Symantec Proxy Reviews

There are many use cases in terms of content inspection, such as having granular control for file type extensions when trying to download file types by default. It depends on the requirements, and based on that, we customize policies. We have deployed it in an Azure infrastructure, and we have deployed nine hundred plus proxies across the globe.

The most valuable features are content inspection, caching, SSL encryption, decryption, WAN optimization, and more. The security features provided by Symantec Proxy, such as granular controls for web traffic and caching, set it apart from other secure web gateways.

The product needs improvement in support services, as they are lagging and not very responsive when we raise concerns or queries, especially in terms of significant impact. Security features also need to be more enhanced and scalable.

I have about fifteen to 16 years of experience with Symantec Proxy.

Stability depends on the platform on which it is deployed and the number of users. I would rate the stability between seven and eight on a scale of one to ten.

I would rate the scalability around seven out of ten.

Support services are lagging and not very responsive. I rate their support as five out of ten.

Neutral

The product was deployed a long way back, and it has been serving the purpose. I believe evaluating other options was unnecessary at that time as it has been there for a while.

The initial setup is straightforward.

An experienced professional with the necessary skills and competency from the proxy standpoint, such as a Network Security Engineer, would be able to do the deployment.

For supercritical businesses, there should be a return on investment due to the enhanced security features and resilience. However, for small or middle firm businesses, it is not worth adopting due to the expensive products and support services.

Symantec Proxy is very expensive. On a scale of one to ten, I rate its price a nine.

The legacy or traditional approach is being wiped off, and everything is moving to the cloud.

Overall, I would rate Symantec Proxy as seven out of ten. 

It is important for businesses to evaluate if adopting this solution is worth it.

I use Symantec Proxy for surfing the internet from internal to external networks. My endpoints do not have direct access to the internet, and if they need to access it, the proxy is used for that reason. Essentially, it serves the purpose of web security.

The GUI has been effective. The proxy fulfills all the tasks I require, and it's not overly complicated. There aren't any specific features within Symantec Proxy that stand out for threat prevention in my use cases. The integration with FireGlass has been essential since both solutions are from Broadcom, enhancing compatibility as opposed to my prior experience where integration was troublesome.

AI features could potentially improve the proxy by helping build rules more efficiently, suggesting unused rules, and enhancing preference setting. These would make the tool more effective.

I have been using Symantec Proxy for about six months.

The proxy is very stable, and I have had no issues with its stability.

The solution is scalable.

I have opened a few cases and received answers without any issues.

Neutral

Before Symantec, I used Forcepoint Proxy. I switched due to compatibility issues with Broadcom solutions. The Forcepoint proxy didn't allow me to use automation via API, which was a significant drawback. With Broadcom, I overcame integration issues and gained stable operations with API availability, which was missing in Forcepoint.

The initial setup was reportedly straightforward with no significant issues.

My team did the installation with guidance from third-party partners.

Pricing is difficult to specify as Broadcom sells platforms that include multiple products, making it hard to determine the exact cost for the proxy component. Forcepoint sold only proxies, which was easier to measure.

Work with platforms instead of individual products. Platforms with integrated products are more effective. 

I would rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.

We are using Symantec for many products. We have Symantec antivirus, the Bluecoat Proxy, which is now Broadcom, Symantec SMG, and are using Symantec Cache for filtering. The proxy solution is utilized for web and cloud security as we transition some of our workloads to the cloud.

The network is more secure with Symantec Proxy. We have noticed that the network is better protected, which provides a sense of security.

The proxy is valuable due to its reputation and categorization features for sites, which assist in blocking malicious sites. Every day, reports show five to ten viruses being caught and filtered out, and we have not faced a challenge where the network was infected without being caught by the system. 

The dual use for both SMG and Proxy filtering is also a benefit. The caching feature used to be an advantage, as it provided quicker access, although it has less impact now due to HTTPS encryption.

There are some challenges with reporting and accessing specific logs, particularly older logs or user activity over time. This makes finding user logs sometimes difficult. Improvement in the ease of reporting and indexing could help. 

There is also an overhead for admins due to the need to define specific categories and users, unlike other vendors where just defining categories suffices. 

Enhanced domain categorization could also be beneficial, as there have been issues where new or less popular domains are not properly categorized.

We have been working with Symantec Proxy for six to seven years.

Symantec Proxy is generally stable. We haven't faced many challenges, however, we're running an older version since management has not allowed upgrades after facing some challenges during a previous attempt with tech support.

From a scalability point of view, everything looks fine. However, there is a concern that admins need to do more work compared to other solutions. This might slightly impact scalability if categories need to be manually defined.

The support, while generally okay, sometimes fails to provide necessary assistance, and it feels like there is a gap. We have faced situations where tech support did not deliver the solutions, particularly during certain challenges or issues. Support could be improved significantly.

Neutral

We have also been using Palo Alto URL for three months.

The setup process was straightforward, and although the exact time frame is unsure, it took close to three weeks.

A third-party team was involved in the deployment process.

The network security has improved, and scalability is good, allowing for more users to be added without issues.

We're not sure about specific costs, but the overall renewal cost for Symantec services was a little over 2,000,000 AED, including all Symantec solutions, not just the proxy.

I would recommend Symantec Proxy due to its stability and scalability. The proxy could be improved with better support and easier reporting. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate the solution as an eight.

I work as an architect, and we use it in our company. 

We use Symantec Proxy for our company, for web surfing and utilizing its native proxy capabilities.

Symantec Proxy have been most effective for threat detection and prevention.

Symantec is a very robust solution. Also, it has many capabilities for proxy and dealing with certificates. This is in general.

In future releases, we look forward to the cloud side. So, I would like to see more improvements in the cloud.

I have been using it for five years. 

The on-prem version has been very stable for us.

It offers high scalability. There are around 5,000 end users using it. 

Now it's on-prem, and we are checking out the cloud solution.

I would rate it a nine out of ten. I would definitely recommend it to other people because they also have a hybrid solution and a solution in the cloud. This is a stable and robust solution with many features.

We use the product for malware filtering, content filtering, and reporting.

The CPL code is the best feature of the solution. We can get the tool to do extremely advanced things with the command line code. The database categorization is extremely accurate.

The solution must add a new category for WebSocket data. It must provide a new category for internet streams currently categorized as Technology/Internet. They're independent streams. The AV engine can't scan them. They get stuck. The tool’s reporting features must be improved.

I have been using the solution for 15 years.

I rate the tool’s stability an eight out of ten. The stability is mostly very good. Occasionally, there's an unexplained glitch, and we just have to reboot it. The stability must be improved.

I rate the tool’s scalability a nine out of ten. The scalability is amazing. We have 50 customers in the UK. My company is a global organization. There may be more customers. I only work with the UK and Ireland. Our customers are mostly enterprise businesses.

The technical support team is generally pretty good.

Positive

The initial setup is quite straightforward. I rate the ease of setup a nine out of ten. It took us a week to get the policy in place. It's a complicated policy that needs to be created from scratch. To deploy the solution, we do console setup, configure the interfaces and DNS routes, authenticate the domain, download the content solution databases, connect to Symantec Reporter, and configure the policy.

The solution is very expensive. I rate the pricing a nine out of ten. The price is an issue for our customers. Sometimes, they know they have no choice because only Symantec Proxy can do what they need. We have to pay for the licensing for a certain number of users, support, and hardware.

The product is extremely good. It is an enterprise-level tool. It can do grand things. For a small business with basic internet content filtering needs, it's a waste of money. However, it's probably the best for high-level enterprises with complex needs. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

The product has significantly improved our organization by providing a comprehensive platform for identifying various features, including data payload, web filtering, and protection against malicious activities across all connectivity channels. Additionally, it facilitates seamless backup processes.

The platform's pricing needs improvement.

We have been using Symantec Proxy for five years.

The product is stable. I rate the stability a nine out of ten.

We have utilized this service, and our customer base comprises more than 5,000 to 8,000 users. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten.

The initial setup was straightforward, particularly in the cloud as well as on-premises. The best part of this solution is ensuring quality regardless of the deployment method.

We implemented the solution with the help of our in-house team.

The product is highly priced. There are no additional costs apart from the standard licenses.

We use a web filtering feature to control and monitor various types of web activity, including data payloads.

Integrating with other products is competitive and effective in terms of security measures. We've observed the significance of the reporting tools in providing detailed logs on decisions, user activities, and other relevant data.

It is beneficial because whenever I encounter an entry-level task or a problem, I can rely on the technical processes and knowledge available. We can address and rectify issues promptly, resulting in consistently positive outcomes.

I rate Symantec Proxy a nine out of ten.

The developer's assistance is valuable, enabling seamless integration which allows for a comprehensive view of categories, even if not certified by the link.

We have been experiencing issues with file processing and network stability, particularly when dealing with requests for proxy files or fax networks. Improvements in log availability would greatly enhance its overall effectiveness.

I have been using it for four years.

The earlier version was more stable. I would rate it seven out of ten.

The support is satisfactory. Instead of directly contacting Symantec, we engage with Symantec's partners, which has proven beneficial for us. The responses received through this channel have been excellent. I would rate it nine out of ten.

Positive

I have experience with Fortinet.

The initial setup was straightforward.

A single day is sufficient for the installation. The deployment process necessitates the involvement of three individuals.

Although I haven't personally used the solution for compression, I believe NetTempo has a more favorable focus.

I recommend it, but I emphasize the importance of clearly understanding your needs and desires before choosing a solution. Knowing exactly what you want is crucial because the chosen solution could significantly impact your organization, potentially resolving issues within seconds and ensuring robust protection for your audio. Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.

Global Intelligence Network is the best feature of the product. It includes web filtering and risk management.

The product must be made more simple. The solution is quite complex. Though the complexity gives us more control, some complexity is unnecessary. The product shifted from Java recently, which complicated the solution a bit.

I have more than ten years of experience in the solution. I have worked with many versions of the solution.

I rate the tool’s stability a nine out of ten.

I rate the tool’s scalability a ten out of ten.

The technical support has changed after the acquisition process. Previously, if we opened a ticket, many engineers were available to give us remote sessions to solve the problem faster. They were intelligent. Now, the support is worse than before. The support must be improved.

Neutral

The initial setup is easy. I rate the ease of setup a nine out of ten. Our customers have the solution deployed on-premise.

The tool is pretty expensive. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten. The price should be improved.

I always recommend the product to others. It is the best in the market. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Some SharePoint sites are accessible, while others are not. It is possible that some URLs have been redirected. To check this, we need to check the Symantec database to determine if there is any confidential, educational, or financial information or if there are any symptoms of threats such as ransomware like RED. Based on this, we need to reclassify the URL. If it is reclassified, we can allow that particular URL into the environment.

I have worked with the solution at both the user-based and enterprise levels. The features in the solution provide confidence for both URL classification and manipulation, making it one of the best proxies available.

The solution's databases are long, and their support is very fast. At times, certain areas are lacking in the policy manager. It would be great if we could directly control those URLs in the policy manager through the US.

At the time of policy tracing, it is necessary to determine where the policies created by Blue Coat for the solution are being dropped. We should be able to get the exact results for this. Also, it would be great to have an online tool that could provide us with confidence during encryption and decryption processes without needing different tools. This tool could help us identify which problems to manipulate and where to allow manipulation. Such additions will be great for us.

I have experience with Blue Coat Symantec Proxy. While working on the solution, I have specifically worked with SG500, SG600, and SG510. Basically, I have worked with most platforms available within the solution. In terms of how long I have been using this solution, I would say that I have excellent and vast experience using this solution. Our company doesn't use a specific version of the solution. The manipulated version still provides a user experience for functioning our day-to-day operations. It also gives us a personalized user experience. So, I have experienced the entire solution from scratch to the end.

The solution is stable. It is recommended that you paste your beta version before proceeding to the actual version. Therefore, checking Blue Coat's suggestions each time is necessary, as recommendations may vary.

It is a scalable solution. Personally, I handle 100 users from the site as well as 1,000 users on the site. So, the sites are something that can vary. That is why there are versions like Symantec Gateway, SG500, or SG600.

I anticipate an increase in the number of users utilizing this solution within my company. As the number of users grows, shifting traffic from on-site to the office may become necessary. Assuming that I possess the user files they use, their traffic can be manipulated as either on-premise traffic or guest traffic. Accordingly, we must adjust our bandwidth and scalability to accommodate this increase in traffic.

Symantec Proxy’s technical support is very good. However, every product solution company has its own guidelines that they follow. For instance, Check Point offers golden support and diamond support to its users. Typically, diamond support professionals provide faster support compared to golden support professionals.

I have experience with various VPN solutions and Check Point Firewalls, from R65 to R80.10 and R80.20. I also have experience in information security, cybersecurity, OSPC, and data classification.

The initial setup can be somewhat complex, and deploying the system can take some time. Additionally, there is a fee that needs to be paid, and we must adhere to certain policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines. These are standard formats that we need to follow. Therefore, to adhere to the guidelines, we need to check whether the policies have been implemented or not.

If you have experience implementing solutions, you may only require two or three people for the job. This is because the solution's database is already hosted on the cloud, and all that is required is to manipulate and create a policy. Typically, when creating a policy for the environment, permissions for financial and educational sites are already allowed. Access approval is only needed for certain additional sites, such as those for games and other random sites.

The deployment of the solution is completed with Zscaler. In short, Zscaler provides a better opportunity for deployment. If your on-premise proxy is working, then it is unlikely that you will opt for the cloud proxy. This is because the data manipulation will lead to the manipulation of traffic from your internal data center.

We implemented it ourselves and did not hire a consultant to do it for us.

Regarding ROI, I would say that setting up a proxy site can be challenging and often requires different vendors to address specific requirements depending on the company, stakeholders, and business needs. However, Symantec Proxy is the best option if you're looking for a stable solution.

I am a support engineer. There is a different department that looks into the licensing part.

Symantec Proxy will give you the confidence that your work has been manipulated as expected.

For the companies planning to use Symantec Proxy, I would say that it is a scalable, user-friendly solution, and it will give confidence to the operators to work on it. Overall, I rate this solution an eight out of ten.

I have deployed the solution on three of the major cloud providers, GCP, Amazon AWS, and Microsoft Azure.

Symantec Proxy is used for outgoing URLs.

The most valuable feature of Symantec Proxy is the support and autoscaling.

The traffic filtering could improve. Our firewall traffic is limited. Additionally, it would be helpful if there was a dashboard and reporting feature.

I have been using Symantec Proxy for approximately three years.

The solution is highly reliable.

We have approximately 100 people using the solution.

We have a technical manager with Symantec. If we need help we can schedule a call with them.

Setting up Symantec Proxy at the beginning is uncomplicated. We rely on Terraform to streamline the procedures. Nonetheless, in certain cloud services, image support is lacking, necessitating additional manual effort on our part.

I have seen a return on investment using the solution.

The price of the solution is reasonable compared to others on the market.

I would recommend people use this solution following their requirements.

I rate Symantec Proxy a seven out of ten.