Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway vs Symantec Secure Web Gateway comparison

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway and Symantec Secure Web Gateway are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway is ranked #31, while Symantec Secure Web Gateway is ranked #28. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway holds a 0.8% mindshare in WSG, compared to Symantec Secure Web Gateway’s 1.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 57% of Symantec Secure Web Gateway users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

Symantec Secure Web Gateway and Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway compete in the web security solutions category. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway often has the upper hand due to its enhanced feature set, making it more appealing despite favorable pricing and support for Symantec Secure Web Gateway.

Features: Symantec Secure Web Gateway offers strong content filtering, malware protection, and DLP capabilities, catering to on-premise needs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway includes advanced threat intelligence, flexible scalability, and seamless integration with cloud-based applications.

Room for Improvement: Symantec Secure Web Gateway could enhance cloud integration, offer more advanced threat detection, and improve scalability features. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway could refine its transition guidance for moving to cloud environments, expand offline functionality, and provide simpler licensing management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Symantec Secure Web Gateway is praised for straightforward implementation in local setups and responsive customer support. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway simplifies deployment with rapid scalability, potentially needing more comprehensive guidance for cloud transitions.

Pricing and ROI: Symantec Secure Web Gateway tends to be more economical initially, benefiting traditional infrastructures. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway justifies its cost with operational efficiencies and scalability, offering enhanced ROI for cloud-centric systems.

To learn more, read our detailed Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway vs. Symantec Secure Web Gateway Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway vs. Symantec Secure Web Gateway

December 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

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category, the mindshare of iboss is 2.4%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway is 0.8%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Secure Web Gateway is 1.2%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
iboss	2.4%
Symantec Secure Web Gateway	1.2%
Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway	0.8%
Other	95.6%

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

Featured Reviews

reviewer2701851

Managing Director

Enhances web security with a single pane of glass and flexible deployment

I don't see any need for improvement; one of the really good things about iboss as a company is that they listen to customer feedback. I have suggested enhancements, and they are responsive, making changes for the better, and they do a lot of testing. To improve iboss, although we haven't used it, we considered the VPN solution that comes with the highest tier licensing, which includes DLP and various other add-ons. We prefer using another product which automatically logs you back onto your network when turning on your PC. With iboss, the connection is manual, which doesn't meet our needs. Additionally, sizing can be tricky because, although the initial recommendations may seem adequate, actual usage may require more gateways than anticipated.

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cto543714

CTO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Simplifies management by shifting from on-premises solutions to cloud-based

Depending on the complexity of your system, you might need additional help during implementation. Considerations such as whether you’re using federated Active Directory or on-premises Active Directory need to be addressed. While setting up a system can be quick, taking only ten minutes to get started, rolling it out for an enterprise requires careful planning. Ensuring you make the right configuration choices is crucial for a successful deployment. It depends on the size of your deployment. While you can handle the setup, larger deployments might require additional support to manage effectively. I rate the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

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Kedar-Kulkarni

Principal Consultant at CSaaS

Monitors traffic effectively but struggles with integration challenges

I find that the technical support is mediocre, at least for the Middle East. I frequently face challenges when contacting OpenStack through the distribution channel. It should be more straightforward. I notice that customers work with partners, not directly with Symantec, relying on local company integrators for support. Symantec becomes the level two or level three support, which requires navigating through a supply chain that is quite extensive.

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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 aspect of the solution, particularly the malware behind it, is excellent. That's something that really helped us out. It's not just a simple proxy that just blocks the insights of potential threats that come on behind it. They do malware detection and that helps us a lot."

"I would definitely recommend iboss for web filtering purposes to other organizations or individuals."

"Its initial setup was straightforward."

"We were impressed by the solution's mental health function, which can detect if someone needs help. It scans what users are browsing and flags warning signs so we can check to see if they are okay. We've had to use it a couple of times."

"From a use-case scenario, what I like the most is the plug-in. I like the fact that we can do the filtering of these devices offsite independent of the network they are connected to, and we do not have to have traffic coming back inside our network."

"The iboss system is highly reliable. The false positive rates are small compared to some other systems we've experienced through other partner agencies who use competing solutions."

"I would rate the technical support of iboss a solid 10 without a shadow of a doubt."

"First of all, the security policies are essential. I do not have to rely solely on Active Directory for our users."

More iboss pros

"The product is easy to install and deploy on the cloud."

"This solution does not require much administration."

"I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy to set up. It was pretty straightforward."

"It offers an easy initial setup."

"I find the product to be very straightforward."

"It has a faster implementation process compared to other products."

"Typically, Symantec is more or less like any other platform that performs proxy functions."

"It is quite scalable. If a user needs to do more deployments, they can just add them."

"It's nice to have it in the cloud where we can pull the reporting together for it so we can see what's happening in machines at different locations."

"The most valuable feature is the endpoint security."

"In terms of most valuable features, I like the ICAP capability and URL filtering the most."

More Symantec Secure Web Gateway pros

Cons

"The reporting feature needs improvement."

"The solution could be stronger on the integration side and offer more cloud applications like G Suite or Oracle."

"Sometimes when you call in support, you get someone who is just following a sheet. It feels like a runaround. You feel that you are running into that support wall."

"Our biggest problem with their service was it did not recognize the device and filtering did not always work correctly."

"To scale up, a new iboss Node Blade Chassis must be purchased."

"SSL decryption: We had issues with learners using apps instead of using web browsers. This type of encryption is tough for any appliance in a BYOD environment."

"Sometimes the agent stops working in iboss, and we have to reinstall the agent."

"File integrity monitoring would be very advantageous as an additional feature."

More iboss cons

"The product is cost-effective, considering its features, technology, and support services."

"Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway can be improved by giving customers more ability to provide feedback on the categorization of websites and the site review portal."

"WSS runs slowly sometimes, I would like for this to be looked into."

"Depending on the severity of the issue, I think they can be a bit slow - a few days for the low severity cases, but for the severe cases normally they contact you back in a couple of hours."

"The major challenge is their support. The support from Broadcom is quite poor. It takes forever for them to get back to you, and when they get back to you, they ask you for so much information, which makes it more difficult. That's the only problem I have with Broadcom. This is one of the reasons why we are switching to another solution. Another reason for switching is that we have a plan to adopt solutions in the cloud so that we can offload the administration efforts to the vendor. In future releases, they can improve its reporting and the process for rules creation. They can also improve Broadcom on things such as security information and event management so that from my same platform, I can carry out functions and probably block websites. Such a feature would be nice. Currently, Broadcom is integrated with McAfee to block access to certain sites automatically. It would be nice if they can expand their integration to IBM Resilient Security Orchestration and Automation Response."

"AI-driven security could be helpful, yet how effective it will be remains unclear."

"Difficult and time-consuming to deploy and update."

"The reports could be better."

"It's not user-friendly, and we end up making too many phone calls to get things fixed."

"It needs to be easier to set up rules for what sites it should allow or not allow us in certain areas of our computer for programs. It would also be nice really nice to have it give you better information about what it's finding. A lot of the alerts we get are very difficult to understand what it's actually telling you. It's too generic."

"There's a need for increased firewall functionality and capabilities. I'm not seeing a competitive Symantec cloud product. Specifically, functionalities with security as filtering from the cloud. I am aware that there is a product, a proxy in the cloud but I have compared it with other vendors and I don't find it that powerful. I think the worst thing that we're experiencing is very poor and inadequate technical support. It seems to me that tech support engineers aren't qualified to fulfill their job duties."

More Symantec Secure Web Gateway cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"The price is fixed and affordable."

"Symantec Secure Web Gateway is less expensive than one of its competitors."

"There is an additional charge for advanced security features."

"Pricing and licensing is stunted and licensing is expensive. We have many customers who are now thinking about other solutions due to the cost."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

17%

Performing Arts

12%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Retailer

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	5

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	4

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company Exxon...

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What is your primary use case for iboss?

Previously when I used iboss, we did the POC for iboss for ExxonMobil. Four or five people wanted to move from our ol...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern. There are cheaper alte...

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What needs improvement with Symantec Web Security Service?

Most products in this space are still maturing. Organizations rushing toward implementing zero-trust models often enc...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway?

Symantec is now part of Broadcom, and their pricing is comparable to others in the market. It's reasonably priced rel...

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What advice do you have for others considering Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway?

Customers are increasingly adopting web isolation to enhance their network security. While this technology is costly,...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

I believe that pricing is on par with peers. Symantec and other vendors offer discounts when cutting a deal with a cu...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

AI-driven security could be helpful, yet how effective it will be remains unclear. I plan to evaluate whatever new fe...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Symantec Secure Web Gateway?

I find the product to be very straightforward. I just install it and forget it as it continuously monitors traffic. I...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 13% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs iboss

Compared 10% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs iboss

Compared 9% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs iboss

Compared 8% of the time

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

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Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 31% of the time

Fortinet FortiProxy vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 28% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 21% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 20% of the time

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Cisco Umbrella vs Symantec Secure Web Gateway

Compared 19% of the time

Symantec Proxy vs Symantec Secure Web Gateway

Compared 15% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Symantec Secure Web Gateway

Compared 14% of the time

Skyhigh Security vs Symantec Secure Web Gateway

Compared 12% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Symantec Secure Web Gateway

Compared 8% of the time

More Symantec Secure Web Gateway Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

January 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

January 2026

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway report

Download Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway product report

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Secure Web Gateway

January 2026

Download Symantec Secure Web Gateway product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Symantec Web Security Service

Symantec Complete Website Security

Overview

Iboss offers a comprehensive cloud-based security platform valued for its scalability and autonomous features, ensuring robust security with easy deployment and management capabilities.

Renowned for its robust security architecture, Iboss integrates seamlessly within diverse networks, delivering efficient granular filtering and advanced content categorization. Its single pane of glass console provides ease of management, allowing rapid scalability suitable for rapidly deploying environments. Operates in BYOD setups due to inline filtering without device installation. Integration with cloud-based applications enhances user control, and features like SASE, SSL inspection, and ChatGPT risk protection stand as highlights. Despite its strengths, users have pointed out areas for enhancement like direct navigation in reports, SSL decryption, and better cloud integration while having room to improve data loss prevention.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

Scalability: Supports rapid deployment across diverse networks.
SASE: A consolidated approach to secure access.
SSL Inspection: Ensures safe data transmission.
Granular Filtering: Detailed control over accessible content.
Single Pane Management: Unifies control through a centralized console.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing with robust features.
Autonomous Operation: Reduces management overhead.
Responsive Support: Provides assistance when needed.
Flexible Deployment: Available for both cloud and on-premises environments.

The usage of Iboss spans educational institutions, specifically K-12, to enforce internet policies, protect data, and support remote work environments. It provides web filtering and security frameworks to ensure safe browsing. Its platform-as-a-service model offers flexibility for both cloud-based and on-premises requirements, integrating seamlessly to deliver enhanced security features suitable for various deployment needs including zero trust, CASB, and network security for work-from-home setups.

iboss

Increasing web use, rapid cloud adoption, and greater numbers of remote users are exposing your network to additional risk. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway (formerly Web Security Service) is an indispensable line of defense against modern-day cyber threats. A critical capability of Symantec Web Protection, it enables enterprises to control access, protects users from threats, and secures their sensitive data.

Broadcom

Symantec Secure Web Gateway is a comprehensive web security solution that provides advanced protection against web-based threats. It offers real-time threat detection and prevention, content filtering, and data loss prevention capabilities to safeguard organizations from web-based attacks. With its advanced threat intelligence and machine learning capabilities, it can detect and block even the most sophisticated web-based threats, including malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. The solution also provides granular control over web access, allowing organizations to enforce web usage policies and prevent access to malicious or inappropriate websites. It offers flexible deployment options, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments, to meet the unique needs of different organizations. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with other Symantec security solutions, such as Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Data Loss Prevention, to provide a comprehensive security posture. Symantec Secure Web Gateway is designed to provide a seamless user experience, with minimal impact on web browsing performance. It offers a range of reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing organizations to gain insights into web usage patterns and identify potential security risks. With its comprehensive web security capabilities, Symantec Secure Web Gateway is an essential component of any organization's security infrastructure.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

More than 4,000 global enterprises trust the iboss Cloud Platform to support their modern workforces, including a large number of Fortune 50 companies.

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway vs. Symantec Secure Web Gateway

December 2025

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