There’s no doubt that Barracuda security options come with a decent range of firewall hardware, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look outside the box. Firewall comparisons are a crucial part of maintaining a healthy security stack for your business network.
Whether it’s Barracuda or SonicWall, you’re in great hands either way, but there are quite a few differences involved. This article breaks down a comparison between Barracuda F18 vs SonicWall TZ80, highlighting what makes them stand out on their own.
Key Takeaways:
- Barracuda F18 and the TZ80 firewalls offer different approaches to small business network security
- The F18 comes with 1 Gbps firewall throughput with layered threat protection to match
- The TZ80 from SonicWall promises strong threat prevention, VPN performance, and higher connection capacity
- Firewall selection should align with business size, security needs, and future network growth
- Comparing performance, features, and deployment options helps companies choose the right firewall solution
Evaluating Firewalls for Small Business Networks
The whole process of choosing a firewall demands a strong focus on balancing security, performance, and scalability. All of these are relevant not only for your business network, but for the support you need for your operation to grow as a whole.
Features like intrusion prevention, app control, segmentation, and much more are all important for any modern business. In short, working with a scalable firewall gives you the reliable network performance you need to ensure operations are always on the move. However, this is only truly possible through choosing the firewall hardware that’s best for your organization.
What is the Barracuda Networks F18 Firewall?
Crafted for the likes of small and mid-sized companies, the F18 from Barracuda can support anywhere from 36 to 50 users. A few notable built-in features I’d like to note include things like URL filtering, SSL/TLS inspection, and app control, to name a few.
Here’s a quick look at a few comparable hardware specs:
- Firewall Throughput: 1 Gbps
- VPN Throughput: 190 Mbps
- IPS Throughput: 400 Mbps
- Threat Protection Throughput: 320 Mbps
- Concurrent Sessions: 80,000
It might seem a bit modest to other models in the Barracuda security lineup, and that’s somewhat of the point here. The F18 firewall is honestly a great option for newer companies or businesses that are starting to see some growth. Essentially, it has what you need on a smaller scale, and then some, with room to grow when you need it.
What is the SonicWall TZ80 Firewall?
The TZ80 from SonicWall is a classic choice, one that many companies start with when it comes to small business network security. Aimed at small offices, IoT environments, and branch locations, there’s quite a bit to look forward to here.
Check out the brief list of specs from the TZ80 below:
- Firewall Throughput: 750 Mbps
- IPsec VPN Throughput: 750 Mbps
- IPS Throughput: 750 Mbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 750 Mbps
- Max Connections (SPI): 300,000
You can see that, for the most part, the TZ80 makes the specs pretty easy to understand. Then again, this is just a glimpse into what the firewall is capable of.
Barracuda F18 vs TZ80 Firewall Comparison
It’s vital to dig a little past the surface here when it comes to a helpful next generation firewall comparison. Sure, both of these firewalls fall into the same wheelhouse, but there are plenty of details that help highlight what makes them unique. Review the table below for a more in-depth take on the differences between Barracuda and SonicWall firewall hardware.
| Category | Barracuda F18 | SonicWall TZ80 |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput | 1 Gbps | 750 Mbps |
| VPN Throughput | 190 Mbps | 750 Mbps (IPsec VPN Throughput) |
| IPS Throughput | 400 Mbps | 750 Mbps |
| Threat Protection Throughput | 320 Mbps | 750 Mbps |
| Concurrent/Max Sessions | 80,000 | 300,000 |
| New Sessions per Second | 8,000 | 7,500 |
| Interfaces | 4 x 1GbE copper Ethernet ports | 4 x 1GbE copper Ethernet ports 1 x 1G SFP 1 x Console port 1 x USB port |
| Security Highlights | URL filtering, SSL/TLS inspection, app control, intrusion prevention, antivirus, sandboxing, and more | Intrusion prevention, anti-malware, anti-spyware, content/URL filtering, app control, DNS filtering, Capture ATP sandboxing, and more |
| Advanced Threat Protection | Behavioral analysis, static code analysis, threat signatures, and sandboxing for ransomware and malware protection | Capture ATP sandboxing and advanced threat prevention services |
| Target Market | Small and mid-sized companies, entry-level and branch office deployments | Small offices, branch locations and IoT environments |
It might seem like a lot to take in, but it helps to sit with the information and compare it to your real-world network demands. Moreover, you should always have a grasp of your current needs, and how you expect those needs to shift and grow in the coming years. You’ll never run out of firewall options to choose from, but it’s about quality and alignment over quantity here.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, Barracuda security and SonicWall hardware both bring strong security to the needs of small and growing businesses. However, it’s important not to ignore the distinctions between the two, their target markets, including the specs and features involved.
If you want to make the right decisions, comparing the technical specs between Barracuda F18 vs TZ80 is a must. Remember, our team at Firewalls.com is here if you ever feel stuck. Consider hopping on a quick call with us, and we’ll make sure you end up in the right direction with your network security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Main Difference Between Barracuda F18 vs TZ80?
The F18 focuses on balanced performance along with simplified management. Whereas with the TZ80, you’re getting an emphasis on higher threat prevention performance and connection capacity.
Which Firewall Has Better Throughput, Barracuda F18 or the TZ80?
You’re getting higher firewall throughput with the F18, but the TZ80 comes with stronger VPN, IPS, and threat protection.
Is the Barracuda F18 a Good Firewall for Small Businesses?
Yes, the F18 is built for small and mid-sized organizations, with a real-world capacity for supporting 36 to 50 users.
Does the TZ80 Support Advanced Threat Protection?
It sure does, as the TZ80 from SonicWall includes features like Capture ATP sandboxing, intrusion prevention, anti-malware, app control, and more.
How do Businesses Choose Between the Barracuda F18 and TZ80?
Companies should compare their network size, security requirements, remote access needs, performance expectations, and future growth plans before making a choice.
