Sonicwall Vs Sophos – Which is the better next generation firewall?

Sonicwall and Sophos are two of the highest ranked NGFWs in the firewall software market, but which one is the best suited to meet your organisational security requirements and needs?

Next generation firewall software are becoming front and centre in security for organisations for their ability to go beyond the basic protection that traditional security firewalls offer and adding a wider range of functionality. Both Sonicwall and Sophos are becoming increasingly popular in this respect, offering better visibility into organisational web network applications and traffic. They are very similar in that they both have good customer care support as well as having free and paid versions. However, they differ in their devices, language and overall functionality. Their combined similarities and various differences allow them to appeal to different users, which is what makes them both very widely used.

What are the differences between Sonicwall and Sophos?

Sonicwall Vs Sophos- How do they compare?

• Pricing

Sonicwall and Sophos both have free and paid versions. The free Sophos version does not include the additional features in the paid one and has a 3 device limit on firewall services. On the other hand, the free Sonicwall version is similar to the paid version with the exception of high quality firmware and beta releases.The pricing model for Sonicwall is quote based, this means that the software distributors have a model that calculates the price based on the user’s specific needs and requirements. The Sophos paid version comes with very high quality firmware and has a renewable annual subscription for their beta releases and updates.

This makes Sonicwall suitable for a user who has no desire to purchase new firmware, while Sophos is very convenient for one who is also in need of firmware.

• Ease of integration and use

In terms of firmware integration and set up, Sonicwall has proven to be rather problematic and require a tech expert to install and run it as well as show the user how to navigate the software. This increases the investment required to get it running because not only do you need to purchase it, but you need an expert to install it.Sonicwall is only available in English while Sophos includes Dutch and Polish, making Sophos more widely used. Another factor in the software integration that gives Sophos an advantage is that it can be used on a wider range of devices than sonic wall, as recorded in the table. The additional devices for Sophos are easily portable like the I-Mac, which makes it easy to use remotely.

This makes Sophos preferable because it is easy to integrate, available in a wider range of languages and can be configured onto a wider range of devices.

• User interface

Sonicwall primarily uses a CLI while Sophos almost equally combines GUI and CLI. A command line interface is known for its quick and efficient effectiveness of user commands, but it may be difficult to use, while a graphic user interface is easy to use but a bit slow in effecting changes.

Sophos gains an upper hand here, because it combines the ease of use that comes with a GUI with the efficiency associated with a CLI.

Sonicwall Vs Sophos- A comparison review

Sonicwall

Sonicwall is a firewall software from a private company of the same name, formed in 1991. It is made an effective firewall by its ability to offer concrete and reliable protection against web threats as well as offer a clear view of web traffic in real life. It is only available in English and can be configured to mac and windows devices, as well as web based configurations. The web based configurations increase the range of devices it can be configured on, but it does not offer the same ease of use as on a mac or windows device. It has great anti-malware features as well as application control and bandwidth management, which make it a great all-round security solution, as well as utilizing a command line user interface which makes it very efficient and a GUI which makes it easily navigable.

Pros

• It shows web traffic in real time
• It has warranty and offers good customer support
• It is affordable and has a free version

Cons

• It is difficult to set up and run

Sophos

Sophos is an increasingly popular firewall solution that is designed to serve medium to small business set ups. One factor that has made it very widely used is that it can be accessed and used in polish, Dutch and English as well as being configured on a wide variety of devices, on top of offering a web based configuration. It is efficient in intuitively identifying and dealing with ransom ware and other forms of cyber malware in addition to having web content filters, application visibility and other security features, making it a great cyber security asset. It also gives an easy to read comprehensive analysis on all web-threats that are detected in the system. On top of all its uses and advantages, it is very easy to set up and configure to a given web network.

Pros

• It can be used as a firewall as well as a router
• It simultaneously rolls back malware effects as it prevents infections in the system.
• It works well with other Sophos products like Sophos Central to give a wholesome system solution.
• It has great reporting features

Cons

• It does not integrate with EDR tools

Conclusion

Both Sophos and Sonicwall are both great software with amazing firewall functionality. However one major difference that comes out is that Sophos is a better fit for a small business while Sonicwall is better suited for large corporations. In addition to this Sophos is more flexible in terms of language and devices, perhaps because it meant for small scale use.

Verdict- So which is better, Sonicwall or Sophos?

Both software are very effective in their firewall functionality. However, from an overall point of view, Sophos is definitely the better choice.

FAQs

How much does Sophos firewall cost?

They offer both a free version as well as a paid one. The free version is rather basic because it does not contain the advanced features and has a limit of firewall protection up to three computer users. They offer packages depending on your specifications, and there is a pricing model on their website to facilitate choosing the right package for you.

Is Sonicwall a firewall or a router?

Sonicwall can be used as both a router and a firewall. However, it is primarily a firewall because that is its most basic and highly specialized function. It would be safe to say that it is a great firewall with a few routing capabilities.