Unified IT successfully replaced Sophos XGS 136 firewalls with UniFi UDM Pro appliances across three UK branch offices, delivering £12,000+ in savings over three years while improving performance, simplifying management, and preparing the client for future scalability.

The client, operating in the professional services sector with around 85 users across three offices, relied on Sophos XGS 136 firewalls for network security. While effective, this setup presented several challenges:

Advanced features like web filtering and VPN often come with premium licensing fees, making them expensive to use.

Organizations may be paying for a wide array of features they don’t use, leading to wasted resources.

The current solution has trouble growing with the business, making it difficult to expand operations.

The client sought a cost-effective, easy-to-manage alternative that would maintain robust security without the burden of licensing overheads.

Unified IT proposed replacing the Sophos firewalls with UniFi UDM Pros, chosen for their balance of enterprise-grade security and operational simplicity.

The solution eliminates ongoing subscription costs, providing a clear financial advantage.

This feature allows for a single point of control and monitoring across all office locations.

Robust security is provided through integrated tools such as IPS/IDS, VPN, and customizable firewall rules.

The system is designed to grow with the business, making it simple to add new locations and users.

The migration was carefully planned to minimise disruption:

UDM Pros were set up in a controlled environment to ensure a smooth and predictable deployment.

Deployment was carried out one branch at a time during quiet periods to minimise disruption.

The transition to the new system was completed with minimal interruption, resulting in less than an hour of downtime per office.

Thorough testing was conducted to verify that all security and connectivity requirements were successfully met.

The migration delivered immediate and measurable benefits:

The client saved over £12,000 in three years by reducing hardware, licensing, and support expenses.

The new infrastructure resulted in faster data transfer and more reliable remote access.

The streamlined system freed up the IT team’s time, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives.

The solution provides a flexible and scalable foundation that can easily adapt to future growth.

The client praised the migration as “smooth, cost-effective, and future-proof.” They valued the cost savings but especially appreciated how much easier it was to manage the UniFi platform compared to Sophos.

Unified IT brings expertise in designing and delivering tailored IT solutions that balance performance, security, and cost-efficiency. By understanding the client’s needs and aligning technology with their growth plans, Unified IT ensured a successful migration that empowers the client to focus on business outcomes rather than IT obstacles.