Sophos XGS Reviews

Sophos XGS pricing varies among reviewers. Some consider it moderate, while others find it expensive. Additional costs may be involved, such as appointing IT experts or purchasing separate web server licenses. However, compared to competitors like Fortinet and Palo Alto, Sophos XGS is generally considered more affordable. There are different licensing options available, including yearly licenses and three-year licenses. 

ROI for Sophos XGS is generally positive and satisfactory. Users have found that the appliance effectively guards against attacks and prevents ransomware, resulting in a significant return on investment. While larger companies may not see as much ROI, smaller businesses benefit from the solution's effectiveness and efficiency over time. 

Sophos XGS is primarily used for securing networks and traffic for customers. It is also used as a VPN and for web filtering, allowing sites to connect to data centers. Another common use case is for customers who use CMGs that manage the gateway of Microsoft. 

Sophos XGS is used as a firewall, providing site-to-site VPN and FSL VPN for end users. It is also used for web filtering, URL blocking, and access point integration. Additionally, Sophos XGS is used to protect enterprise endpoint devices and secure network and internet connections. 

It serves as a layer 7 next-generation firewall, providing access control and customization of rules for security. 

Other use cases include security, authentication, and managing internet access for employees. It is deployed at the edge of network infrastructures and used for waste filtering, application filtering, and bandwidth management. 

The most valuable features of Sophos XGS include: 

• Easy usability and regular updates
• Network friendliness and control
• Scalability
• Competitive pricing
• Web filtering SSL VPN
• Centralized security
• Synchronized security option
• Configuration and customization capabilities
• Excellent documentation
• Ease of management and configuration
• Ransomware protection
• Antimalware and antivirus feeds
• Packet tutoring
• Web and application filtering
• Reporting
• Bandwidth management
• Content filtering
• VPN functionality
• User-friendly UI
• Port forwarding

Improvements that could be made on Sophos XGS include: 

• Pricing and stability. 
• More functionality is desired, such as a log viewer and visibility of traffic crossing the firewall. 
• Better marketing and presence on evaluation reports like Gartner, Magic Quadrant, or Forrester. 
• Support needs improvement, including better response time and addressing customer issues. 
• Hardware performance and reliability. 
• Integration with access points and improved reporting is desired. 
• A history of bandwidth utilization and reduced pricing are requested. 
• Technical support and level one support need improvement. 
• Addition of features like network access control (NAC) and increased performance of processing units. 
• Simplification of configuration and dashboard management. 
• Faster response time and improved user interface. 
• Improvement in VPN capabilities and response to zero-day attacks. 
• Further development in SD-WAN and better handling of WAN links. 
• Better handling of email hosting and management. - Hardware and firmware issues need to be addressed. 
• Improvement in inspection processes, troubleshooting for VPNs, and VNET protection. 
• Introduction of automation and improved high availability. 
• Addition of built-in hyper-converged solution and fixing of bugs. 
• Improvement in log details, searching functionality, and automatic operations. 
• Enhancements in SD-WAN feature, user capacity, and ease of configuration.
• The ability to handle larger organizations and more users. 
• Fixing of firmware issues and improved scalability. 
• Enhancement of threshold values, virtualization security, and speed in different interfaces. 
• Addition of Network Access Control (NAC) and better integration with Active Directory.

The initial setup for Sophos XGS is easy and straightforward. It typically takes a day or two to complete, depending on the specific use cases and the magnitude of the customer's environment. The deployment process is not overly complex and can be done by one person in most cases. Some maintenance tasks, such as adding connections, managing them, and checking for errors, are required after the setup. 

Sophos XGS is scalable. The solution is used by various organizations, including enterprise businesses, and can handle a significant number of users. However, there are also limitations to scalability depending on the model and physical appliance used. Some users mentioned that the scalability could be improved or that it is not easily scalable due to fixed capabilities.

Some customers have described the technical support as good, above average, fantastic, and excellent. They have praised the responsiveness, problem-solving abilities, and helpfulness of the support team. 

However, there are also complaints about poor support, slow response times, and the need for more localized support in languages like French and Spanish. Some customers have mentioned difficulties in contacting support, delays in receiving assistance, and the need to escalate issues to higher levels. 

Sophos XGS stability is generally praised by users. They mention that the solution is stable and reliable, with no bugs, glitches, crashes, or freezes. However, there are a few users who have encountered stability issues, particularly with integrating the firewall with other products. Users appreciate that the management of Sophos XGS can be done through a central management system, making it easier to maintain.