# Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) vs Sophos Firewall Comparison
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## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Sophos Firewall excels in user-friendliness, with many praising its intuitive interface that simplifies tasks like policy management and VPN configuration. Users appreciate the centralized management console, which provides excellent visibility into network activity, making it a favorite for administrators.
- **According to verified reviews** , Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual is recognized for its robust protection against advanced threats and malware. Users highlight its scalability, making it suitable for businesses with multiple branch locations or cloud-based applications, although some mention challenges with configuration.
- **Reviewers mention** that Sophos Firewall's ease of setup is a significant advantage, with many users noting a smooth onboarding process. This contrasts with Cisco Secure Firewall, where some users have reported difficulties during the initial setup phase, impacting their overall experience.
- **Users say** that both products offer strong support, but Sophos Firewall stands out with a consistent quality of support that users find reliable. Cisco Secure Firewall also receives positive feedback in this area, but the overall user satisfaction is higher for Sophos, reflecting its more recent and numerous reviews.
- **Reviewers highlight** that Cisco Secure Firewall provides excellent logging and reporting capabilities, which some users find superior to those of Sophos Firewall. However, the latter compensates with a more comprehensive feature set that includes a single dashboard control for various functionalities, making daily operations easier for users.
- **G2 reviewers indicate** that while both firewalls perform well in terms of security features like VPN and intrusion prevention, Sophos Firewall's overall satisfaction ratings are significantly higher. Users appreciate its holistic approach to security, which integrates various features seamlessly, enhancing their daily workflow.



| | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.2 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 93 | 868 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (43.8% of reviews) | Mid-Market (64.4% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

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## Top Pros & Cons

### Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)

Pros:
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- Easy Management (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Complex Coding (1 reviews)
- Complex Configuration (1 reviews)

### Sophos Firewall

Pros:
- Ease of Use (90 reviews)
- Features (56 reviews)

Cons:
- Slow Performance (33 reviews)
- Poor Reporting (17 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.8 (83 reviews) | 9.2 (729 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.1 (82 reviews) | 9.2 (737 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 7.4 (51 reviews) | 9.1 (704 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 7.7 (49 reviews) | 9.2 (471 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 9.1 (74 reviews) | 9.1 (716 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.8 (47 reviews) | 9.2 (465 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 7.5 (83 reviews) | 9.5 (682 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Sophos Firewall

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)** | 9.5/10 | 6 |
| **Sophos Firewall** | N/A | N/A |

#### Prevention

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intrusion Prevention** | 9.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Firewall** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | 9.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Security hardening** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Data Protection** | 9.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Detection

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intrusion Detection** | 9.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Security Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti-Malware / Malware Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Administration Console -** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API / integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Firewall Software

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)** | 9.3/10 | 16 |
| **Sophos Firewall** | 9.0/10 | 746 |

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Policy Management** | 8.6 (13 reviews) | 9.3 (662 reviews) | 
| **Logging and Reporting** | 9.6 (12 reviews) | 8.9 (641 reviews) | 
| **Application Gateway** | 9.2 (11 reviews) | 9.1 (564 reviews) | 
| **Concurrent Sessions** | 9.2 (11 reviews) | 9.2 (534 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI - Firewall Software

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.5 (59 reviews) | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | 9.1 (74 reviews) | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Virtual Private Network (VPN)** | 9.6 (13 reviews) | 9.4 (609 reviews) | 
| **Antivirus** | 9.3 (12 reviews) | 9.2 (564 reviews) | 
| **URL Filtering** | 9.4 (12 reviews) | 9.3 (604 reviews) | 
| **Availability** | 8.9 (12 reviews) | 9.4 (537 reviews) | 

#### Monitoring

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Load Balancing** | 9.2 (10 reviews) | 9.1 (537 reviews) | 
| **Continuous Analysis** | 9.2 (12 reviews) | 9.1 (550 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Prevention** | 9.5 (13 reviews) | 9.3 (603 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Detection** | 9.4 (12 reviews) | 9.3 (578 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 8.1 (283 reviews) | 

#### Artificial Intelligence - Firewall

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Firewall** | Not enough data | 8.2 (204 reviews) | 

### AWS Marketplace

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Sophos Firewall** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - AWS Marketplace

| Feature | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Firewall Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/firewall-software)

**Unique to Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) (2):** [AWS Marketplace Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/aws-marketplace), [Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)](https://www.g2.com/categories/intrusion-detection-and-prevention-systems-idps)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv) | Sophos Firewall | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 13.5% | 20.4% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 43.8% | 64.4% | 
| **Enterprise** | 42.7% | 15.2% | 

### By Industry

#### Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)

- **Information Technology and Services:** 18.0%
- **Higher Education:** 6.7%
- **Telecommunications:** 6.7%
- **Computer Software:** 5.6%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 4.5%
- **Computer Networking:** 3.4%
- **Education Management:** 3.4%
- **Entertainment:** 3.4%
- **Financial Services:** 3.4%
- **Government Administration:** 3.4%
- **Other:** 41.6%

#### Sophos Firewall

- **Information Technology and Services:** 14.0%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 8.7%
- **Manufacturing:** 6.5%
- **Primary/Secondary Education:** 3.4%
- **Higher Education:** 3.2%
- **Oil & Energy:** 3.1%
- **Education Management:** 2.7%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 2.7%
- **Computer Software:** 2.5%
- **Financial Services:** 2.3%
- **Other:** 51.0%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)

- [Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.g2.com/products/palo-alto-networks-next-generation-firewalls/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (170 reviews)
- [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (592 reviews)
- [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews)
- [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (268 reviews)
- [FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (244 reviews)
- [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (154 reviews)
- [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (52 reviews)
- [Azure Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (31 reviews)
- [ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/threatlocker-zero-trust-platform/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (514 reviews)
- [Juniper Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/juniper-firewall/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (32 reviews)

### Alternatives to Sophos Firewall

- [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (592 reviews)
- [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews)
- [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (268 reviews)
- [FortiGate-VM NGFW](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-vm-ngfw/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (244 reviews)
- [Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.g2.com/products/palo-alto-networks-next-generation-firewalls/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (170 reviews)
- [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (154 reviews)
- [Comodo Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/comodo-firewall/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (38 reviews)
- [Arista NG Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/arista-ng-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (17 reviews)
- [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (52 reviews)
- [GlassWire Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/glasswire-firewall/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (50 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly NGFWv)

No discussions available for this product.

### Sophos Firewall

- Title: [What is Sophos Firewall used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-sophos-firewall-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Perimeter protection and administration, navigation traffic control based on policies. Network high availability, deep inspection of packets, IPS, IDS,..."
- Title: [Is Sophos XG free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-sophos-xg-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "They do have a home edition that is free for non commerical use.  Excellent for learning and to get a fully featured firewall for home."
- Title: [Is Sophos firewall good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-sophos-firewall-good) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, is good. I recommend you."
- Title: [How do I manage Sophos XG firewall?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-manage-sophos-xg-firewall) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Sophos XG firewall can be manage from sophos central cloud."
- Title: [Sophos Certification](https://www.g2.com/discussions/sophos-certification) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Sophos Certification is improving upskills in cybersecrity space. You have to be a part of any sophos partner to get training portal and certification."

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**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/cisco-secure-firewall-threat-defense-virtual-formerly-ngfwv-vs-sophos-firewall)