Radware Cloud WAF Service vs Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Both Radware Cloud WAF Service and Sophos Firewall (XGS) are capable WAF solutions. The right choice depends on your specific infrastructure, budget, and feature requirements.

View Radware Cloud WAF Service Review View Sophos Firewall (XGS) Review

Overview

Radware Cloud WAF Service and Sophos Firewall (XGS) are both popular web application firewall solutions. This comparison will help you understand the key differences and choose the right one for your needs.

Fully managed cloud WAF combining automatic policy generation, advanced bot mitigation, and 24/7 expert support with industry-leading DDoS protection.

Next-gen firewall (SFOS on XGS appliances) with a built-in reverse-proxy Web Application Firewall via its Web Server Protection module; the active successor to the end-of-life Sophos UTM.

Quick Comparison

Feature Radware Cloud WAF Service Sophos Firewall (XGS)
Overall Rating 4.4/5 3.8/5
Free Tier No Yes
Pricing Model OPEX-based subscription Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)
Ease of Use 3.6/5 3.9/5
Value for Money 3.8/5 4.0/5
Support 4.6/5 3.8/5
Platforms Any web application, AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, on-premises XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Compliance SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA Common Criteria, FIPS-validated cryptography (model dependent)

Pricing Comparison

Radware Cloud WAF Service

Model: OPEX-based subscription

Standard

Custom pricing

Advanced

Custom pricing

Premium

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

Model: Appliance plus subscription (varies by appliance and subscription bundle)

Free Tier Available

Home Edition

Free

Xstream Protection (Commercial)

Custom pricing

View full pricing →

Features Comparison

Radware Cloud WAF Service

  • Automatic Policy Generation

    Patented technology automatically creates and optimizes security policies for new applications.

  • Positive and Negative Security

    Combines signature-based detection with positive security model for comprehensive protection.

  • Bot Manager

    Advanced bot detection using behavioral analysis, device fingerprinting, and CAPTCHA challenges.

  • API Protection

    Discover and protect APIs with schema validation, rate limiting, and anomaly detection.

  • DDoS Protection

    Integrated network and application layer DDoS mitigation backed by Radware''s global scrubbing network.

  • Geo-Fencing

    Block or allow traffic based on geographic location with granular country-level controls.

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • Reverse-Proxy WAF

    Apache-based reverse proxy that protects published web servers against SQL injection, cross-site scripting, directory traversal, and other common web attacks.

  • Form Hardening

    Signs and validates form fields to prevent manipulation of submitted web forms.

  • URL Hardening

    Restricts accessible URLs based on the learned structure of the protected application.

  • Cookie Signing

    Cryptographically signs cookies to detect and block tampering.

  • Reverse-Proxy Authentication

    Adds basic or form-based authentication policies in front of published web servers via WAF rules.

  • Antivirus Scanning

    Scans uploads and traffic to protected web servers for malware as part of Web Server Protection.

Which One Is Right for You?

The best WAF depends on your specific requirements, infrastructure, and team expertise.

Radware Cloud WAF Service

  • You need: Mid-market to enterprise organizations, companies needing integrated WAF and DDoS, hybrid cloud environments, organizations valuing managed services
  • You're using: Any web application, AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, on-premises
Learn more →

Sophos Firewall (XGS)

  • You need: Organizations already running Sophos Firewall, businesses wanting WAF and network security in one appliance, home labs and educational users via the free Home Edition
  • You want to start with a free tier
  • You're using: XGS Series hardware appliances, virtual (VMware, Hyper-V, KVM), software/Home Edition, and cloud (Firewall in AWS and Azure)
Learn more →

We recommend evaluating both options with a trial or free tier before committing. Consider your existing infrastructure, team expertise, compliance requirements, and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for startups: Radware Cloud WAF Service or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while Radware Cloud WAF Service does not, making Sophos Firewall (XGS) more accessible for budget-conscious startups. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for ease of use (3.9/5), which is valuable for smaller teams. Consider your immediate security needs and growth plans when choosing.

Which has better support: Radware Cloud WAF Service or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Radware Cloud WAF Service has a higher support rating (4.6/5) compared to Sophos Firewall (XGS) (3.8/5). However, support quality can vary based on your plan tier - enterprise customers typically receive more responsive support from both providers. Consider evaluating support during a trial period.

Which is easier to implement: Radware Cloud WAF Service or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for ease of use (3.9/5) versus Radware Cloud WAF Service (3.6/5). The actual implementation effort depends on your existing infrastructure and team expertise.

Which is more cost-effective: Radware Cloud WAF Service or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Sophos Firewall (XGS) offers a free tier while Radware Cloud WAF Service requires a paid plan. Sophos Firewall (XGS) scores higher for value (4.0/5). Total cost depends on your traffic volume, required features, and support level needs.

Which works better with AWS: Radware Cloud WAF Service or Sophos Firewall (XGS)?

Both Radware Cloud WAF Service and Sophos Firewall (XGS) support AWS deployments. Consider whether native AWS integration or cross-cloud portability matters more for your use case.