CacheGuard-OS vs WatchGuard AuthPoint

CacheGuard-OS turns an x86 or x64 machine into a Linux network appliance for securing and optimizing network traffic. Its combined functions include firewalling, IPsec VPN, web application security, content caching, antivirus inspection and traffic shaping. Install it on bare metal or as a virtual machine, including VMware, Hyper-V and Proxmox. Administrators can configure an appliance through a CLI or browser-based Web GUI; a Manager can centrally manage multiple Gateways. The firewall uses stateful packet filtering, NAT and PAT, and the maker says it blocks common attacks such as DoS, SYN flood and IP spoofing by default. URL filtering supports lists and regular expressions, with LDAP or AD/Kerberos authentication. The WAF offers generic and custom filters, IP reputation lists and antivirus scanning. WAN tools include HTTP compression and multi-WAN routing with automatic failover. The OS is free to use. Optional subscriptions cover URL blacklists and extended antivirus signatures; Standard and Premium support also require paid subscriptions.

WatchGuard AuthPoint is a cloud-based multi-factor authentication service that checks users before they access computers, VPNs, cloud services, and applications. Verification options include push notifications, one-time passcodes, QR codes, hardware tokens, and phishing-resistant FIDO2 passkeys. Access policies can consider device, location, behavior, time, and device DNA. An application portal provides access to SAML and OIDC apps, and WatchGuard lists more than 130 third-party integrations, including VPN, Microsoft Entra ID, and cloud applications. The service is managed through WatchGuard Cloud, which supports multi-tenant administration for service providers. An optional Gateway connects AuthPoint with RADIUS clients, Active Directory or LDAP, and the ADFS agent; it cannot be installed on Windows servers with FIPS mode enabled. AuthPoint is licensed per user, with pricing available from a WatchGuard reseller and no free plan. A 30-day trial for up to 250 users is listed. The mobile app supports Android 7.0 and higher and iOS 14.0 and higher.