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Symantec Data Center Security vs VMware NSX comparison

Broadcom and VMware are both solutions in the Cloud and Data Center Security category. Broadcom is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0, while VMware is ranked #3 with an average rating of 7.8. Broadcom holds a 1.8% mindshare in CDCS, compared to VMware’s 11.7% mindshare. Additionally, 81% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of VMware users who would recommend it.
Symantec Data Center Security
Read 11 Symantec Data Center Security reviews
  • 797 Views
  • 494 Comparison Views
81% willing to recommend
VMware NSX
Read 105 VMware NSX reviews
  • 7,032 Views
  • 3,516 Comparison Views
88% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 14, 2024

VMware NSX and Symantec Data Center Security compete in the data center security category. VMware NSX seems to have the upper hand with its integration and scalability in virtual environments.

Features: VMware NSX provides micro-segmentation for enhanced security, automation capabilities, and integration within VMware ecosystems, offering significant scalability. These features enable seamless network management and performance optimization. Symantec Data Center Security focuses on granular policy management, intrusion prevention, and server hardening, delivering robust endpoint protection and system lockdown to defend against sophisticated malware.

Room for Improvement: VMware NSX needs enhancement in integration with Kubernetes and container technologies, support for physical network topology, and a more intuitive upgrade process. Improved visibility in traffic flow introspection and routing protocol support is also necessary. For Symantec Data Center Security, refinement of complex policy structure, user interface enhancement, and more automated threat detection are needed. Users also suggest better integration with third-party solutions and performance improvements in virtualized environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: VMware NSX offers flexibility across private, hybrid, and public clouds, supported by robust technical assistance, although faster responses are desired by some users. Symantec Data Center Security is effective in on-premises and private cloud settings, with customer support being generally favorable, though direct assistance satisfaction varies.

Pricing and ROI: VMware NSX is considered expensive, with costs varying by features and requirements, yet seen as cost-effective when fully utilized, offering substantial ROI through efficient network management and infrastructure savings. Symantec Data Center Security is perceived as more costly than some competitors, attributed to its comprehensive security features, prompting prospective users to carefully evaluate their needs to justify the investment.

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To learn more, read our detailed Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX
July 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

Symantec Data Center Security
Ranking in Cloud and Data Center Security
11th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
5.0
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
VMware NSX
Ranking in Cloud and Data Center Security
3rd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
105
Ranking in other categories
Network Virtualization (2nd), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (7th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (9th), Network Automation (5th), Microsegmentation Software (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Cloud and Data Center Security category, the mindshare of Symantec Data Center Security is 1.8%, down from 2.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware NSX is 11.7%, down from 17.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Cloud and Data Center Security Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
VMware NSX11.7%
Symantec Data Center Security1.8%
Other86.5%
Cloud and Data Center Security
 

Featured Reviews

Shahram Dehghani - PeerSpot reviewer
A robust solution that provides comprehensive protection for data centers, offering agentless security, powerful intrusion prevention, and a wide range of security features
The primary focus of data center security often revolves around serving customers who offer services to other clients within the data center. For example, if I operate a data center and provide security services, third-party customers might purchase virtual machine products within my data center. These products are automatically deployed, and we safeguard these virtual machines using intrusion prevention system features. This aspect is considered the most valuable part because when we set up these security policies, it's as if we're fortifying the entire infrastructure. It's not just about having good technical support; it's about having a robust IPS and comprehensive DOS prevention system on those operating systems. The advantage of Data Center Security is its ease of use and that it serves as a single unified platform, where I can apply all my security policies to protect that server.
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MagdyRaafat - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced security and streamlined management drive efficient connectivity
Open source is a standard solution where you take a gray box or white box and put the software from your end. You can do programming with Ansible and make the network work in the software-defined mode, providing automation and management capabilities. I am currently working with VMware. It integrates easily with everything and can work with any system. When discussing micro-segmentation, it enhances security, providing more secure data in your data center while allowing for extra layers of security outside your data center. If you have an ACI, there is communication between locations, keeping your data secure in your data center and throughout the path it takes, such as to SD-WAN or the cloud. I work with cloud solutions including AWS, Azure, GCP, and private cloud. My overall rating for VMware NSX is 8.5 out of 10.
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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

"We use the product to prevent unauthorized access to data, systems, and servers. It provides essential features for data center security."
"The most valuable feature is the endpoint protection system."
"The monitoring in the management console allows us to find out what is going wrong, and it gets reports even before the user reports it."
"The most valuable feature is the centralized console, which can handle different products that we have."
"The ability to finely control permissions and restrictions on servers or assets through a customizable rule set is a key strength."
"Good file integrity monitoring features."
"The tool will then detect any anomalies, such as an intruder who has breached the network, which can trigger the system lockdown feature if it's enabled and meets the defined threshold."
"The granularity of applying the policies is valuable."
More Symantec Data Center Security pros
"The performance is good."
"NSX gives us the ability to put our network, NSX, onto any network there is, which allows us not to have to go to the network team to create networks our VLANs for networks."
"VMware NSX's overlay network is its most valuable feature, as it aligns with any network philosophy and allows for efficient addressing mechanisms. Additionally, the ability to extend the on-premise network into the provider space is beneficial. There are many features provided."
"The initial setup was straightforward. It follows a certain structure and you won't miss a step. It's all on the same level, step by step."
"The stability is great. That's one of the things that we can quantify and leverage through NSX, because it's less complex. We have the availability to manage multiple things at the same time. You can identify problems before they manifest."
"The microsegmentation allows me to sleep at night. My job is reducing risk, plugging security holes, and working with the automated layer security. Even if somebody spins up a new server, it has to have a tag in NSX."
"The interface is intuitive enough."
"It operates on a logical level, providing a comprehensive and centralized way to manage your network resources."
More VMware NSX pros
 

Cons

"Adding more compatibility with common products like Microsoft would be a plus."
"A user or administrator making the policy in the DCS should have a very thorough knowledge of the operating system or policy making. You have to be very specific about the data structure."
"This solution clashes with Microsoft defender, which results in performance degradation on the machine."
"The product blocks certain processes, even after allowlisting them."
"There is room for improvement in enhancing its graphical user interface for a more user-friendly experience."
"It would be advantageous if Symantec or Broadcom, given the rebranding, could simplify the process, enabling users to leverage the antivirus functionality more easily."
"Could have better reporting capabilities and better support."
"There is plenty of room for improvement with this product, and it could start with platform metrics."
More Symantec Data Center Security cons
"In the next release, they should enhance the visual interface. With NSX-T, it's difficult to communicate between the public cloud and the container."
"We would like better integration with the standards on the market. For example, with OSPF, their integration in NSX is very low. It's not a full OSPF integration. It is too thin from a protocol perspective."
"The feature it can improve is essentially application-based load balancing with intelligent load distribution for applications that require redundancy and high availability."
"The initial establishment can be complex."
"It needs to be cheaper."
"I think that one of the more important things to see better integrated into the NSX product would be an IDS/IPS type solution."
"They have to work more and more on the integration for public cloud services and have cyber security platform integration."
"The setup is complex and should be made easier."
More VMware NSX cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Compared to some other solutions, such as CrowdStrike, Symantec is more expensive."
"The product is a bit costly."
"It is notably more expensive when compared to other solutions."
"All the institutions have to pay monthly for the services in the cloud. They have to pay $30,000 every month for this service every three years."
"The licensing is renewed every three years. The cost for implementation and renovation are a huge portion of that price."
"We are using a perpetual license to use the solution and we have support."
"We have saved man-hours and decreased our security exposure."
"The solution is very expensive."
"The price is significantly high and it can be a hurdle for many potential users."
"The product pricing ranges from medium to expensive. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten."
"VMware has always been geared towards enterprise and their pricing options are a bit high. Their price is higher than other options in the market."
More VMware NSX pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise5
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business33
Midsize Enterprise23
Large Enterprise68
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Symantec Data Center Security?
The granularity of applying the policies is valuable.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Symantec Data Center Security?
Agent management is a challenging task. We cannot do it from the console. We will have to use other tools.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Symantec Data Center Security?
One key use case for data center security is protecting files within the data center. This is especially important for Linux systems, where locking down specific files is essential to prevent unaut...
See all answers
What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?
There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...
See all answers
What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?
Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...
See all answers
What do you like most about VMware NSX?
The product has valuable features for security and network extension.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Trend Micro Deep Security vs Symantec Data Center Security Logo
Trend Micro Deep Security vs Symantec Data Center Security
Compared 66% of the time
Symantec Endpoint Security vs Symantec Data Center Security Logo
Symantec Endpoint Security vs Symantec Data Center Security
Compared 24% of the time
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Illumio vs VMware NSX Logo
Illumio vs VMware NSX
Compared 18% of the time
Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX Logo
Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX
Compared 16% of the time
Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX Logo
Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX
Compared 15% of the time
Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX Logo
Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX
Compared 7% of the time
Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX Logo
Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX
Compared 7% of the time
More VMware NSX Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Symantec Data Center Security
August 2025
Symantec Data Center Security reportDownload Symantec Data Center Security product report
Buyer's Guide
VMware NSX
August 2025
VMware NSX reportDownload VMware NSX product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender
 

Overview

Docker containers make it easy to develop, deploy, and deliver applications where containers can be deployed and brought down in a matter of seconds. This flexibility makes it very useful for DevOps to automate deployment of containers. Symantec Data Center Security: Server Advanced provides agentless Docker container protection that allows you to achieve the performance benefits of Docker without sacrificing security. Full application control enables administrator privilege de-escalation, patch mitigation, and protection against zero day threats in today's heterogeneous data centers.

Broadcom

VMware NSX is a comprehensive tool for network virtualization and security, offering advanced features like micro-segmentation and multi-cloud networking to enhance scalability and management efficiency within enterprises.

VMware NSX revolutionizes enterprise networking by integrating security and scalability into one streamlined platform. With capabilities like dynamic policy updates and automation, it simplifies complex configurations and provides robust API integration. Its support for Layer 4 and 7 load balancing, along with its seamless integration in multi-cloud environments, makes it a preferred choice among companies. Although deployment speed and management console features require refinement, NSX is an effective solution for private cloud and hybrid environments, enabling centralized orchestration and management of complex networks.

What are the key features of VMware NSX?
  • Micro-segmentation: Provides secure, granular network segmentation for enhanced security.
  • Distributed Firewall: Offers policy-driven firewall capabilities across all network endpoints.
  • Automation: Enables dynamic policy updates and simplifies network configurations.
  • API Integration: Facilitates seamless third-party integrations and improves configuration processes.
  • Multi-Cloud Networking: Supports seamless integration across various cloud environments.
What benefits and ROI should users consider?
  • Scalability: Offers significant improvements in network scalability and management efficiency.
  • Security: Ensures enhanced security through advanced features like micro-segmentation.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Potential to reduce costs through network automation and efficiency improvements.
  • Flexibility: Supports various enterprise requirements with its comprehensive feature set.

In the tech industry, VMware NSX is instrumental in managing private and hybrid cloud environments, allowing companies to replace traditional networking with software-defined networks. In finance, it helps secure transactional data through micro-segmentation. Healthcare organizations leverage its flexibility for managing sensitive patient information securely and integrating cloud services.

VMware
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
City of Avondale, Lumeta, Kroll Ontrack, Heartland Payment Systems, Baystate Heallth, Exostar, Tribune Media, iGATE, NTT Communications, Synergent, California Natural Resources Agency, Bloomington Public Schools, Columbia Sportswear, Join Experience S.A, Schuberg Philis
Buyer's Guide
Symantec Data Center Security vs. VMware NSX
July 2025
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