Palo Alto Networks K2-Series vs Sophos XG comparison

Palo Alto Networks and Sophos are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Palo Alto Networks is ranked #29 with an average rating of 8.2, while Sophos is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.2. Palo Alto Networks holds a 0.1% mindshare in Firewalls, compared to Sophos’s 11.3% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Palo Alto Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Sophos XG and Palo Alto Networks K2-Series compete in the network security category. In terms of features, Palo Alto Networks K2-Series seems to have the upper hand due to its advanced application controls and SSL inspection capabilities.

Features: Sophos XG offers features such as extensive web and application filtering, wireless integration, and email protection with a focus on Synchronized Security that integrates with network endpoints. Its customizable dashboard options and intrusion prevention features are appreciated by users. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series distinguishes itself with a strong intrusion prevention system, granular application controls, and SSL inspection capabilities, placing it ahead of many competitors.

Room for Improvement: Sophos XG requires improvements in client software for mobile management, VPN stability, and reporting enhancements. Users call for better technical documentation and improved HTTPS filtering. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series is critiqued for its high costs, with suggestions for more competitive pricing and enhanced endpoint visibility. Users also desire better reporting and automation features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sophos XG offers various deployment options including on-premises and hybrid cloud, receiving positive feedback for its ease of use. However, its customer support experiences mixed reviews in terms of responsiveness. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series provides deployment flexibility but faces challenges with on-premises scalability and customer service responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Sophos XG is recognized for its competitive pricing and flexible licensing plans suitable for small to medium businesses, perceived as more cost-effective than major competitors. Palo Alto Networks K2-Series, despite its advanced security features justifying its higher cost to some users, still faces criticism over pricing. Both products are acknowledged for providing substantial ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Palo Alto Networks K2-Series vs. Sophos XG Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks K2-Series vs. Sophos XG

June 2025

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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

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 21.4%, up from 17.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks K2-Series is 0.1%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos XG is 11.3%, up from 9.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

A stable solution with an intuitive interface and quick customer service

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate, WatchGuard, Sophos, and SonicWall. I'm not as comfortable with SonicWall because of their UI and limitations. I prefer Fortinet above all other options. When it comes to configuration, I am confident in my ability to handle various tasks, including creating policies such as firewall rules, web policies, and application policies. Additionally, I can configure VPNs and implement load balancing, among other tasks. Overall, I feel much more comfortable working with Fortinet. Fortinet has made significant improvements by integrating AI with firewalls for threat analysis and prevention. In the past 2-3 years, they have launched FortiSASE and SIEM, and they also provide SOC services. Both Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are excellent. While Fortinet FortiGate comes at higher prices, the functionality and support justify the cost. They promptly resolve firmware issues and inform all support providers about configuration changes.

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Krishnakumar M

enterprise architect at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

One of the best tools for the prevention of evasive threats

There is a feature called granular application controls, which I liked. Instead of relying on ports and IP addresses, they use AMP ID. This kind of solution is very good. Another valuable feature is the prevention of evasive threats, which is one of the best tools I've encountered. SSL decryption and app ID-based SSL decryption are also impressive, along with the integration with user ID. Identity-based policies ensuring only authorized users can access specific resources are excellent features. Normally, there is something called SIM or SCIM in IDA IDM, but this feature is provided on the box, which is exemplary.

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TarunPanchal

IT Manager , SAP HANA Administrator at Tara Paints & Chemicals

Decades of expertise lead to seamless installations and robust security

I typically use the Sophos XG Firewall to enhance my cybersecurity by using all layers. The intrusion prevention system impacts my security posture effectively, as we have not faced any ransomware or cyber threats. I have more than 800 servers live from Sophos. The synchronized security feature has proven to be very beneficial, and I have not encountered any issues. Sophos XG Firewall has contributed to reducing overall costs because it helps save money. We purchased endpoint security for the first time last year, and even without endpoint security, it provides comprehensive security. Sophos XG uses AI effectively to enhance threat detection and response, securing from AI at the packet level.

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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

"The security fabric is excellent."

"The web tutor and automatic rules by schedule are good features."

"The UTM feature is quite good. FortiAP is easy to deploy because both Fortigate and FortiAP are under the same brand. Otherwise, you need to do more work on the configuration."

"Some of the valuable features are the firewall, IPS, web filter, and gateway capabilities. Additionally, it is easy to use and flexible."

"Provides good firewall security and has great VPN features."

"Reliability is the best feature. We faced some issues when we were setting it up, but the service, portal, and administration are good."

"It can expand easily."

"There is a tool called FSSO, which is a single sign-on user ID agent that works perfectly."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"Overall product rating: Nine out of ten."

"Mainly, it is very easy to understand, and the logs are very good."

"The most valuable features are the virtualization of the firewall and the antivirus."

"The solution is reliable and scales well."

"I have found the threat profile feature valuable."

"One of the most valuable features is Palo Alto's firewall management. We find it easier to manage the firewall centrally."

"I have found that Palo Alto Networks K2-Series has the best security. They are more user-friendly, older firewalls used to have to be configured using the command-line interface, but in this solution, it can be done in the GUI."

"Palo Alto has a unique solution for DNS security, which is very good."

More Palo Alto Networks K2-Series pros

"The updates are helpful and add to the solution in a positive way."

"One feature of Sophos XG that I found incredibly beneficial for threat prevention is its endpoint protection."

"If you want to install antivirus and firewalling on endpoints, then Sophos is the best option."

"Sophos XG has allowed us to implement all kinds of firewall rules and manage bandwidth efficiently."

"The scalability of Sophos XG is good."

"All of the features are amazing, especially Sandstorm, which prevents bad traffic or downloaded files from reaching our customers' and partners' networks."

"The most useful aspect of the solution is the concept of integrated security."

"IPS and advanced threat protection (ATP) are the most valuable features. I am able to segment my network traffic and block incoming connections. It is also easy to use."

More Sophos XG pros

Cons

"The UTM filtering needs improvement."

"The platform's interface could improve."

"Fortinet FortiGate is not a scalable solution, as they give you a number and each box comes with concurrent connections; if you need to expand, you have to change the box."

"They need faster serviceability and more security features."

"The web-cache feature which was previously on the FortiGate device, but was deleted with the recent upgrade should be returned. It was a very valuable feature for us."

"The support team for Fortinet FortiGate needs to be more customer friendly."

"The price of FortiGate should be reduced because there are some other leading products that are cheaper."

"Areas that have room for improvement in Fortinet FortiGate include support and GUI enhancement."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"It would be really helpful to have dashboards that provide information on IOC blockings such as where and how many. It will also be good to know how many hashing files have been reported. It would also be nice to have easy access to this information. Otherwise, it's a painful, manual task."

"Its networking features could be better."

"Threat prevention could use improvement."

"They could improve by providing more features in the solution."

"Threat prevention could use improvement. Not just in malware exploits and C2 traffic; enhancing web traffic protection would be a great upgrade."

"The technical support, and how they provide it to the client, needs to be improved."

"Palo Alto doesn't have extended visibility to the end point in their firewalls."

"The solution's commitment time could be reduced as it often takes a lot of time to execute."

More Palo Alto Networks K2-Series cons

"The management console could be improved and the solution lacks good technical support."

"I would like to have a more efficient login process."

"Some of the firewall rules are complicated for us to understand, they should be simplified."

"There should be a workaround in case of equipment breakdown, like a stopgap measure while the equipment is being returned or replaced."

"The vendor doesn’t publish the price on the website."

"The weakest point is the technical support because they are difficult to get into contact with."

"Sometimes when you roll out a new firmware, you find that the rules you already have in place are broken, so it's difficult to migrate to a new firmware. That's the only downside I've experienced in Sophos."

"In the Firewall, the Intrusion Prevention System can be improved."

More Sophos XG cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"They need to be competitive with other solutions."

"FortiGate's pricing falls within the mid-range when compared to other leading firewall solutions."

"Fortinet Secure SD-WAN delivered the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) per Mbps among all other vendors."

"The price is high compared to some of the other solutions."

"We pay for the solution annually."

"Licensing is usually on a three-year period."

"Compared to other firewall products, it's a little cheaper in terms of pricing."

"While Fortinet FortiGate has a higher price point compared to Sophos XG, its user-friendly interface justifies the cost."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"When comparing Palo Alto Networks K2-Series with other solutions it is on the higher end of the price scale."

"Palo Alto firewalls are very expensive."

"This is an expensive solution, although you will get value for the price."

"The price of this solution is too high."

"If you compare K2-Series' quality with its price, I think it is reasonable."

"The price of the solution is expensive."

"The pricing is expensive."

"It is an expensive solution."

More Palo Alto Networks K2-Series pricing and cost advice

"The Palo Alto solution is expensive and the FortiGate is less expensive than Palo Alto. The Sophos XG would be priced in the middle of the two."

"The price of Sophos in PTR is significantly higher compared to Fortinet."

"The solution is not expensive since one pays as he goes."

"In terms of price, it is a mid-range product."

"It is not that expensive compared to the other solutions. It is about the same price range as Fortigate, which we used previously. Licensing is on a yearly basis."

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."

"The price is reasonable in my opinion."

"I've had schools running different firewalls with subscriptions and different web filters with subscriptions, and I've found that it is less expensive for smaller schools to run the Sophos XG with its unified threat management instead of multiple appliances."

More Sophos XG pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

15%

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

22%

Performing Arts

12%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...

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What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...

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What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...

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Features comparison between Palo Alto and Fortinet firewalls

In the best tradition of these questions, Feature-wise both are quite similar, but each has things it's better at, it...

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What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks K2-Series?

It is a stable solution.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Palo Alto Networks K2-Series?

The pricing for the Palo Alto Networks K2-Series solution is affordable and there are no complaints about the licensing.

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Which is better - Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls or Sophos XG?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls have both great features and performance. I like that Palo Alto has regular threat si...

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What are the main differences in features between Sophos XG and FortiGate 80F?

Hi Arvind P , The Sophos XG firewall has a number of models right from XG86 to XG135w under the 1U Desktop Form Fact...

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What do you like most about Sophos XG?

IPS works smoothly.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Cisco Secure Firewall vs Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

Compared 100% of the time

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Netgate pfSense vs Sophos XG

Compared 10% of the time

OPNsense vs Sophos XG

Compared 9% of the time

SonicWall TZ vs Sophos XG

Compared 5% of the time

Sophos XGS vs Sophos XG

Compared 4% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Sophos XG

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

June 2025

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks K2-Series

May 2025

Download Palo Alto Networks K2-Series product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos XG

May 2025

Download Sophos XG product report

Also Known As

FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall

No data available

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

Fortinet

Designed to handle growing throughput needs due to increasing amounts of application-, user-, and device-generated data, the K2-Series offers amazing performance and threat prevention capabilities to stop advanced cyberattacks and secure mobile network infrastructure, subscribers, and services.

Palo Alto Networks

Sophos XG is a versatile network security solution that offers network protection, firewall management, VPN access, web filtering, and intrusion prevention, providing comprehensive security for businesses from small offices to large enterprises.

Sophos XG stands out for its Synchronized Security, easy setup, and robust templates. It manages VPN access, protects against threats, and handles load balancing and traffic monitoring. The cloud-based management, centralized dashboard, and detailed logging make it user-friendly and reliable. Integration of features like email protection, SD-WAN, and unified threat management ensures a broad spectrum of security needs are covered. However, it could benefit from improvements in network security, user portals, technical support, and more scalable SD-WAN features.

What are the key features of Sophos XG?

Synchronized Security: Orchestrates threat intelligence sharing between endpoints and firewall.
Unlimited SSL VPN Clients: Provides extensive VPN client support for secure remote access.
Cloud-Based Management: Facilitates remote administration with a cloud-hosted platform.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and blocks potential threats in real-time.
Centralized Dashboard: Offers a comprehensive view of network security status.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?

Scalability: Easily adapts to growing business needs.
User-Friendliness: Simplified setup and intuitive management.
Effective Threat Protection: Provides robust security against a wide range of threats.
Comprehensive Reporting: Delivers detailed insights and analytics.
Cost-Effectiveness: Competitive in pricing with flexible deployment options.

Sophos XG is implemented across industries such as healthcare, education, and finance to secure sensitive data and ensure regulatory compliance. It aids in endpoint protection, application control, load balancing, and traffic monitoring essential for these industries. Enhancing network security, simplifying VPN setup, and integrating adaptive security features remain focal points for businesses.

Sophos

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

State of North Dakota, SEGA, Alameda County Office of Education, Temple University, VERGE, CAME

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks K2-Series vs. Sophos XG

June 2025

Free Report: Palo Alto Networks K2-Series vs. Sophos XG

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