Check Point Harmony SASE vs SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway

Check Point Harmony SASE combines secure internet access, private network access, SaaS security, and SD-WAN in a hybrid platform. A single Check Point Infinity Portal console manages network infrastructure, users, and security. SaaS Security provides inline and API-based enforcement, application control, tenant restrictions, DLP, threat prevention, oversharing remediation, shadow SaaS discovery, and posture management. Private Access applies identity-based zero-trust policies to employees, third parties, and branch offices. Secure SD-WAN optimizes routing for more than 10,000 applications and users, steers traffic based on link health, and supports sub-second failover across MPLS, 5G, and broadband. Reporting integrations include Amazon S3, Splunk, and Azure Sentinel; documented identity integrations include Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, and Google Workspace. The service is described as SOC 2 Type 2 compliant. Its agent is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, and iOS, with minimum versions specified for several systems. A free 30-day trial is available through the Check Point Portal; a software license is required afterward. Pricing is on request.

SafeSquid Secure Web Gateway is an HTTP proxy and secure web gateway for controlling web access and protecting web applications in reverse-proxy mode. It categorizes websites, identifies applications and applies user-access policies. HTTPS inspection can use an enterprise root certificate or a SafeSquid self-signed certificate. Malware scanning options include a built-in scanner, ClamAV and ICAP or other third-party systems. Data-loss prevention detects configured keyword patterns in uploads and can restrict them. SafeSquid supports Active Directory, OpenLDAP, Kerberos single sign-on and Linux-PAM authentication. It can use DNSBL services and stream logs to remote aggregators or SIEM systems. Deployment can use standard server hardware, a virtual appliance or private cloud, with multiple nodes in load-balanced or failover clusters. Cloud-backed configuration backup keeps version history for up to 365 days. The vendor says it supports Linux and Microsoft Windows. It is sold as an annual subscription with pricing on request, and the FAQ says the product stops working when an annual subscription is not renewed.