Best Firewall Software for Small Business

How Many Firewall Software Products Does G2 Track?

Total Products under this Category: 120

Category Stats (Nov 2026)

  • Average Rating: 4.42/5 (↓0.01 vs Oct 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings
  • Top Trending Product: Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW (+0.35%) - Among all products in this category, Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month

Last updated: November 01, 2026

How Does G2 Rank Firewall Software Products?

Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:

  • 30 Analysts and Data Experts
  • 6,000+ Authentic Reviews
  • 120+ Products
  • Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

G2 Grid® for Firewall Software

G2 Grid® for Firewall Software plotting products by satisfaction and market presence

Highlighted products: Sophos Firewall, Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW, FortiGate-VM NGFW, Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security), NordLayer, WatchGuard Network Security, and Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.

Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/firewall-software/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=sophos-firewall&focus%5B%5D=palo-alto-networks-cloud-ngfw&focus%5B%5D=fortigate-vm-ngfw&focus%5B%5D=check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws&focus%5B%5D=check-point-cloud-firewall-formerly-cloudguard-network-security&focus%5B%5D=nordlayer&focus%5B%5D=watchguard-network-security&focus%5B%5D=barracuda-cloudgen-firewall&segment=small-business)

Sophos Firewall

Sophos Firewall provides comprehensive next-generation firewall protection powered by deep learning and Synchronized Security. Offering unmatched insights, Firewall exposes hidden user, application, and threat risks on the network and is unique in its ability to respond automatically to security incidents by isolating compromised systems with Security Heartbeat.

Average Rating: 4.7/5.0

Total Reviews: 830

How Do G2 Users Rate Sophos Firewall?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Sophos Firewall?

  • Seller: Sophos
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 1985
  • HQ Location: Oxfordshire
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    5,550 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: LSE:SOPH

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: IT Manager, System Administrator
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 64% Medium, 21% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Sophos Firewall?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the user-friendly interface of Sophos Firewall, making administration and management tasks straightforward and efficient.
  • Users value the intuitive interface and strong security features of Sophos Firewall, simplifying network management and threat protection.
  • Users highlight the tight network protection of Sophos Firewall, appreciating its user-friendly interface and advanced security features.
  • Users value the excellent customer support from Sophos, receiving thorough assistance and impactful recommendations for their firewalls.
  • Users value the advanced threat protection of Sophos Firewall, enhancing security effortlessly with a user-friendly interface.
Cons
  • Users report slow performance of Sophos Firewall, especially with enabled security features and web access at times.
  • Users express frustration with poor reporting, as real-time updates lag significantly, impacting troubleshooting efficiency.
  • Users find limited features in Sophos Firewall, lacking advanced options and customizable reporting for better performance.
  • Users report upgrade issues with firmware updates, leading to occasional errors and necessitating downtime.
  • Users highlight a difficult learning curve with Sophos Firewall, requiring time to master advanced features and configurations.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Sophos Firewall?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Sophos Firewall?

Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW

Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW is a fully managed, cloud-native firewall service designed to enhance security, streamline operations, and provide seamless scalability across various cloud environments, including AWS and Microsoft Azure. This solution is specifically tailored to meet the demands of modern digital infrastructures, offering robust protection for applications and data through inline threat prevention, centralized management, and elastic scaling. With Cloud NGFW, organizations can focus on their core activities without the burden of managing complex infrastructure or traditional firewall appliances. The Cloud NGFW service is built on decades of cybersecurity expertise, extending Palo Alto Networks' renowned prevention capabilities into the cloud. It combines deep application awareness with AI-driven threat detection and advanced controls for users, devices, and workloads. This powerful combination enables organizations to identify and neutralize both known and unknown threats, including zero-day exploits, with automated accuracy. The service is backed by an industry-leading 99.99% availability SLA, ensuring that security measures and operational uptime are effectively aligned. Targeted at businesses of all sizes, Cloud NGFW simplifies cloud network security for both security and cloud infrastructure teams. Whether organizations are migrating workloads, managing hybrid or multi-cloud strategies, or developing new applications directly in the cloud, Cloud NGFW ensures consistent security policy enforcement across diverse environments. Its native integration with AWS Firewall Manager and Azure Virtual WAN, along with compatibility with Strata Cloud Manager, provides teams with a centralized view of their security policies, traffic, and potential threats across all deployments. Key features of Cloud NGFW include flexible consumption options such as pay-as-you-go and credit-based licensing, support for burst traffic through dynamic scaling, and tight integration with Palo Alto Networks' advanced Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS). These services, which include Advanced Threat Prevention, Advanced URL Filtering, Advanced DNS Security, and WildFire, offer inline protections without sacrificing performance. This capability allows teams to effectively reduce security risks while minimizing operational complexity. As organizations increasingly adopt cloud technologies and face evolving cyber threats, they often encounter challenges such as tool sprawl, inconsistent policies, and limited visibility. Cloud NGFW addresses these issues by unifying threat prevention and policy control into a single, intuitive service. This integration helps teams eliminate security gaps, reduce misconfigurations, and respond to incidents more swiftly. By empowering organizations to secure their dynamic cloud environments confidently, Cloud NGFW supports scalability as business needs change, simplifies daily operations, and delivers the high-efficacy protection essential for today's digital-first enterprises.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 227

How Do G2 Users Rate Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW?

  • Seller: Palo Alto Networks
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2005
  • HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    23,492 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NYSE: PANW

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Engineer, Network Security Engineer
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 39% Medium, 31% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the seamless integration and automation of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW, enhancing security efficiency and performance.
  • Users value the ease of use of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW, facilitating seamless integration and management.
  • Users value the advanced threat protection of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW, enhancing security and threat hunting efficiency.
  • Users appreciate the deployment ease of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW, enjoying seamless integration and simplified management.
  • Users appreciate the strong AI-driven security of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW, ensuring seamless automated protection.
Cons
  • Users find the cost of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW to be significantly higher than alternatives like AWS and Azure.
  • Users face a steep learning curve with complex configurations that hinder a smooth experience in Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW.
  • Users find the complexity of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW challenging, especially for small teams and configurations.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve with Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW challenging, requiring significant training and adaptation.
  • Users find the slow performance of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW compared to native options frustrating and costly.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW?

FortiGate-VM NGFW

FortiGate-VM is a virtual firewall solution designed to help users secure their cloud environments and on-premises networks. As a next-generation firewall developed by Fortinet, FortiGate-VM integrates advanced security features with the flexibility of virtualization, making it suitable for deployment in various public and private cloud infrastructures. This solution is particularly beneficial for organizations looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture while leveraging the scalability and efficiency of cloud technologies. Targeted at enterprises and organizations of all sizes, FortiGate-VM is ideal for IT security teams that require robust protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Its deployment across diverse environments allows businesses to maintain consistent security policies and practices, regardless of whether their infrastructure is on-premises, in the cloud, or a hybrid of both. Specific use cases include protecting sensitive data in cloud applications, securing remote access for employees, SD-WAN, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. One of the key features of FortiGate-VM is its AI-powered threat intelligence. FortiGuard utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data, enabling the identification of emerging threats in real time. This proactive approach to threat detection ensures that organizations can respond swiftly to potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Additionally, the behavioral analysis capabilities of FortiGate-VM allow for the identification of anomalous activities, further enhancing its ability to mitigate risks associated with cyberattacks. FortiGate-VM stands out in the virtual firewall category due to its seamless integration with existing Fortinet security solutions, providing a comprehensive security architecture. The solution offers advanced features such as intrusion prevention, web filtering, and application control, all of which contribute to a multi-layered defense strategy. Furthermore, its scalability allows organizations to easily adjust their security resources in response to changing business needs, ensuring that they remain protected as they grow. FortiGate-VM delivers unmatched security and value, making it a vital component for organizations seeking to fortify their defenses against the evolving landscape of cyber threats. Its combination of advanced threat protection, AI-driven insights, and flexible deployment options positions it as a critical tool for maintaining a secure and resilient network environment.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 292

How Do G2 Users Rate FortiGate-VM NGFW?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind FortiGate-VM NGFW?

  • Seller: Fortinet
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2000
  • HQ Location: Sunnyvale, CA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    16,564 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NASDAQ: FTNT

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Engineer, IT Manager
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 56% Medium, 28% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About FortiGate-VM NGFW?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the user-friendly interface of FortiGate-VM, making setup and daily use effortless.
  • Users appreciate the all-in-one security and seamless deployment of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing visibility and troubleshooting.
  • Users commend FortiGate-VM NGFW for its robust security capabilities, seamlessly integrating with modern cloud and hybrid infrastructures.
  • Users appreciate the all-in-one security capabilities of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing protection against cyber threats effectively.
  • Users appreciate the all-in-one stack of FortiGate-VM NGFW, enhancing performance and simplifying policy design.
Cons
  • Users often face a difficult learning curve with FortiGate-VM NGFW during initial setup and advanced configurations.
  • Users find the cost of licensing and support for FortiGate-VM NGFW to be quite expensive and burdensome.
  • Users experience update issues and difficulties with settings, though performance improves once the setup is complete.
  • Users face significant upgrade issues with firmware, requiring downtime and sometimes leading to service malfunctions.
  • Users note the limited advanced features in lower models, impacting their overall experience and functionality.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of FortiGate-VM NGFW?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About FortiGate-VM NGFW?

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Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)

Strengthen Your Security with Check Point Gateways and Firewalls Check Point Hybrid Mesh Network Security is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution designed to protect networks from sophisticated cyber threats while ensuring seamless management across diverse hybrid environments – on-premises, cloud, SaaS, and remote users. This product encompasses advanced threat prevention, real-time global threat intelligence, and unified policy management, making it an essential tool for organizations looking to secure their IT infrastructure, including data centers, hybrid clouds, and remote endpoints. Targeted at enterprises of all sizes, Check Point's solution caters to a wide range of industries that require robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data and maintain operational integrity. The product is particularly beneficial for organizations with complex network architectures, including those utilizing cloud services, Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, and remote workforces. By addressing the unique security challenges posed by these environments, Check Point enables businesses to maintain a secure and resilient IT ecosystem. One of the standout features of Check Point Hybrid Mesh Network Security is its AI-powered threat prevention capabilities. This technology allows for the identification and mitigation of threats in real-time, ensuring that organizations can respond swiftly to potential breaches. Additionally, the solution offers comprehensive security for various aspects of the IT landscape, including network and cloud security. This multi-faceted approach ensures that users, applications, and data are protected regardless of their location, whether on-premises, or in the cloud. This adaptability is complemented by unified security management, which simplifies operations through a single platform that provides visibility, policy enforcement, and posture control across the entire network. Furthermore, Check Point Hybrid Mesh Network Security is designed to optimize performance and cost. With high-speed, prevention-first security and on-device security controls, organizations can achieve effective protection without compromising on efficiency. The consistent application of zero-trust policies across the hybrid mesh network enhances security posture, ensuring that all components of the IT environment are uniformly protected against evolving cyber threats. This comprehensive solution empowers organizations to level up their protection and confidently navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity challenges.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 516

How Do G2 Users Rate Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)?

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Security Engineer, Network Engineer
  • Top Industries: Computer & Network Security, Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 44% Medium, 42% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the AI-powered threat intelligence of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring top-notch security and reliability.
  • Users value the AI-powered threat detection in Check Point NGFWs, enabling rapid response to emerging threats.
  • Users appreciate the advanced automation and security features of Check Point NGFWs for efficient network protection.
  • Users praise the network security of Check Point NGFWs, highlighting its strong threat prevention and easy management capabilities.
  • Users value the centralized management of Check Point NGFWs for its ease of policy enforcement and monitoring.
Cons
  • Users highlight the high price of Check Point NGFWs, making it a challenging investment for smaller enterprises.
  • Users find the complexity of Check Point NGFWs challenging, particularly in policy management and initial configurations.
  • Users find the complex setup of Check Point NGFWs challenging, particularly for newcomers in hybrid or cloud environments.
  • Users report slow performance during updates and complex setups, affecting their overall experience with the firewall.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve of Check Point NGFWs challenging, especially for beginners and in complex setups.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)?

Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)

CloudGuard Network Security is a comprehensive cloud security solution designed to protect public, private, and hybrid cloud environments from a wide array of cyber threats. This platform focuses on delivering advanced threat protection, ensuring that organizations can confidently transition to the cloud while maintaining robust security measures. With an impressive malware catch rate, CloudGuard is engineered to defend against various types of attacks, including ransomware and other malicious software. Targeted at enterprises and organizations that are increasingly adopting cloud technologies, CloudGuard Network Security is particularly beneficial for IT teams and security professionals who require a reliable and efficient way to manage security across multiple environments. The solution is ideal for businesses looking to enhance their cloud security posture without compromising on agility or operational efficiency. By integrating seamlessly with leading Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, CloudGuard automates network security processes, making it easier for teams to implement security measures within their continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows. One of the standout features of CloudGuard is its advanced protection capabilities. The platform includes a suite of security features such as a firewall, data loss prevention (DLP), intrusion prevention system (IPS), application control, IPsec VPN, URL filtering, antivirus, anti-bot protection, threat extraction, and threat emulation. These tools work in concert to provide a multi-layered defense strategy that addresses various attack vectors, ensuring that organizations can mitigate risks effectively. Additionally, CloudGuard's automated network security capabilities support IaC and CI/CD practices, allowing organizations to streamline their security processes through the use of APIs and automation. This enables security teams to focus on more strategic initiatives rather than being bogged down by manual tasks. The unified security management feature further enhances the solution by providing consistent visibility and policy management across hybrid-cloud and on-premises environments. Users can access logging, reporting, and control from a single interface, simplifying the management of security policies and improving overall operational efficiency. Overall, CloudGuard Network Security stands out in the cloud security landscape by offering a robust, integrated solution that not only protects against emerging threats but also enhances the agility and efficiency of security operations. Its comprehensive feature set and automation capabilities make it a valuable asset for organizations navigating the complexities of cloud security.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 273

How Do G2 Users Rate Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)?

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Security Engineer, Network Security Engineer
  • Top Industries: Computer & Network Security, Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 39% Large, 34% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the visibility and control offered by Check Point Cloud Firewall, enhancing security across cloud networks.
  • Users love the ease of use of Check Point Cloud Firewall, simplifying security management across cloud environments.
  • Users value the strong threat detection capabilities of Check Point Cloud Firewall, ensuring robust security across cloud environments.
  • Users value the strong visibility and control offered by Check Point Cloud Firewall, enhancing security across cloud environments.
  • Users value the seamless cloud integration of Check Point Cloud Firewall, enhancing security across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Cons
  • Users find the initial setup complexity overwhelming, requiring significant time and expertise to configure effectively.
  • Users find the difficult setup of Check Point Cloud Firewall challenging, especially those new to cloud security configurations.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve of Check Point Cloud Firewall challenging, especially during initial setup and configuration.
  • Users face a difficult configuration during initial setup, requiring significant time and understanding of features and policies.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve challenging, especially during initial setup and understanding complex features.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Check Point Cloud Firewall (formerly CloudGuard Network Security)?

NordLayer

NordLayer is a toggle-ready network security platform that helps businesses connect, protect, detect, and respond to cyber threats. Built on NordVPN standards, it ensures a secure and reliable connection to the internet and private company resources. NordLayer is designed for modern businesses of all sizes, offering cutting-edge business VPN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), advanced threat protection, and threat intelligence. It helps companies meet regulatory compliance requirements and enhance cyber resilience while remaining hardware-free, scalable, and adaptable to any work model. With user-centered security and intuitive deployment, NordLayer integrates easily into any existing infrastructure, ensuring best-in-the-market protection for remote, hybrid, and on-premises teams. -- Looking for a partnership? The NordLayer Partner Program helps MSPs, resellers, and agents grow their businesses with high profit margins, dedicated training, 24/7 technical support, and no upfront investment. Learn more: nordlayer.com/partner-program

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 125

How Do G2 Users Rate NordLayer?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind NordLayer?

  • Seller: Nord Security
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2012
  • HQ Location: Global
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    2,009 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: CTO
  • Top Industries: Computer Software, Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 57% Small, 34% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About NordLayer?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the ease of use of NordLayer, enjoying seamless and flexible secure access for teams.
  • Users appreciate the easy setup of NordLayer, benefiting from straightforward configuration and supportive documentation.
  • Users value the easy access NordLayer provides for teams, making secure connections straightforward and hassle-free.
  • Users value the easy management of NordLayer, enjoying seamless and secure access for their teams without hassle.
  • Users appreciate the easy setup of NordLayer, benefiting from straightforward configuration and extensive supportive documentation.
Cons
  • Users report performance issues with NordLayer, including slow connection times and occasional drops on unstable networks.
  • Users find the limited features of NordLayer restrictive, particularly for advanced configurations and smaller team functionalities.
  • Users experience connection issues with NordLayer, often facing delays and occasional drops despite stable internet connections.
  • Users report a complex configuration process, highlighting challenges with advanced settings and slow support response times.
  • Users find the complex setup for larger teams challenging, often requiring extensive support and time investments.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of NordLayer?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About NordLayer?

WatchGuard Network Security

WatchGuard Network Security includes Firebox physical, virtual, cloud, and hosted firewall options for protecting network traffic, access, and connected systems. The portfolio supports organizations operating on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, including multi-site networks and distributed workforces. Security Beyond Basic Firewall Controls Firebox solutions combine firewall controls with intrusion prevention, application control, URL filtering, DNS security, anti-malware protection, VPN connectivity, SD-WAN, and HTTPS inspection. These capabilities help security teams monitor encrypted traffic, user and application activity, and network events from the perimeter to remote access connections. Centralized Administration and Reporting WatchGuard Cloud provides centralized configuration, policy management, monitoring, alerts, and reporting for supported Firebox appliances, access points, and security services. Administrators can use the platform to manage security policies and review activity across multiple locations from one interface. Support for Hybrid Networks and Managed Services The platform supports physical appliances, virtual firewalls, cloud deployments, and remote-access use cases. WatchGuard also provides licensing, multi-tenant administration, and management workflows for managed service providers and internal IT teams responsible for customer or multi-location environments. The WatchGuard Security Portfolio WatchGuard Network Security is part of a broader security portfolio that includes endpoint security, identity security, secure Wi-Fi, network detection and response, managed detection and response, and secure-access services. These products can be managed alongside network-security controls through WatchGuard’s unified security platform.

Average Rating: 4.7/5.0

Total Reviews: 247

How Do G2 Users Rate WatchGuard Network Security?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind WatchGuard Network Security?

  • Seller: WatchGuard
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 1996
  • HQ Location: Seatle, WA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    1,226 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: IT Manager, IT Director
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 54% Medium, 44% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About WatchGuard Network Security?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the comprehensive cybersecurity protection of WatchGuard, appreciating its user-friendly interface and threat intelligence capabilities.
  • Users praise the ease of use of WatchGuard Network Security, highlighting its simple administration and user-friendly interface.
  • Users value the excellent customer support from WatchGuard Network Security, enhancing their experience and implementation ease.
  • Users value the ease of integration with WatchGuard Network Security, appreciating its user-friendly setup and support.
  • Users value the comprehensive security management of WatchGuard Network Security, enhancing protection and simplifying administration.
Cons
  • Users find the expense of advanced features burdensome, especially for those on a limited budget.
  • Users find the setup a bit complicated compared to other security solutions, leading to potential frustration.
  • Users find the difficult installation of WatchGuard Network Security challenging compared to other options on the market.
  • Users criticize the lack of interfaces in WatchGuard Network Security, limiting connection options and requiring additional purchases.
  • Users note the limited customization in reporting options, which restricts their ability to tailor the product to specific needs.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of WatchGuard Network Security?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About WatchGuard Network Security?

Barracuda CloudGen Firewall

Barracuda's Cloud Generation Firewalls redefine the role of the Firewall from a perimeter security solution to a distributed network optimization solution that scales across any number of locations and applications, connects on-premises and cloud infrastructures, and helps organizations transform their business.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 54

How Do G2 Users Rate Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

  • Seller: Barracuda
  • Year Founded: 2002
  • HQ Location: Campbell, CA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    2,327 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: Private

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 59% Medium, 22% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the centralized management capabilities of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, simplifying control across environments.
  • Users value the robust security features and centralized management of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, enhancing operational efficiency significantly.
  • Users value the superior network connectivity of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, praising its efficient traffic monitoring and control.
  • Users value the versatility of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, utilizing it seamlessly across on-premise and cloud environments.
  • Users appreciate the advanced security features of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, enhancing protection and network management.
Cons
  • Users find the complex configuration challenging, particularly for new users trying to set up the firewall.
  • Users experience compatibility issues with SDWAN features and complex initial configurations that hinder performance.
  • Users find the complex configuration challenging, especially with frequent software updates causing service inconsistency.
  • Users face dependency issues due to limited configuration software availability and lack of Wireguard support for third-party connections.
  • Users find the licensing and subscription model quite expensive, impacting their overall satisfaction with Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

VM-Series Virtual Firewall

Palo Alto Networks' VM-Series Virtual Firewall is the industry’s leading cloud security software, delivering the world’s most effective network security to any cloud or virtualized environment. It is a virtualized form factor of Palo Alto Networks' next-generation firewalls, built to protect your applications from zero-day threats, providing consistent security and easy deployment across all clouds and virtualized environments, including technologies from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, VMware, Cisco, KVM, Nutanix, OpenStack, and more.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 93

How Do G2 Users Rate VM-Series Virtual Firewall?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind VM-Series Virtual Firewall?

  • Seller: Palo Alto Networks
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2005
  • HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    23,492 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NYSE: PANW

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Computer & Network Security, Information Technology and Services
  • Company Size: 43% Large, 31% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About VM-Series Virtual Firewall?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the advanced threat prevention and application visibility of the VM-Series, enhancing network security and control.
  • Users appreciate the advanced threat prevention of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, enhancing security across diverse environments.
  • Users appreciate the consistency in security provided by Palo Alto Networks VM-Series across on-premises and cloud environments.
  • Users appreciate the consistent security across on-premises and cloud environments with Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall.
  • Users value the ease of deployment of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Firewall, enabling quick, efficient integration into infrastructures.
Cons
  • Users find the high cost and licensing complexity of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall to be a significant drawback.
  • Users face a difficult learning curve with the VM-Series, complicating setup and ongoing policy management significantly.
  • Users find the complex configuration of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall to be challenging, especially for newcomers.
  • Users report slow performance under heavy traffic and complex configurations, impacting overall effectiveness of the VM-Series Firewall.
  • Users struggle with the complexity of configuration and management, leading to a steep learning curve and challenging troubleshooting.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of VM-Series Virtual Firewall?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About VM-Series Virtual Firewall?

Cloudflare One (SASE)

Cloudflare One is a single-vendor secure access service edge (SASE) platform that converges security and networking services into a unified, global connectivity cloud. It replaces legacy, fragmented hardware and first-generation SASE solutions with a composable, programmable architecture. Cloudflare One connects and protects an organization's workforce, AI agents, and infrastructure. Learn more at https://www.cloudflare.com/sase/ Designed for agility, it enables teams to: - Accelerate safe AI adoption with granular visibility, control, and AI agent governance. - Modernize remote access by replacing clunky VPNs with zero trust access. - Block email phishing attacks with flexible, SASE-native email security. - Protect web traffic for remote users and branch offices with lightweight DNS filtering. - Deploy “coffee shop networking” with a light branch, heavy cloud approach.

Average Rating: 4.6/5.0

Total Reviews: 104

How Do G2 Users Rate Cloudflare One (SASE)?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Cloudflare One (SASE)?

  • Seller: Cloudflare, Inc.
  • Year Founded: 2009
  • HQ Location: San Francisco, California
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    8,094 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NYSE: NET

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 39% Small, 33% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Cloudflare One (SASE)?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the ease of use of Cloudflare One, appreciating its intuitive design and seamless integration with existing systems.
  • Users praise the excellent threat protection of Cloudflare One, ensuring security without compromising performance.
  • Users value the reliability of Cloudflare One, ensuring consistent performance and security for seamless operations.
  • Users value the superior security features of Cloudflare One, enhancing protection and performance seamlessly across networks.
  • Users appreciate the intuitive and unified user interface of Cloudflare One, simplifying management for IT teams.
Cons
  • Users find a steep learning curve with Cloudflare One, as onboarding and feature familiarity can be challenging.
  • Users find the complexity of Cloudflare One's setup and documentation to hinder their onboarding experience.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve of Cloudflare One challenging, especially for new and advanced features.
  • Users note a difficult learning curve for Cloudflare One, particularly with its dashboard and policy setup complexities.
  • Users face a difficult setup process in Cloudflare One, often struggling with complexity and incomplete documentation.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Cloudflare One (SASE)?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Cloudflare One (SASE)?

Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls

Our next-generation firewall classifies all traffic, including encrypted traffic, based on application, application function, user and content. You can create comprehensive, precise security policies, resulting in safe enablement of applications. This lets only authorized users run sanctioned applications, greatly reducing the surgace area of cyber attacks across the organization.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 167

How Do G2 Users Rate Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls?

  • Seller: Palo Alto Networks
  • Year Founded: 2005
  • HQ Location: Santa Clara, CA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    23,492 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NYSE: PANW
  • Total Revenue (USD mm): $3,408

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Engineer, Network Security Engineer
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 46% Medium, 38% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of Palo Alto Networks, benefiting from a smooth, intuitive interface and navigation.
  • Users value the reliable performance and extensive features of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls, enhancing security management.
  • Users appreciate the strong protection offered by Palo Alto Networks Firewalls against diverse cyber threats with ease of use.
  • Users value the advanced threat prevention of Palo Alto Networks Firewalls, enhancing visibility and control over security.
  • Users commend the efficiency of Palo Alto firewalls, excelling in advanced threat detection and application-level traffic inspection.
Cons
  • Users find the high cost of Palo Alto Networks Firewalls to be a significant barrier for small businesses.
  • Users find the difficult learning curve of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls challenging, especially for new administrators.
  • Users experience slow performance due to high security settings and complex configurations, impacting efficiency on lower-end systems.
  • Users find the poor interface design frustrating, as it's not intuitive and feels overwhelming for navigation.
  • Users face a complex configuration challenge, especially if unfamiliar with the Palo Alto ecosystem, complicating overall management.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls?

Zscaler Internet Access

Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) is a cloud-native security service edge (SSE) platform that secures all internet and SaaS traffic for users, devices, workloads, and agents regardless of location. Built on the world's largest inline security cloud, ZIA inspects 100% of traffic, including encrypted SSL/TLS, to stop advanced threats and prevent data loss in real time. ZIA replaces legacy on-premises security appliances — firewalls, proxies, VPN concentrators — with a single, globally distributed platform that delivers security as close to the user as possible. With over 160 data centers worldwide, traffic is inspected locally for fast, direct-to-cloud connectivity that's up to 40% faster than traditional security architectures. Key Features and Benefits: • AI-powered threat prevention: Block malware, ransomware, phishing, and zero-day threats with real-time intelligence from 500 trillion daily threat signals. • Full SSL/TLS inspection at scale: Inspect all encrypted traffic without performance penalties, closing the blind spot that legacy tools can't address. • Defense-in-depth security stack: Multiple layers of inline threat prevention — including advanced malware analysis, web isolation, and active threat detection — stop known and unknown attacks before they reach users. • 267% ROI: Consolidate up to 90% of legacy point products — proxies, firewalls, VPN concentrators — into one cloud-native platform. • Unified management: Single console for policy creation, reporting, and analytics across all users and locations worldwide. ZIA is trusted by thousands of the world's largest organizations to deliver secure, fast, and reliable internet and SaaS access while accelerating digital transformation.

Average Rating: 4.4/5.0

Total Reviews: 306

How Do G2 Users Rate Zscaler Internet Access?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Zscaler Internet Access?

  • Seller: Zscaler
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2008
  • HQ Location: San Jose, California
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    9,150 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NASDAQ:ZS

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Software Engineer, Technical Support Engineer
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software
  • Company Size: 54% Large, 28% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Zscaler Internet Access?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the cloud-native security of Zscaler Internet Access, ensuring safe and fast authenticated web access.
  • Users value the robust security and seamless user experience provided by Zscaler Internet Access, ensuring safe and efficient browsing.
  • Users appreciate the strong security features of Zscaler Internet Access, ensuring safe and fast web access with ease.
  • Users appreciate the flexibility and security of Zscaler Internet Access, benefiting from its cloud-native architecture and visibility.
  • Users value the strong zero-trust architecture of Zscaler Internet Access, ensuring secure, seamless web access for all locations.
Cons
  • Users experience slow performance with Zscaler Internet Access, particularly due to traffic routing and SSL inspection delays.
  • Users find the complex implementation of Zscaler Internet Access challenging, especially during initial setup and policy configuration.
  • Users face complex configuration challenges during initial setup, leading to a steep learning curve for new administrators.
  • Users often experience connection issues with Zscaler Internet Access, resulting in slower speeds and inaccessible websites.
  • Users experience slower internet speeds with Zscaler due to traffic routing and SSL inspection issues.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Zscaler Internet Access?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Zscaler Internet Access?

Netgate pfSense

pfSense® Plus software is the world’s most trusted firewall. The software has garnered the respect and adoration of users worldwide - installed well over three million times. Made possible by open source technology. Made into a robust, reliable, dependable product by Netgate.

Average Rating: 4.7/5.0

Total Reviews: 318

How Do G2 Users Rate Netgate pfSense?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Netgate pfSense?

  • Seller: Netgate
  • Year Founded: 2002
  • HQ Location: Austin, US
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    117 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Engineer
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 68% Small, 26% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Netgate pfSense?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the ease of use of Netgate pfSense, praising its intuitive interface and organized setup process.
  • Users appreciate the customizability of Netgate pfSense, allowing extensive control and flexibility in configurations.
  • Users love the customization options of Netgate pfSense, enabling personalized setups for their networking needs.
  • Users find the easy setup of Netgate pfSense to be user-friendly and well-organized for admins.
  • Users value the flexible control of Netgate pfSense, appreciating its reliability and ease of use for various setups.
Cons
  • Users find the difficult learning curve of Netgate pfSense challenging, especially for those new to networking.
  • Users find the complex configuration challenging, particularly for beginners, requiring time and technical knowledge to grasp.
  • Users find the expertise required to effectively use Netgate pfSense can be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Users note a steep learning curve with pfSense, especially if they're unfamiliar with networking concepts.
  • Users find high resource usage in pfSense can lead to management challenges and excessive hardware memory consumption.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Netgate pfSense?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Netgate pfSense?

GlassWire Firewall

GlassWire's next generation visual firewall helps you easily see detailed network activity with your devices in real-time. Our software is very easy to use and set up.

Average Rating: 4.6/5.0

Total Reviews: 49

How Do G2 Users Rate GlassWire Firewall?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind GlassWire Firewall?

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 70% Small, 26% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About GlassWire Firewall?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of GlassWire Firewall, enjoying its user-friendly interfaces for monitoring network usage.
  • Users appreciate the easy-to-use monitoring interface of GlassWire, allowing effortless tracking of network usage.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of GlassWire Firewall?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About GlassWire Firewall?

SonicWall Next Generation Firewall

SonicWall real-time breach detection and prevention solutions protect more than one million networks worldwide

Average Rating: 4.1/5.0

Total Reviews: 146

How Do G2 Users Rate SonicWall Next Generation Firewall?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Availability: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
  • Intrusion Prevention: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10)
  • Continuous Analysis: 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)

Who Is the Company Behind SonicWall Next Generation Firewall?

  • Seller: SonicWall
  • Year Founded: 1991
  • HQ Location: Milpitas, CA
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    1,968 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Network Engineer, IT Manager
  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security
  • Company Size: 62% Medium, 29% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About SonicWall Next Generation Firewall?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the ease of use of SonicWall Next Generation Firewall, appreciating its straightforward integration and management.
  • Users value the dependable performance speed of SonicWall Next Generation Firewall, enhancing security without added complexity.
  • Users value the low latency response speed of SonicWall, enhancing their overall network performance and efficiency.
  • Users value the advanced threat protection of SonicWall Next Generation Firewall for its robustness and ease of use.
  • Users value the advanced threat protection of SonicWall, ensuring comprehensive security for businesses of all sizes.
Cons
  • Users report significant system instability, with sluggish performance and lengthy restarts causing frustration and dissatisfaction.
  • Users find upgrade issues with SonicWall Next Gen Firewall, citing complexities and slow updates that hinder usability.
  • Users find the complex configuration challenging, especially those with less technical experience and limited flexibility.
  • Users find the complexity of advanced settings in SonicWall Next-Gen Firewall challenging, especially for newcomers.
  • Users report frequent connection issues causing frustration with delays and sluggish performance after upgrades.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of SonicWall Next Generation Firewall?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About SonicWall Next Generation Firewall?

Lauren Worth
LW
Researched and written by Lauren Worth
Updated