Symantec Proxy has "A complex deployment, no proper user reporting, and a proxy component that works."
Muhammad Salahuddin, Unit Head - Network and Security Solutions at FPM Solutions, states that Symantec Proxy has "Good URL filtering but is expensive and doesn't have good technical support services."
We monitor all Secure Web Gateways (SWG) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.