I mostly use Sophos XGS for URL and web filtering and application control.
Head of Sales & Operations at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees
User-friendly solution with good built-in reporting
Pros and Cons
- "Sophos XGS' best features are simplicity and its built-in reporting tool."
- "Sophos XGS could be improved by adding a built-in hyper-converged solution."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Sophos XGS' best features are simplicity and its built-in reporting tool.
What needs improvement?
Sophos XGS could be improved by adding a built-in hyper-converged solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Sophos XGS for three years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Sophos XGS is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Sophos XGS is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Sophos XGS' technical support is very responsive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was quite simple, and the configuration took around an hour and a half.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Licensing for Sophos XGS is around $150 per unit, split into $100 for the hardware and $50 for the license. Sophos XGS is competitively priced.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Sophos XGS eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Customer
Network Administrator at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
Works well with thin client environments but needs to improve technical support
Pros and Cons
- "In this solution, the most valuable feature is that it's a security device. Maintaining security is very valuable for us. The other feature that we did not find in other products is that it works well with thin client environments."
- "Sometimes, we haven't received proper support. They couldn't find the solutions that we required. One thing that we need is an NTP server facility. The Sophos XGS device does not have this capacity or this feature."
What is our primary use case?
Mainly, we use it as our internet gateway firewall for scanning internet traffic that comes to our network from WAN and for internet distribution such as thin client. We have a thin client environment. It also works as a distribution layer for internet users, especially in thin client environments. It scans the traffic that passes from this device.
What is most valuable?
In this solution, the most valuable feature is that it's a security device. Maintaining security is very valuable for us.
The other feature that we did not find in other products is that it works well with thin client environments.
What needs improvement?
Sometimes, we haven't received proper support. They couldn't find the solutions that we required.
One thing that we need is an NTP server facility. The Sophos XGS device does not have this capacity or this feature.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using Sophos XGS for almost one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable. We haven't had any issues with it.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I don't think it's scalable. It's a product that we bought with a specification, and we cannot improve that. We cannot upgrade; we can only upgrade its OS; nothing more.
Only the network administrator uses it, but we might set it up in another business unit next year.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate technical support at six out of ten because we haven't received proper support sometimes.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We worked with Cyberoam, and when it reached the end of life, we replaced it with Sophos.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy, and I'd give it a two out of five.
What was our ROI?
Because this is a security appliance, we cannot calculate the ROI exactly. However, every time security devices work well and guard us from attacks, it is a good ROI. This device has a good ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licensing cost is in the normal range and is not very costly.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, we have had a good experience with Sophos XGS and would rate it at six on a scale from one to ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Sophos Firewall
December 2025
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IT Manager at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Provides a great VPN feature
Pros and Cons
- "The VPN is the best feature."
- "The solution could be easier to manage and configure."
What is our primary use case?
We use XGS as a firewall, for web filtering, and network control. I'm an IT manager.
What is most valuable?
The VPN is the best feature because I'm working a lot from home now.
What needs improvement?
I think the earlier SG version was easier to configure and manage. The XG is a little different and somewhat more complicated. I'd like it to be easier to manage and configure.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Right now we're having some issues but they're related to the environment and not the solution.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support is not great, it takes them too long to respond.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I believe we pay for licensing every three years and I think it's around $1,800 which includes the hardware. It's a reasonable price.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend this solution and rate it eight out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
CEO / Managing Director at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Highly stable, scalable, but performance can improve
Pros and Cons
- "The scalability of Sophos XGS is very good."
- "When it comes to different interfaces there is some speed issue that can be improved in Sophos XGS."
What needs improvement?
When it comes to different interfaces there is some speed issue that can be improved in Sophos XGS.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XGS for approximately seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Sophos XGS is a stable solution. It has a very good operating system.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Sophos XGS is very good.
How are customer service and support?
The support of Sophos XGS needs to be improved. Support is very poor. The approach they use needs to improve. We have to call and raise a ticket, but they don't resolve quickly. There are times when their technical support people, are not the right people for the right ticket. It wastes a lot of time. Since this is a business-critical device, there needs to be quicker support. There should be quicker support from the company.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Fortinet previously. When you compare Sophos XGS with Fortinet, Fortinet is a better device. However, if their country has good support for Sophos XGS, then it's fine. Sophos XGS is more economical than Fortinet and they have similar features. For a business-critical solution, Fortinet would be much better because of its stability.
What was our ROI?
This solution would not have a return on investment for larger companies. However, for smaller businesses using this solution, it is better and faster.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Sophos XGS is priced lower than some of its competitors, such as Fortinet
What other advice do I have?
I rate Sophos XGS a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Information Technology Network Administrator at a outsourcing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Unified threat management system with VPN features
Pros and Cons
- "The threat management system and VPN are most valuable."
- "Reporting could be improved. The structure could be better because most of the reports aren't detailed."
What is our primary use case?
We are using it as a unified threat management system.
We use it on a daily basis. There are about 600 people using this solution in our organization.
The solution is deployed on-prem.
What is most valuable?
The threat management system and VPN are most valuable.
What needs improvement?
Reporting could be improved. The structure could be better because most of the reports aren't detailed.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable for now.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable.
How was the initial setup?
Initial setup was easy. I would rate it 4 out of 5.
What about the implementation team?
Setup was done in-house.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution 9 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network and Security Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Simple implementation, useful synchronized security, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
- "The stability of Sophos XG is very good. However, there have been some issues with other weaker models because they are limited in hardware in resources."
- "Sophos XG could improve the connectivity with Microsoft 365 or Azure Active Directory(AD). It doesn't work directly as other solutions do, such as Fortinet FortiGate. The client needs a separate AD server which is a problem."
What is our primary use case?
Sophos XG can be deployed on-premise and on the cloud.
We use Sophos XG as a network firewall for many use cases, such as offices, residential, and data centers.
What needs improvement?
Sophos XG could improve the connectivity with Microsoft 365 or Azure Active Directory(AD). It doesn't work directly as other solutions do, such as Fortinet FortiGate. The client needs a separate AD server which is a problem.
There is no endpoint software for Linux systems, only the server version runs on Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for approximately fours years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of Sophos XG is very good. However, there have been some issues with other weaker models because they are limited in hardware in resources.
How are customer service and support?
We had an issue, but after speaking to the technical support, I understood it was a problem with Sophos, not a firewall problem, but with the endpoint that was related to the encryption of the disc. The problem is if you have a computer controlled by Azure at the same time as Sophos, then there may be some incompatibility problem between them because both of them are trying to control the computer and the encryption of the hard drive.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used other firewall solutions, such as Fortinet Foregate and Check Point.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Sophos XG is simple, but Cisco Meraki is easier.
Since I have used Sophos XG long time it is easier than Fortinet FortiGate or Check Point.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Sophos XG is not an expensive solution. If you are willing to pay more, then there is the Check Point firewall which is the best out of all the vendors.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise other Sophos XG is a great solution because it is synchronized security between the endpoint and firewall which is unique. I'm not sure if Fortinet FortiGate has this technology, but it is a good technology in Sophos XG. Sophos was perhaps the first to use this kind of technology. What it does is if your computer gets infected, then the endpoint tells the firewall that, it is infected and the firewall doesn't allow the use of the network at all. It'll lock it down on this computer.
I rate Sophos XG a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Architect of solutions at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
User-friendly security with quality disk encryption but lacks on-premise deployment options and firewall rules could use improvement.
Pros and Cons
- "Sophos offers great disk encryption, anti protection, and the interface is very user-friendly."
- "I would like to next release to be able to support on-premise deployment. The construction of the rules within the firewall could also use some improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution to secure the computers within our environment.
What is most valuable?
Sophos offers great disk encryption, anti protection, and the interface is very user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
I would like to next release to be able to support on-premise deployment. The construction of the rules within the firewall could also use some improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Sophos XG for about two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable solution, I have not had any issues in regards to stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This is a scalable solution. We have about two hundred users in our company.
How are customer service and support?
I have not needed to contact support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were using ESET prior to switching to Sophos. ESET was a very simple solution that was unable to detect malware or ransomware. We had an attack and needed to switch to a solution that supported ransomware.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very straightforward and took about one week to complete.
What about the implementation team?
We used an integrator to compete the deployment. We have a contract with them so we do not need any in-house team members for maintenance.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution as it offers good protection.
I would rate the solution a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director
User-friendly, good load-balancing functionality, and it's easy to manage
Pros and Cons
- "The interface is very user-friendly and it's easy to manage."
- "All of the options should be available when I renew my subscription for the year. As it is now, there are some limitations."
What is our primary use case?
We are a digital design agency. We offer services such as website design and development, mobile applications, and more. We use Sophos XG to protect our network. It is also used for reporting and load-balancing.
What is most valuable?
The interface is very user-friendly and it's easy to manage.
The load-balancing capabilities are good.
What needs improvement?
All of the options should be available when I renew my subscription for the year. As it is now, there are some limitations.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Sophos XG for between two and three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable product and we use it on a daily basis.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have not tried to scale this product.
How are customer service and support?
I have not had issues that required contacting technical support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is simple. It takes approximately one hour to install, create the policies, and deploy.
What about the implementation team?
I deployed it myself.
If there are any issues then I can fix them because I have the expertise.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The subscription costs approximately $300 yearly. I am satisfied with the price.
What other advice do I have?
Feature-wise, this is a good product.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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