NSS Labs Announces 2019 Data Center Firewall / Security Gateway Group Test Results

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NSS Labs, Inc., a global leader and trusted source for independent cybersecurity product testing, today announced the results of its third annual Data Center Security Gateway (DCSG) Group Test.

Four of the industry's leading data center deep inspection firewall products were tested to compare product capabilities for security effectiveness (exploit block rate, evasion techniques, and stability & reliability), total cost of ownership (TCO), and performance:

• Cisco FirePOWER 4110 v6.4.0.4
• Fortinet FortiGate 6300F V6.0.4 build8262 (GA)
• Juniper Networks SRX5400 JUNOS 18.2X30.1 Kernel 64-bit JNPR-11.0-20190316.df99236
• Palo Alto Networks PA-5250 9.0.3-h2

Key Findings

• Juniper is back. The company is reasserting itself in the data center with a strong showing and should be on everyone's short list.
• Once again, Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks provided excellent protection.
• Cisco provided poor security, and performance well below claims, therefore receiving a Caution rating. In addition to sub-standard exploit protection, NSS Labs test engineers were able to evade defenses using a well known evasion.
• Testing revealed that vendors systematically overstated performance, sometimes dramatically.
• The type of network traffic matters. Performance is largely dependent on connection rates and packet size.

Implementation of DCSG devices can be a complex process with multiple factors affecting overall security effectiveness. Considerations for deployment should include:

• What server operating systems and applications are to be protected?
• What are peak performance requirements?
• Can the security product be bypassed using common evasion techniques?
• How reliable and stable is the device?

NSS Labs is committed to providing empirical data and objective group test results that help organizations make educated decisions about purchasing and optimizing security products and services. We believe if a product is good enough to sell, it is good enough to test. If you do not see a product you're interested in, ask the vendors where their results are and encourage participation. As with all NSS Labs group tests, there is no fee for participation.

Additional Resources

• View the 2019 DCSG Test Security Value Map (free)
• View the 2019 DCSG Group Test Methodology (free)
• Subscribers can access the 2019 DCSG Group Test reports here
• Learn more about how NSS Labs approaches testing
• To suggest a product for testing, click here
• Follow NSS Labs on Twitter
• Follow NSS Labs on LinkedIn

About NSS Labs, Inc.
NSS Labs tests the world's security products. Based in Austin, Texas, the company's research and testing laboratory is recognized globally as the most trusted source for independent, fact-based cybersecurity guidance. C-Suite executives and information security professionals from many of the world's most demanding global enterprises rely on NSS Labs to accelerate security decisions with greater confidence. For more information, visit www.nsslabs.com.

SOURCE NSS Labs, Inc.

Related Links

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