McAfee Application Control vs WatchGuard Firebox comparison

McAfee Application Control vs. WatchGuard Firebox

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Featured Reviews

Joseph Koomson

IP Network Security Specialist at MTN Ghana

Process-Level CPU Visibility: Introduce detailed CPU-usage metrics per subsystem (e.g., IPS engine, logging) so administrators can quickly identify and address performance spikes.

Analytics with FortiAnalyzer. Being able to pull in logs not just from our FortiGates but from all our other firewalls and then get them in one view has been a game changer. Whether I’m building an executive dashboard or doing a deep dive forensics session, I get everything I need without navigating consoles.Straightforward Application Control. FortiGate spots and blocks unwanted apps (eq. like BitTorrent or streaming services) with accuracy. Segmentation with VDOMs. We’ve carved our data center into four logical ‘mini-firewalls’ enterprise, core, billing, and WAF—all on one box. Each has its own rules and logs, and any traffic between them still gets inspected. It’s like having multiple appliances without the extra hardware. Always-Up-to-Date Threat Feeds. Daily signature updates and AI-driven threat sensing mean we’re blocking the latest vulnerabilities almost as soon as they’re announced.

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reviewer1437648

IT Security Specialist at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Easy to configure, reliable, secure, and has good support

With some specific versions, we are experiencing some issues where the policy configuration has some problems with the parent and child processes. There have been problems with the relationship between the parent and child process, from time to time. I would like to see better reporting and alerting features in the future.

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Abhishek Saini

Professional Services Engineer at Next7 IT

Centralized security management has improved VPN reliability and simplified daily operations

WatchGuard Firebox is a strong and reliable platform overall, but there are a few areas where improvements could make the experience even better. One area is the user interface and navigation in some management tools. While the platform is powerful, certain configurations and troubleshooting workflows can feel less intuitive compared to some newer cloud-native firewall platforms. Another point is reporting and log analysis. Although the logging features are very useful, deeper analytics and more customizable reporting dashboards would make security monitoring much more effective. Firmware upgrades and policy synchronization can sometimes require careful planning to avoid security interruptions. Overall, the core security and VPN functionality are very solid, but improving usability, reporting, and automation would make the platform even stronger. One area that could be improved is the learning curve for new administrators. While experienced engineers can work with the platform effectively, some advanced networking and security configurations can be a bit complex for junior technicians. More guided configuration workflows, smarter recommendations, and simplified troubleshooting tools would make onboarding easier. Another improvement would be more flexible reporting customization for executive-level and client-facing reports.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Using this product makes the VPN seamless and almost invisible to me in the sense that I don't have to think about it."

"We receive substantial help from Fortinet, which is very valuable as they assist us in choosing the right solutions. If we need configuration assistance, they can send specialists who help design the solution."

"I am "headache free" that I don't have to categorize all the websites and that security has been pre categorized by the people, and that the services are getting updated. At least one part of my problem is over."

"Easy to use support and licensing portal as well as activation process."

"Overall, this is a very good solution and I personally haven't had any problems with it."

"The ease of use, concise reports, and threat identification are very user-friendly and valuable."

"Stateful packet inspection is valuable. It also does SSL packet inspection. It is able to provide a VPN for remote users with secure connectivity."

"FortiGate SWG has helped us control what employees do on the internet because people waste a lot of time using social networks, watching videos, etc."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"It does its job well, and it's not causing a lot of trouble."

"We also like the Change Control. We can control how things get executed. It has signatures for different kinds of protocols."

"The most valuable feature is the whitelisting; I can test the applications and we can also predefine rules for Windows, rules for the application and control."

"This is a basic solution; the policy screen is okay, and it's easy to configure."

"Cloud integration is one of the best features."

"The most valuable feature is the ease of use of the interface."

"For sure, in this second three-year term, we got a lot more value for the money with what WatchGuard offered us."

"Two of the functionalities we use most are the traffic monitoring and the full panel dashboard. Those are two things that are very useful for us... In addition, it provides us with layered security. It allows us to determine what types of access, to which networks, we want to allow or deny."

"I found several features valuable in WatchGuard Application Control such as the HTTP Proxy, DNSWatch, VPN, and HTTPS Content Inspection."

"The ports that I have assigned appear to be unattainable to outside 'mal-actors,' unless they have an address registered on the internet that this thing is expecting. That's a layer of security."

"There are many fantastic features."

"We basically use this solution to filter traffic so that the network can be secured and no one can hack the network."

More WatchGuard Firebox pros

Cons

"In an incident, after a restart, Fortinet FortiGate did not connect to FortiGuard servers. Due to that reason, on the customer end, all websites got blocked. I don't know why this happened. The firewall of a bank in Sri Lanka rebooted yesterday, and after that, FortiGuard servers did not connect properly, blocking all customer environment websites."

"Fortinet FortiGate can improve by integrating the web application firewall and the DDoS protection part of the solution. Having a WAF feature, web application firewall, and proxy together would be a good benefit."

"Fortinet FortiGate could be improved in terms of user friendliness at the policy level and assigning URL based and keyword based features."

"Fortinet could improve the windows opener or the virtual IP solutions for opening windows. The virtual IP settings need improvement as firewalls are trending in new development directions."

"In the next release, maybe the documentation on how to use this solution could be improved."

"The UTM filtering needs improvement."

"Its reporting and pricing need improvement."

"This product could be improved with Active directory integration and better handling in IPsec and GRE Tunnels."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"The intrusion detection features should also be improved. It is a very good feature but it should be maximized."

"I would like to see better reporting and alerting features in the future."

"The initial setup is not straightforward, it was complex. The manuals don't have all the information you need to deploy it."

"With some specific versions, we are experiencing some issues where the policy configuration has some problems with the parent and child processes."

"I believe there is room for improvement in policies, with the potential to enhance the margins further."

"Last year, I had an issue with one of the Fireboxes going down. It was overheated, because my server room became overheated and this fried it."

"One area for improvement is the limitation in the product portfolio compared to competitors like Fortinet, which offers a broader portfolio including Authentication, VPNs, FortiMail, Sandbox, and Email Security."

"They need to stop the VLAN limitation. They have a VLAN limitation on the size of their boxes; it is the worst thing ever."

"Websense gives you detailed information as far as the source, but this one only gives you very basic information and, on top of that, it's a free version for only a few months and then you have to pay for it."

"To put in reinstatement fees is a big negative to me."

"There is room for improvement on the education side, regarding what does what, rather than just throwing it at a person and assuming they know everything about it. A lot of times, you have to call WatchGuard support to get the solution that will work, rather than their just having it published so that you can fix the problem on your own."

"This product needs to be fully integrated with the firewall. Currently, it only sends logs to the cloud and asks the firewall to correlate them."

More WatchGuard Firebox cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing for this solution is good."

"I give the pricing a nine out of ten."

"The price of FortiGate is good."

"Fortinet is reasonable in pricing and licensing. Overall, FortiGate is affordable. The licensing fee can be a little high, depending on the budget for your project."

"It is cheaper and more competitive compared to other options. For example, when comparing Palo Alto products to others, Palo Alto tends to be more expensive. If you compare Cisco's platform, including Cisco Meraki, with Fortinet products, you'll notice that Cisco's offerings are generally higher priced than Fortinet's firewall solutions."

"Pricing for Fortinet FortiGate SWG is more suitable for enterprise or large-sized organizations because they are the ones who can afford it versus small and medium-sized organizations."

"The price could be lower."

"The Indian market is different than the European and American markets. When you compare they need to be a bit more aggressive on pricing."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

Information not available

"We license the WatchGuard Firebox annually. There are different types of subscriptions available. We are paying approximately $15,000 annually. The cost can increase if you purchase different subscriptions."

"There is a license required to use the solution and we pay annually. The price could be reduced because it is a bit expensive."

"The subscription that was purchased is for three years, but it is usually for one year at a time."

"There is an additional cost for support on top of licensing. When I bought my new unit, I received additional time added to my support."

"Despite the fact that there is always room for improvement, the current pricing of the solution is still lower compared to its competitors."

"WatchGuard Data Loss Prevention's pricing is expensive. I rate it a seven out of ten."

"It is kind of expensive. I buy it on the appliance. I always buy three-year total security."

"It's in the medium range. Its price is pretty good considering the functions and add-ons that are used."

More WatchGuard Firebox pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

10%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

No data available

Comms Service Provider

12%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	369
Midsize Enterprise	139
Large Enterprise	195

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	101
Midsize Enterprise	30
Large Enterprise	16

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What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?

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We are providing our services to all WatchGuard customers in the region.

What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?

We just use it as a secondary WiFi device. We're a small office and we needed to set up a WiFi device for a few of ou...

What is your primary use case for WatchGuard Firebox?

We're a hospital and we use it for developing our incoming and outgoing policies, and we also use it for VPN.

Sophos Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

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Product Reports

Fortinet FortiGate

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Application Control

Download McAfee Application Control product report

WatchGuard Firebox

Download WatchGuard Firebox product report

Also Known As

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

McAfee Application, Change Control

WatchGuard Threat Detection and Response, WatchGuard Application Control, WatchGuard Data Loss Prevention, WatchGuard Gateway AntiVirus, WatchGuard Intrusion Prevention Service

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate is a versatile network security tool offering features like VPN, firewall, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and scalability. It is known for its performance and integration with other Fortinet products, making it a preferred choice for robust cybersecurity.

Fortinet FortiGate stands out as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with strong performance and ease of configuration. It delivers unified threat management, integrating features such as dynamic routing, SD-WAN support, and centralized management. Despite its strengths, improvements in the web interface's stability, pricing structures, and reporting capabilities are needed. Users seek better integration with third-party tools and automation advancements to enhance the experience further. These enhancements, alongside improvements in bandwidth management and the reduction of licensing costs, are points of interest for users looking to capitalize on FortiGate's extensive capabilities.

What are Fortinet FortiGate's key features?

VPN: Ensures secure remote connections.
Firewall: Protects against unauthorized access.
Web Filtering: Blocks malicious sites and content.
Application Control: Manages and controls applications.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and prevents vulnerabilities.
SSL Inspection: Enhances security by inspecting encrypted traffic.

What benefits should be considered when evaluating Fortinet FortiGate?

Affordability: Offers cost-effective security solutions.
Reliability: Known for consistent and stable performance.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Fortinet products.
Comprehensive Protection: Provides broad threat protection capabilities.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries as a primary firewall system for securing internet gateways and safeguarding data centers. It supports businesses in achieving SD-WAN integration and enhances cybersecurity by providing essential features like antivirus, web filtering, and application control. Enterprises utilize FortiGate for securing remote connections and ensuring compliance with security standards, making it adaptable for different network sizes and industries.

Fortinet

McAfee Application Control enhances security by preventing unauthorized applications from executing, providing robust protection to critical systems and sensitive data in enterprise environments.

Engineered to safeguard endpoints, McAfee Application Control utilizes advanced whitelisting technology to ensure that only approved applications are permitted to execute. This significantly reduces the risk of malware and other unauthorized programs compromising system integrity. Administrators benefit from streamlined management and automation capabilities, offering an efficient way to secure their IT infrastructure while maintaining high operational flexibility.

What are the key features of McAfee Application Control?

Whitelisting Technology: Ensures only verified applications run, blocking unauthorized software execution.
Change Control: Tracks and manages modifications to applications for enhanced oversight.
Scalability: Supports extensive IT deployments, adapting to growing business requirements.
Centralized Management: Integrates seamlessly with existing systems for condensed oversight.

What benefits should users pay attention to?

Enhanced Security: Reduces threat exposure by allowing only approved applications.
Reduced Operational Costs: Minimizes manual oversight, lowering IT expenditure.
Compliance Support: Aids in meeting industry regulations and standards.
System Integrity Assurance: Protects the integrity of critical application infrastructure.

In industries like finance and healthcare, McAfee Application Control is vital for ensuring sensitive data remains secure. Its robust application whitelisting prevents breaches, providing peace of mind while meeting compliance requirements. This makes it an attractive choice for organizations seeking to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

McAfee

WatchGuard Firebox is a high-performance firewall known for its ease of setup, offering robust security with layered protection and centralized management capabilities.

WatchGuard Firebox stands out for its intuitive management and high throughput, addressing security needs with features like VPN, web filtering, and threat detection. Its centralized control and reporting abilities, along with Active Directory integration, make it popular among varied organizations. Its user-friendly interface and ongoing updates enhance usability and reliability. However, there's a call for better cloud-based administration, scalability, and improved integration with third-party vendors.

What are the key features of WatchGuard Firebox?

Ease of Setup: Quick and straightforward installation process.
GUI: User-friendly graphical interface for simplified navigation.
VPN Features: Secure and efficient virtual private network management.
Web Filtering: Advanced filtering for safer browsing experiences.
Threat Detection: Proactive monitoring and detection of cyber threats.

What benefits or ROI should be evaluated?

Centralized Control: Streamlined management from a single point.
High Throughput: Efficient data handling and processing capacity.
Stable Performance: Consistent and reliable operational functionality.
Active Directory Integration: Seamless connection with user directories.
Customer Service: Strong support service for customer inquiries.

WatchGuard Firebox is implemented across industries to secure internet gateways and protect data in multi-site businesses. Its applications span from Unified Threat Management (UTM) and intrusion prevention to compliance support in business environments requiring secure connectivity through VPNs.

WatchGuard

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

Contec

Ellips, Diecutstickers.com, Clarke Energy, NCR, Wrest Park, Homeslice Pizza, Fortessa Tableware Solutions, The Phoenix Residence

McAfee Application Control vs. WatchGuard Firebox