Sophos UTM Reviews

Name: Sophos UTM
Brand: Sophos
Rating: 4.2 (113 reviews)

Vendor: Sophos

4.2 out of 5

113 reviews
89% willing to recommend

7,783 followers

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What is Sophos UTM?

Sophos UTM is a unified threat management platform designed to protect your businesses from known and emerging malware including viruses, rootkits and spyware. The solution provides a complete network security package with everything your organization needs in a single modular appliance.

Get the Sophos UTM Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Sophos UTM, Meraki MX, Check Point NGFW and more!

Sophos UTM is the #4 ranked solution in top Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions. PeerSpot users give Sophos UTM an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Sophos UTM is most commonly compared to Meraki MX: Sophos UTM vs Meraki MX. Sophos UTM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 43% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.

Helped 849,190 peers since 2012

Featured Sophos UTM reviews

Samaila Yusuf

Associate Director - Management Support Services at CIHP

The zero-day protection and firewall rules are some of the most effective features for threat management. I can set the rules and features, and also use IPsec to connect all my on-premises servers and link them to Sophos UTM so that they are protected even when in the cloud. Additionally, I use it to control access into the building through a captive portal integrated across all the PCs we have, ensuring secure access only for authenticated users.

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Daniel Elías

System Administrator at a training & coaching company with 11-50 employees

Currently, I have Sophos UTM. I don't remember the details. I know it's about management. I have monitoring from Sophos, alongside the Sophos firewall and Sophos antivirus. Sophos manages the service, with people monitoring my network, including the data from my endpoints and firewalls. They can…

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SherifFouad

ICT Manager at a mining and metals company with 1,001-5,000 employees

From Cyberoam and the early builds of Sophos SG, they have developed higher integration between Sophos UTM and the computers' endpoint antiviruses. We can isolate the infected machine from the network, but an IT technician or cybersecurity professional can remove it from the machine and disinfect it. It has the capability of blocking HTTPS traffic, but you need the Sophos Central Intercept X subscription for that. It gives us the ability to manage our firewalls from the cloud and deploy a unified configuration onto them. Other competitors like Meraki have that ability, but they fail to optimize it in the way that Sophos has.

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Sophos UTM mindshare

As of April 2025, the mindshare of Sophos UTM in the Unified Threat Management (UTM) category stands at 14.6%, up from 13.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

PeerResearch reports based on Sophos UTM reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Unified Threat Management (UTM)	Apr 26, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Apr 26, 2025	Download
Comparison	Sophos UTM vs Check Point NGFW	Apr 26, 2025	Download
Comparison	Sophos UTM vs Meraki MX	Apr 26, 2025	Download
Comparison	Sophos UTM vs WatchGuard Firebox	Apr 26, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Meraki MX	4.1	13.9%	93%	64 interviews Add to research
Check Point NGFW	4.4	11.9%	96%	308 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Sophos UTM's valuable features include extensive reporting, a robust firewall, VPN capabilities, ease of use, and strong security with intrusion prevention and web filtering. Its scalability and centralized management via Sophos UTM Manager aid service providers. Users appreciate reliable performance and cost-effectiveness. The platform's flexibility, simple configuration, and intuitive interface enhance management. Additional features like endpoint protection, SSL VPN, and advanced threat protection provide comprehensive security across diverse environments.

"I definitely recommend Sophos. I rate it a nine out of ten."
"This integration of the antivirus and the firewall works together to enhance security."
"The technical support by Sophos is amazing, especially when I pay for the enhanced support."

Room for Improvement

Sophos UTM experiences challenges in scalability and high availability, with issues in handling high traffic and complex failover setups. Its web filtering, VPN connectivity, and user interface could be more intuitive. Performance under enterprise conditions reveals limitations, and its reporting and logging features require enhancement. There's a need for better appliance power and certificate management. Additionally, support and pricing improvements are necessary, while integration capabilities and central management need refinement.

"With artificial intelligence, there is room for improvement in all antivirus and security software."
"Pricing has become expensive recently due to the dollar hike and naira value changes in Nigeria. Even though it's expensive, I consider Sophos a major first line of protection, so I pay for it nonetheless."
"I would love to see artificial intelligence capabilities integrated into Sophos UTM."

ROI

Sophos UTM provides high ROI with low user-based licensing costs and efficient management, saving bandwidth and reducing administrative expenses. Users benefit from comprehensive security, leading to enhanced productivity and potential returns within six to sixteen months. High monthly management fees contribute to positive financial outcomes. Sophos UTM supports specialized cyber solutions, offering competitive pricing, centralized control for managed service providers, and equipping clients with optimal protection and improved network management, leading to significant economic gains.

Pricing

Sophos UTM pricing is considered competitive, offering good value for its features. The licensing model, though straightforward, can be pricey, with various options based on needs and regions. Many companies find it reasonable for the capabilities it provides. Three-year licenses, often available at a discount, are recommended due to cost-effectiveness. Some users experience challenges with understanding licensing details, advocating for thorough research. Overall, Sophos is valued for its balance between cost and functionality.

"The product pricing and licensing are higher, but they offer good value for the features and stability provided."
"You cannot really say that the solution is expensive, given the protection it gives."
"I rate the product's price a five on a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Sophos UTM for firewall protection, VPN connectivity, and network security. It manages network perimeter security, performing tasks such as IDS/IPS, web filtering, email filtering, and application control. Companies utilize it for two-factor authentication, endpoint protection, malware detection, and encryption. Many deploy it in various environments like Azure, on-premise, and AWS. It serves SMBs with capabilities for web, email, and server security while offering unified threat management for diverse user groups.

Service and Support

Multiple users rate customer service as excellent, highlighting fast response times. While technical support is appreciated for their expertise and improvements, some note variability in responsiveness and issue resolution. Many users appreciate the communication channels and escalation procedures. Satisfaction varies based on location and language support, with some finding better assistance from local distributors. Technical support is often praised but users mention delays and difficulty in reaching agents. Some express a need for better documentation and direct communication.

Deployment

Sophos UTM's initial setup is mostly described as easy and straightforward, aided by a browser-based interface accessible from various operating systems. Wizards assist with the process, though network knowledge is beneficial for advanced configurations. Some users found the setup complex, especially with AWS or when migrating from different systems. Initial deployment typically ranges from minutes to a few days based on complexity and organizational needs. Certain aspects, like WebControl and NAT, may require more attention.

Scalability

Sophos UTM exhibits good scalability when configured properly, with users praising its adaptability to various environments. Sizing guidelines are crucial, with potential limitations tied to undersized designs. Many find it suitable for small to medium enterprises, with options for expanding via hardware upgrades or virtual environments. Some note that scaling may require additional licenses or hardware shifts, while others highlight its capacity to handle large-scale deployments effectively within specified throughput limits.

Stability

Sophos UTM is highly stable, exhibiting minimal disruptions. Although some users noted potential slowdowns and instability from improper sizing or certain features like intrusion prevention, most found it reliable with rare issues. Occasional firmware bugs or hardware challenges were mentioned but didn't overshadow the general reliability. Users appreciated its trusted performance, often rating it highly for stability and reliability. Routine updates and proper setup further enhanced stability, ensuring satisfactory performance across varied environments.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Sophos UTM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

18%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

University

Hospitality Company

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Healthcare Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Insurance Company

Transportation Company

Consumer Goods Company

Performing Arts

Pharma/Biotech Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Compare Sophos UTM with alternative products

Learn more about Sophos UTM

Sophos UTM Features

Sophos UTM has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Web and Email Filtering
General Management
Network Protection
Network Routing and Services
Advanced Threat Protection
Authentication
Email Encryption and DLP
Web Policy
End-User Portal
VPN IPsec Client, VPN SSL Client, and Clientless VPN
Web Application Firewall Protection
UTM Endpoint Protection and Management
SEC Endpoint Integration
Logging and Reporting

Sophos UTM Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Sophos UTM. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Simplifies your IT security without the complexity of multiple point solutions
Intuitive interface to help you quickly create policies to control security risks
Provides clear, detailed reports to give you the insight you need to improve your network performance and protection
Complete control to block, allow, shape and prioritize applications
Two-factor authentication with one-time password (OTP)
Integrated wireless controller
Allows you to connect remote offices with easy VPN and Wi-Fi

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by PeerSpot users currently using the Sophos UTM solution.

PeerSpot user Dana B., Network Administrator at a manufacturing company, says “The web and email filtering are the two biggest and most valuable aspects of the solution for us. The solution overall has just been a good, cost-effective solution for us. The solution offers a lot of functionality. The solution scales well. We've found the technical support to be helpful. The stability and performance are quite good.”

A Technical Director at a security firm mentions, "Sophos SG UTM had all the basic functionality that you needed. It is user-friendly and easy to manage for any integrator."

Marek M., Senior Network Engineer at a computer software company, comments, “Sophos UTM is the simplest of these products to set up. If you follow the instructions using the wizard, which is just a few steps, then you will have a firewall to protect you and your customer.”

A Software Sales Manager at a tech services company explains, “The overall visibility of the console is what I find most valuable, plus it's very user-friendly. It can be integrated with other solutions such as SOAR, SIEM, etc., even when you have an existing firewall. I really like that the console can be integrated. You'll see everything on the same window, and the single window feature of the machine is so good. These are the features I really like.”

James D., IT Manager at Manual Workers Union, states, “The fact that it's on the cloud means we don't have to administer it on our network or deal with a physical machine, which saves us money. The solution has many great features. From the console, we can start different scannings on different machines. We enjoy the centralized reporting part of it. The initial setup is simple. We enjoy its general stability. The solution can scale. So far, the solution has been problem-free.”

Sophos UTM was previously known as Astaro.