--- title: Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) Reviews meta\_title: 'Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta\_description: Filter 595 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) works for a business like yours. aggregate\_rating: rating\_value: 4.5 review\_count: 595 scale: '5' date\_modified: '2026-08-11' parent\_category: name: Network Security url: https://www.g2.com/categories/network-security --- ### Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages #### Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews Generated from real user reviews Users admire the **impressive threat prevention engine** of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring strong security with minimal tuning. [(101 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1670864&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **impressive threat detection** of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring robust network protection with minimal tuning required. [(86 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671576&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **advanced threat protection** of Check Point NGFWs, enhancing security with real-time information and centralized management. [(80 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671609&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **robust threat prevention features** of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring strong network security against various threats. [(76 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1670055&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users value the **centralized management system** of Check Point NGFWs, enabling quick updates and efficient policy changes. [(66 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671134&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users note the **expensive** nature of Check Point NGFWs, often citing high costs and subscription charges as drawbacks. [(71 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671700&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users find the **complexity of Check Point NGFWs** daunting, especially for beginners navigating the steep learning curve and setup. [(56 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1672197&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users face a **complex setup** with Check Point NGFWs, requiring significant expertise and a steep learning curve. [(49 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1672088&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users experience **slow performance** with Check Point NGFWs, leading to frustrations during critical operations and support interactions. [(45 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1669997&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Users find the **difficult learning curve** challenging for beginners, yet valuable for those with more experience. [(43 mentions)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1672170&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) ### 5 Pros or Advantages of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) ##### 1. Cybersecurity Users admire the **impressive threat prevention engine** of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring strong security with minimal tuning. [ See 101 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1670864&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "AI-Powered Threat Intelligence with Industry-Leading Zero-Day Protection" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Check Point NGFWs stand out for their AI-powered threat intelligence and advanced malware detection capabilities, including sandboxing, and they achie ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") I Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.0/5 "Industry-Leading NGFWs with Easy Policy Management and Zero-Day Protection" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I think the best things about NFGWs are: - its the best in the industry - you can manage firewall policies , ips and advanced threat prevention - ##### 2. Threat Detection Users value the **impressive threat detection** of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring robust network protection with minimal tuning required. [ See 86 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671576&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "AI-Powered Threat Intelligence with Industry-Leading Zero-Day Protection" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Check Point NGFWs stand out for their AI-powered threat intelligence and advanced malware detection capabilities, including sandboxing, and they achie ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") I Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.0/5 "Industry-Leading NGFWs with Easy Policy Management and Zero-Day Protection" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I think the best things about NFGWs are: - its the best in the industry - you can manage firewall policies , ips and advanced threat prevention - ##### 3. Features Users value the **advanced threat protection** of Check Point NGFWs, enhancing security with real-time information and centralized management. [ See 80 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671609&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Suraj V.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Suraj V.") SV Suraj V. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "Check Point NGFW: Automated NAT for faster network setup" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Its NAT automation feature. we do not want to configure the NAT separately as while creating the object we can also enable the NAT feature there. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") I Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.0/5 "Industry-Leading NGFWs with Easy Policy Management and Zero-Day Protection" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I think the best things about NFGWs are: - its the best in the industry - you can manage firewall policies , ips and advanced threat prevention - ##### 4. Network Security Users value the **robust threat prevention features** of Check Point NGFWs, ensuring strong network security against various threats. [ See 76 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1670055&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") I Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.0/5 "Industry-Leading NGFWs with Easy Policy Management and Zero-Day Protection" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I think the best things about NFGWs are: - its the best in the industry - you can manage firewall policies , ips and advanced threat prevention - ![Devinder K.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Devinder K.") DK Devinder K. 4.5/5 "Robust Threat Prevention with Challenging Setup" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I like the strong threat prevention and reliability of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs). The centralized management console makes it easy ##### 5. Centralized Management Users value the **centralized management system** of Check Point NGFWs, enabling quick updates and efficient policy changes. [ See 66 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671134&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Rangavazzala Bhanu S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Rangavazzala Bhanu S.") RS Rangavazzala Bhanu S. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "Robust Security with Room for UI Improvement" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I like the centralized management of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) and how it consistently enforces policies across the environment. T ![Devinder K.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Devinder K.") DK Devinder K. 4.5/5 "Robust Threat Prevention with Challenging Setup" What do you like about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I like the strong threat prevention and reliability of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs). The centralized management console makes it easy ### 5 Cons or Disadvantages of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) ##### 1. Expensive Users note the **expensive** nature of Check Point NGFWs, often citing high costs and subscription charges as drawbacks. [ See 71 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1671700&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") I Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.0/5 "Industry-Leading NGFWs with Easy Policy Management and Zero-Day Protection" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I think sometimes it's very heard to learn, the learning curve is very steep. It's a complex system very hard for a begginer but very good in the ha ![Dominika T.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Dominika T.") DT Dominika T. Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Advanced Protection and AI Detection, But Pricey" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? High price of product that required a lot of budget to be able to consider using this tool. Setting up the tool is also not so simple especially at t ##### 2. Complexity Users find the **complexity of Check Point NGFWs** daunting, especially for beginners navigating the steep learning curve and setup. [ See 56 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1672197&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Rangavazzala Bhanu S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Rangavazzala Bhanu S.") RS Rangavazzala Bhanu S. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "Robust Security with Room for UI Improvement" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Policy management can get complex as the rulebase grows, and the UI/workflows could be more streamlined for day-to-day changes. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") I Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.0/5 "Industry-Leading NGFWs with Easy Policy Management and Zero-Day Protection" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I think sometimes it's very heard to learn, the learning curve is very steep. It's a complex system very hard for a begginer but very good in the ha ##### 3. Complex Setup Users face a **complex setup** with Check Point NGFWs, requiring significant expertise and a steep learning curve. [ See 49 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1672088&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "AI-Powered Threat Intelligence with Industry-Leading Zero-Day Protection" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Steep learning curve for setup and management, especially in hybrid or cloud environments, which can make the initial deployment challenging for newco ![Dominika T.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Dominika T.") DT Dominika T. Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 3.5/5 "Advanced Protection and AI Detection, But Pricey" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? High price of product that required a lot of budget to be able to consider using this tool. Setting up the tool is also not so simple especially at t ##### 4. Slow Performance Users experience **slow performance** with Check Point NGFWs, leading to frustrations during critical operations and support interactions. [ See 45 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1669997&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Md A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Md A.") MA Md A. 4.5/5 "Robust Security with Centralized Management, But Costly" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I don't like the complex setup and I find the updates slow. The higher cost for smaller organizations is also a concern. PL Pedro L. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4.5/5 "A proven firewall that delivers strong security across hybrid networks." What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? For the initial setup can, sometimes, be time-consuming, licensing is not always straightforward, and some advanced features need tuning to avoid nois ##### 5. Difficult Learning Curve Users find the **difficult learning curve** challenging for beginners, yet valuable for those with more experience. [ See 43 mentions ](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1672170&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) See Related User Reviews ![Rangavazzala Bhanu S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Rangavazzala Bhanu S.") RS Rangavazzala Bhanu S. Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "Robust Security with Room for UI Improvement" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Policy management can get complex as the rulebase grows, and the UI/workflows could be more streamlined for day-to-day changes. ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") U Verified User Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 4.0/5 "AI-Powered Threat Intelligence with Industry-Leading Zero-Day Protection" What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Steep learning curve for setup and management, especially in hybrid or cloud environments, which can make the initial deployment challenging for newco ![Yuvanesan V.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Yuvanesan V.") YV Yuvanesan V. Software Developer Intern 7/28/2026 "Generation Firewalls" 4/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? From what I've learned, the best aspects of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) are their comprehensive security features, including intrusion prevention, application control, threat prevention, and secure VPN capabilities. They also have a centralised management console that makes it easier to configure and monitor network security across an organisation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Based on what I've read and learned, some users mention that the initial setup can be complex for beginners, and the large number of security features may require time to learn. Some organisations also feel that licensing and advanced features can be expensive compared with other firewall solutions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? Based on my learning and cybersecurity studies, Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) help solve common network security challenges such as preventing unauthorised access, blocking malware and ransomware, detecting intrusion attempts, and controlling application usage. These capabilities help organisations strengthen their overall security, reduce cyber risks, and maintain a more secure and reliable network environment. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Nijat I.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Nijat I.") NI Nijat I. Full-stack Developer Information Technology and Services Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 5/12/2026 "Extensive Network Traffic Visibility That Simplifies Log Analysis and Policy Updates" 4.5/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Most of my work with the Check Point Next Generation Firewalls involved analyzing firewall logs, verifying security policies following infrastructure changes, and examining traffic within, outside, and across the network. One feature that came in particularly handy was having detailed information for any connection that was blocked. Rather than just getting information about the source and destination, I was able to examine the traffic at the application level to see which services and protocols were causing the traffic. In the context of policy changes or adding new apps, this allowed me to make sure that there wasn't any unnecessary exposure while retaining necessary business traffic. Checking hit counts and ensuring that traffic was behaving as expected after making policy changes was also an important task. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? The more that firewall policies increase in number, the more difficult their management will become. It is necessary to perform careful validations when making changes to such rules since their order and inspection modes will determine whether or not traffic will be treated correctly by firewalls. Finally, I recall dealing with issues involving legitimate traffic whose treatment changed upon modifications made to the policies. It is hard to predict how such policies will interact if they are managed by several people from various departments. Additionally, it can be problematic to maintain clean policies in the long run if their regular checks are neglected. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? The use of NGFWs allowed for greater scrutiny based on traffic characteristics rather than the older method where traffic filtering was mainly based on port-based firewalls that had little insight into how applications were behaving. Any troubleshooting related to traffic access problems would involve collecting information from various systems. Using Check Point’s NGFWs allowed for more efficient traffic inspection and policy management. This resulted in a higher level of scrutiny of traffic and better environment isolation. It also minimized the time needed to look into any suspicious traffic. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise.G2 IconCurrent UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Arkajit D.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Arkajit D.") AD Arkajit D. Chief Technology Officer Information Technology and Services Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5/5/2026 "Strong All-in-One Security and SmartConsole Management, but Setup and Scaling Take Care" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? The main advantage of Check Point NGFWs is the security strategy itself, which includes a combination of firewall, intrusion prevention, threat prevention, and application control capabilities all in one package. With it, users can effectively protect their infrastructure from various types of modern cyber-attacks with no need to install any additional software. In addition, the centralized management via SmartConsole is another feature worth mentioning, since it significantly simplifies policy creation and allows users to easily monitor and control network traffic from one location. In general, it's an efficient and reliable product which provides both solid protection capabilities and convenient management options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? First, the product may be considered difficult to set up and operate because its advanced policy and rule configuration settings may not be easy for beginners who have no experience working with Check Point products. In addition, it is rather expensive because of licensing fees required for various security blades, although it costs less than competing solutions. However, performance issues may occur when many security blades operate simultaneously, especially when a large amount of data is processed at once. Therefore, special attention should be paid to system scaling. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? In regards to fragmented network security threats, the implementation of Check Point NGFWs helps us solve this issue in that we unify all our security features into one system through the firewall services, intrusion protection, etc., rather than have a different set of security features that each works independently. In terms of benefits, our security strategies have improved due to increased efficiency. With the aid of this solution, we are able to protect ourselves from any potential security threats, apply our security policy effectively, and decrease the security vulnerabilities and risks of breaches. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise.G2 IconCurrent UserValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Animation](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Animation") CA Verified User in Animation Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 7/28/2026 "Powerful Check Point NGFW Security, but Setup and Licensing Can Be Challenging" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I like Check Point NGFWs because of their strong security capabilities, centralized management, and advanced threat prevention features. The integration of features like IPS, application control, URL filtering, anti-malware, sandboxing, and threat intelligence helps provide layered protection against modern cyber threats. The SmartConsole management platform also makes it easier to monitor, configure, and maintain multiple firewalls from a single interface. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? One downside of Check Point NGFWs is that the initial setup and configuration can be complex, especially for new administrators. The licensing model can also be expensive compared to some alternatives, and major upgrades or policy changes may require careful planning to avoid disruptions. The platform is powerful, but it has a steeper learning curve compared to simpler firewall solutions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? Check Point Next Generation Firewalls solve the challenge of protecting networks against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats by providing advanced threat prevention, application control, intrusion prevention, malware detection, and centralized security management. They help improve visibility into network activity, reduce security risks, and simplify firewall administration. This benefits me by allowing faster threat detection, better incident response, and more efficient management of security policies Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Erick Vincent Steve G.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Erick Vincent Steve G.") EG Erick Vincent Steve G. IT Support I Enterprise (\> 1000 emp.) 5/12/2026 "The Ultimate Tool for Threat Prevention" 4.5/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? What I appreciate most about Check Point NGFWs is the unparalleled visibility provided through the SmartConsole. Having a single pane of glass to manage complex security policies across different environments is a massive time-saver. The granular logging and 'Policy Layers' make auditing and troubleshooting much more intuitive compared to other vendors. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? The primary drawback of Check Point NGFWs is the steep learning curve associated with the SmartConsole. While the unified management is powerful, it can be overwhelming for junior admins or those accustomed to more intuitive, web-based interfaces. The complexity of policy layers and object management requires specialized training to master, which can lead to a slower onboarding process. Additionally, the initial configuration and the resource-heavy nature of the management server itself can be a significant hurdle for smaller environments with limited hardware budgets. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? Check Point NGFWs solve the issue of security fragmentation by consolidating multiple services into a single "Software Blade" architecture, which eliminates silos and simplifies management through a centralized console. Thanks to technologies like SandBlast, the system proactively stops zero-day threats before they infect the network, transforming a security posture from simple detection into real prevention. This benefits daily operations by providing granular visibility over applications and a level of forensic detail in logs that drastically speeds up troubleshooting and security audits. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Our network of Icons are G2 members who are recognized for their outstanding contributions and commitment to helping others through their expertise.G2 IconValidated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![xandr P.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "xandr P.") XP xandr P. Legend: Legacy of Dragons" Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 5/26/2026 "Excellent orchestration and management, but complex setup" 3.5/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I use Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) for application control and I like the unified management through Smart Console, it's one of the best solutions on the market. I am impressed by the prevention vs detection philosophy. The Maestro orchestration technology allows for excellent scalability, providing predictability and speed in deploying a new gateway. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? If some kind of mystery starts within the cluster, for example, an asymmetric route, unraveling it is hellishly difficult, you have to use separate utilities to understand which of the 28 physical gateways is dropping the packet, and the entry threshold into Maestro requires skills. Configuration will not be easy for any level. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? I use Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) for application control and unified management through Smart Console, which is one of the best solutions for me. They offer a "prevention vs detection" philosophy and Maestro orchestration technology for scalability and the introduction of a new gateway. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 inviteAI Translated ![Verified User](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User") G Verified User Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 6/11/2026 "Strong Security, Centralized Management, but Complex Licensing" 4/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I appreciate Check Point Next Generation Firewalls for their strong security features and centralized management through SmartConsole. I find the integration of threat prevention technologies like IPS, Anti-Bot, and Threat Emulation to be valuable, providing multiple layers of protection. I like how the unified security approach simplifies managing policies, monitoring network activity, and maintaining a strong security posture. I also enjoy its ability to block any shady site, which adds a layer of safety against scammers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Check Point NGFWs offer excellent security, but the learning curve can be steep. The licensing model can be complex, and managing large rule bases may become challenging over time. Simplifying deployment, licensing, and policy management would make the platform even more user-friendly. The initial setup of Check Point NGFWs was moderately challenging. The deployment process is well-documented, but it still requires a solid understanding of networking and security concepts. Configuring the initial policies, routing, and security blades took some time, especially to align with our existing infrastructure. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? Check Point Next Generation Firewalls save me from scammers, block shady sites, and improve security with strong features and integrated threat prevention technologies. They simplify management with centralized control and reduce the operational burden on IT and security teams. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ZM Zeeshan M. Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) 4/21/2026 "Reliable Security with Scope for UI Improvements" 4/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? I like the reliability and threat-prevention accuracy of Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs). It's stable, and the security blades work consistently. The visibility into traffic makes troubleshooting straightforward. I also prefer Check Point for its stronger threat prevention, better stability, and more mature management features compared to our previous firewall vendor. The initial setup was fairly straightforward, with the wizard helping with the basics, and once the core configuration was done, the rest was manageable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? The management interface can feel dated, and policy pushes take longer than they should. Logging can also lag during peak times, and upgrades sometimes require more planning than other vendors. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? I use Check Point NGFWs for blocking threats, controlling traffic, securing VPN access, and segmenting networks. It reduces our attack surface by inspecting and filtering at the perimeter. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Ahmad A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Ahmad A.") AA Ahmad A. Flutter Developer Information Technology and Services Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 3/17/2026 "Strong Multi-Layered Security and Centralized SmartConsole Management" 4/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Check Point NGFWs stand out for their strong, multi-layered security and ability to prevent advanced threats before they impact the network. The centralized management through SmartConsole makes it much easier to control policies, monitor traffic, and maintain visibility across different environments from a single place. I also like how the platform integrates multiple security features—like IPS, sandboxing, and threat intelligence into one solution, which reduces the need for separate tools. Overall, it delivers reliable performance and scalability, making it suitable for both enterprise environments and growing infrastructures. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? The main downside is the complexity, especially during the initial setup and policy configuration. It’s not very beginner-friendly and often requires experienced engineers to deploy and manage properly. Licensing can also be confusing, with multiple bundles and add-ons that are not always clearly structured. Additionally, the cost is relatively high compared to competitors, and in some cases, support response times or update processes can be slower than expected. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? Check Point NGFWs help solve the challenge of protecting the network from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats while maintaining visibility and control across all environments. Instead of relying on multiple disconnected security tools, it consolidates threat prevention features like intrusion prevention, anti-malware, sandboxing, and encrypted traffic inspection into a single platform. This significantly reduces security gaps and ensures that threats—including zero-day attacks—are detected and blocked in real time. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. Show More Validated ReviewerIncentivizedSource: G2 invite ![Verified User in Consulting](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Consulting") UC Verified User in Consulting Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) 5/20/2026 "Powerful NGFW, but complexity, licensing headaches, and performance hits create friction" 2/5 What do you like best about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? Here is a structured deep dive across those six key pillars for Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs): 1. UI / UX SmartConsole: The centralized management interface is highly regarded for its object-oriented architecture. Once you define a network object, you can reuse it across any policy or rule base seamlessly. Complexity: The sheer depth of configuration options means it has a steeper learning curve compared to more minimalist competitors. It is powerful but requires dedicated expertise to navigate efficiently. 2. Integrations Extensive API Support: Check Point provides robust REST APIs, making it highly compatible with CI/CD pipelines, orchestration tools (like Ansible or Terraform), and SIEM/SOAR platforms. Cloud & Hybrid Environments: It integrates smoothly across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, allowing unified policy enforcement across on-premise and cloud workloads. 3. Performance Maestro Hyperscale: Check Point's clustering technology allows you to scale performance dynamically by distributing traffic across multiple firewalls, avoiding traditional active-passive bottlenecks. Inspection Overhead: Enabling deep packet inspection, TLS 1.3 decryption, and advanced sandboxing simultaneously will impact throughput, requiring precise sizing during deployment. 4. Pricing / ROI Premium Cost: It sits at the higher end of the enterprise market. Hardware, software licensing (blades), and ongoing support require significant capital. Long-Term Value: The ROI comes from risk mitigation. Preventing a single major breach or downtime event often justifies the upfront licensing costs for enterprise environments. 5. Support / Onboarding User Community & TAC: The Check Point Technical Assistance Center (TAC) is generally responsive for critical issues, and the "CheckMates" user community is an excellent resource for real-world troubleshooting. Onboarding Curve: Due to the complexity of blade architectures (e.g., separating Application Control, URL Filtering, and Threat Prevention), initial deployment usually requires certified professional services or experienced in-house engineers. 6. AI / Intelligence ThreatCloud AI: This is the backbone of their security effectiveness. It aggregates real-time threat intelligence globally, using machine learning models to block zero-day exploits and phishing attempts before they hit the internal network. Autonomous Security: Recent updates lean heavily into automated policy adjustments, minimizing human error in rule creation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What do you dislike about Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)? While Check Point is a powerhouse in security effectiveness, it has several well-documented pain points that engineers and administrators frequently run into. Here is the flip side of the coin across those same six pillars: 1. UI / UX (The "Heavy" Client & Complexity) SmartConsole Resource Drag: The primary management tool, SmartConsole, has historically been a fat Windows client. It can feel slow to load, resource-intensive, and clunky if you are managing it over a high-latency VPN connection. Policy Fragmentation: Because features are broken into separate "Software Blades" (e.g., Firewall, URL Filtering, Threat Prevention), managing and auditing rules can feel fragmented. You often have to bounce between different tabs, layers, and policy packages to see the full picture of what is happening to a single packet. 2. Integrations (Legacy Friction) Cloud-Native vs. Lift-and-Shift: While cloud integration has improved significantly with CloudGuard, Check Point's architecture can still feel like a traditional on-premise firewall adapted for the cloud, rather than a truly cloud-native, lightweight microservice solution. Third-Party Ecosystem: While standard APIs are robust, setting up seamless orchestration with niche or non-standard third-party vendors often requires more manual scripting and custom API work than its main competitors. 3. Performance (The "Blade" Tax) Throughput Degradation: The moment you turn on deep packet inspection, HTTPS inspection, and advanced threat emulation (sandboxing) simultaneously, performance takes a visible hit. If you don't over-provision your hardware sizing from day one, enabling full security features can severely bottleneck your network throughput. Slow Policy Compilation: Pushing a policy change isn't instant. When you hit "Install Policy," the system has to compile the changes and push them to the gateways, which can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to significantly longer in massive environments with complex rule bases. 4. Pricing / ROI (Convoluted Licensing) The "A La Carte" Software Blade Model: Check Point's licensing can be an absolute nightmare to navigate. Because features are split into individual software blades, it is easy to find yourself getting nickeled-and-dimed for extra capabilities (like advanced bot prevention or specific mobile access licenses) that you assumed were included. High Renewal Costs: Support and subscription renewals for ThreatCloud AI and hardware maintenance are among the steepest in the industry, making the total cost of ownership (TCO) incredibly high over a 3- to 5-year lifecycle. 5. Support / Onboarding (The Upgrades Scares) Complex Upgrade Paths: Upgrading Check Point Gaia OS via CPUSE (Check Point Upgrade Service Engine) has historically given network admins gray hairs. Minor version mismatches, dependency issues, or hotfix conflicts can cause upgrades to fail midway, requiring lengthy rollbacks. Brutal Learning Curve: This is not a "set-it-and-forget-it" firewall. Onboarding a junior engineer to manage a Check Point environment safely takes a long time due to the complexity of the architecture, meaning high operational overhead for training. 6. AI / Intelligence (False Positive Tuning) Aggressive Default Stances: Because ThreatCloud AI is highly sensitive to zero-day signatures, shifting threat prevention into "Prevent" mode out of the box can cause a spike in false positives. It requires significant, ongoing manual tuning by an administrator to ensure legitimate business traffic isn't accidentally blocked by automated machine-learning heuristics. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. What problems is Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) solving and how is that benefiting you? It solves the headache of fragmented security policies across our hybrid network (on-prem and cloud workloads). Legacy firewalls struggled to inspect encrypted traffic or catch zero-day malware without severely choking our bandwidth, and managing rules across different vendor dashboards was an operational nightmare. Benefits to Me: The biggest benefit is a massive reduction in administrative overhead. SmartConsole gives my team a single pane of glass to build a policy once and push it everywhere. Because ThreatCloud AI handles the heavy lifting of blocking advanced threats automatically, we spend way less time chasing false positives. Ultimately, it gives us peace of mind—our network edge is locked down, compliance is easily provable, and our network speeds aren't taking a hit when full inspection is turned on. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com. 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