Blue Coat ASGOS

Basic Information

• Model: Advanced Secure Gateway (ASG) series, including ASG-S500, ASG S200, and ASG S400 models.
• Version: Operates on SGOS (Secure Gateway Operating System), with versions including 6.x and 7.x series.
• Release Date: Specific release dates for individual SGOS versions vary; SGOS 7.3 has been in use for several months in cloud Secure Web Gateway (SWG) environments.
• Minimum Requirements: Requirements are highly dependent on whether it is a hardware or virtual appliance. Virtual deployments necessitate specific allocations for CPU, RAM, and storage based on the licensed model.
• Supported Operating Systems: For virtual appliance deployments, it supports VMware ESXi (versions 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 6.7, 7.0, 8.0) and Microsoft Windows Server 2016 for Hyper-V.
• Latest Stable Version: SGOS 7.3 is designated as a Long Term Release (LTR), recommended for its stability.
• End of Support Date: SGOS 6.7 reached its end of support on December 31, 2023. The End-of-Life (EOL) announcement date for ASG and ProxySG products was December 31, 2024, with support ceasing two years thereafter.
• End of Life Date: For on-premise Reporter products (which integrate with ASG), the EOL date is March 1, 2025. For ASG/ProxySG, the EOL announcement date was December 31, 2024, indicating support will end two years from this date.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not a single expiration date. License auto-updates occur daily if expiring within 30 days, 30 days prior to expiry if within 31-60 days, or every 30 days if expiring in 61+ days. Root CA certificates auto-update by default every seven days.
• License Type: Available with subscription-based and perpetual licenses. Licensing options include base licenses, subscription-based licenses for additional services (e.g., File Inspection, Malware Analysis, sandboxing), and enterprise licenses for use across multiple applications or appliances. Virtual appliances are licensed based on a maximum number of concurrent users.
• Deployment Model: Deploys as hardware appliances (e.g., ASG-S500 series) or virtual appliances (SWG VA). It supports both explicit and transparent proxy deployment methodologies.

Technical Requirements

• RAM: Hardware appliances offer configurations such as 64 GB, 96 GB, 384 GB (DDR4 SDRAM), and up to 1 TB (DDR5 DRAM) for Secure Web Gateway appliances. Virtual appliances require specific RAM allocations based on the licensed model.
• Processor: Hardware appliances utilize various CPUs, including 1x16 core, 2.0 GHz, C3958 Atom, and 2x10 core, 2.2 GHz, 4210 Cascade Lake processors. Virtual appliances require specific CPU allocations.
• Storage: Hardware appliances include SSDs (e.g., 2 x 960 GB, 2 x 1.9 TB, 4 x 3.84TB U.2 NVMe SSD) and boot drives (e.g., 2 x 64 GB SATA, 2 x 128GB M.2 NVMe SSD). Virtual appliance storage requirements depend on the licensed model.
• Display: Not directly applicable; management occurs via web-based console or command-line interface (CLI).
• Ports: Hardware appliances feature diverse network interfaces, including data ports (e.g., 4-port 1GbE copper, 2x2-port 10GbE copper, and various PCIe NICs supporting 1GbE, 10GbE, 10/25GbE, and 100GbE fiber) and dedicated management ports (e.g., 1x1GbE copper).
• Operating System: The proprietary operating system is SGOS (Secure Gateway Operating System).

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The Broadcom Blue Coat ASG offers a range of hardware and virtual appliance configurations, providing flexibility for various deployment scales. The hardware specifications, particularly for RAM, processor, and storage, are robust, catering to demanding enterprise environments. The extensive port options ensure versatile network integration. For virtual deployments, resource allocation is critical and must align with the licensed model, emphasizing careful planning for optimal performance. The reliance on SGOS as a proprietary operating system centralizes control and optimization for its specific security functions.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: SGOS 7.3 serves as the current Long Term Release (LTR).
• OS Support: For virtual deployments, the system supports VMware ESXi (versions 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 6.7, 7.0, 8.0) and Microsoft Windows Server 2016 for Hyper-V.
• End of Support Date: SGOS 6.7 ceased support on December 31, 2023. The EOL announcement for ASG/ProxySG was December 31, 2024, with support concluding two years from this date.
• Localization: Specific localization details are not extensively documented in publicly available information.
• Available Drivers: Drivers are not applicable as the ASG functions as a self-contained hardware or virtual appliance.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

The ASG maintains compatibility with widely used virtualization platforms, ensuring deployment flexibility. However, users must remain vigilant regarding End-of-Life (EOL) dates, as older SGOS versions are no longer supported, necessitating timely upgrades to LTRs like SGOS 7.3 for continued security and feature enhancements. The transition to Broadcom has led to some user feedback regarding support clarity. The self-contained nature of the appliance eliminates the need for external drivers, simplifying deployment and management in that aspect.

Security Status

• Security Features: Includes SSL mutual authentication, LDAP/Active Directory integration, comprehensive web filtering, content filtering, virus scanning, bandwidth management, SSL interception, advanced real-time web filtering, multi-layered deep content inspection, robust threat protection, application protection (detecting and blocking malicious content), enforcement of authentication and authorization policies, advanced inspection engines, DDoS attack mitigation, and geolocation support.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Has been susceptible to various OpenSSH vulnerabilities (e.g., CVE-2016-8858, CVE-2016-6210, CVE-2016-6515, CVE-2016-0797, CVE-2016-0799, CVE-2016-2842, CVE-2016-0705, CVE-2016-0798, CVE-2015-0800, CVE-2016-0703, CVE-2016-0704, CVE-2016-0800 DROWN) and OpenSSL vulnerabilities (e.g., CVE-2015-3195, CVE-2015-3196). Recent HTTP/2 vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-44487 "rapid reset" and CVE-2025-8671 "MadeYouReset") pose denial-of-service risks. An authentication bypass vulnerability (SYMSA18331) previously allowed unauthenticated CLI command execution and configuration modification.
• Blacklist Status: While not explicitly blacklisted, Blue Coat products have faced scrutiny due to their potential use by governments for internet censorship and monitoring.
• Certifications: Long Term Releases (LTR) of SGOS are FIPS/CC certified.
• Encryption Support: Provides robust support for SSL/TLS connections, including SSL interception and hardware-assisted encryption and decryption, enabling inspection of encrypted traffic.
• Authentication Methods: Supports a wide array of authentication methods, including local user lists, RADIUS, LDAP, Microsoft Active Directory (Integrated Windows Authentication - IWA, Windows Single Sign-On - SSO), SAML, and certificate realm authentication. Various authentication modes are available, such as auto, form-cookie, form-ip, proxy, origin, and their redirect variants.
• General Recommendations: It is critical to maintain the latest stable SGOS versions, particularly LTRs, to mitigate known vulnerabilities and ensure access to security fixes. Upgrading from versions nearing EOL is strongly advised. Implementing network segmentation and firewalls to restrict access to management interfaces is a key security best practice.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

The Broadcom Blue Coat ASG offers a comprehensive suite of security features, including deep content inspection and strong authentication mechanisms, essential for enterprise web security. Its FIPS/CC certification for LTRs underscores a commitment to security standards. However, the history of vulnerabilities, particularly concerning OpenSSH, OpenSSL, and recent HTTP/2 exploits, highlights the necessity for continuous patching and adherence to upgrade recommendations. The potential for its technology to be used for censorship also raises ethical considerations. Overall, while providing robust protection, proactive management and timely updates are paramount to maintaining a strong security posture.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Specific, publicly available benchmark scores are not detailed in the provided information.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: Designed for high performance, leveraging 64-bit SGOS and hardware architecture with multicore, multi-processor, and high memory capabilities to enhance connection counts and overall performance. The SSL proxy benefits from hardware-assisted encryption and decryption. Secure Web Gateway appliances are noted for delivering "unmatched performance in a compact footprint." The Advanced Secure Gateway aims to balance comprehensive security with improved web performance.
• Power Consumption: Hardware appliances feature dual redundant and hot-swappable power supplies. For instance, some models operate at 100-127VAC @ 6A or 200-240V @ 3A (47-63Hz), with a total output power of 350 Watts.
• Carbon Footprint: Information regarding the carbon footprint is not explicitly available.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: When compared to cloud-native Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) like Zscaler, appliance-based solutions such as the Broadcom ASG face criticism for potential security blind spots (due to challenges in inspecting 100% of encrypted traffic), latency issues, and increased maintenance and scalability challenges. They are inherently capacity-limited and necessitate frequent upgrades. In market share, Broadcom (ranked #28) trails some competitors in the Secure Web Gateway category.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

The Broadcom Blue Coat ASG is engineered for high performance, particularly through its optimized SGOS and robust hardware, which includes multicore processors and hardware-accelerated encryption. This design aims to handle high connection volumes and complex security tasks efficiently. However, as an appliance-based solution, it inherently faces limitations in scalability and agility when compared to cloud-native alternatives, potentially leading to performance bottlenecks in dynamic, high-bandwidth environments. While designed for efficiency, its performance in real-world scenarios can be impacted by the increasing volume of encrypted traffic and the need for continuous updates.

User Reviews & Feedback

• Strengths: Users often praise its lightweight nature and straightforward operation, effectiveness in blocking unknown threats and file types, and minimal management overhead. When functioning optimally, it reliably performs its intended tasks. Some feedback highlights fast and strong technical support. It provides comprehensive protection against web and network-based threats, cloud data protection, and flexible business policy control. Additional benefits include scalability, rapid deployment, a user-friendly admin console, and low false positives.
• Weaknesses: Common criticisms include confusion surrounding maintenance and upkeep, and inconsistent experiences with support from Symantec/Broadcom. The product is noted for limited compatibility with certain ICAP-supported products and historical issues related to Java and offshored support teams. As an appliance-based SWG, it is cited for security blind spots (difficulty inspecting all encrypted traffic), potential latency, and significant maintenance and scalability challenges, often requiring constant upgrades. Upgrade processes can be complex and demanding.
• Recommended Use Cases: The ASG is recommended for scalable log collection, storage, and reporting of web activity (when integrated with Reporter). It is suitable for protecting against web and network-based threats, enabling cloud data protection, and implementing flexible business policy control across diverse enterprise and cloud environments. Specific applications include web filtering, data loss protection, corporate proxy services, and URL filtering.

Summary

The Broadcom Blue Coat Advanced Secure Gateway (ASG) with SGOS is a robust, enterprise-grade solution designed for comprehensive web security and network management. Its strengths lie in its powerful, optimized SGOS operating system, capable hardware configurations, and a broad array of security features, including deep content inspection, SSL interception, and diverse authentication methods. The system offers flexibility through both hardware and virtual appliance deployment options, supporting various virtualization environments. It is well-suited for organizations requiring stringent control over web traffic, threat protection, and policy enforcement.

However, the ASG, as an appliance-based solution, presents certain weaknesses. It can face challenges with scalability and agility compared to modern cloud-native SWGs, potentially leading to performance bottlenecks with high volumes of encrypted traffic. Users have reported inconsistencies in maintenance clarity and support experiences. Furthermore, a history of vulnerabilities necessitates diligent patching and timely upgrades to the latest Long Term Releases (LTRs) to maintain security. The impending End-of-Life dates for older versions and the overall product line underscore the importance of migration planning.

Recommendations for optimal utilization include prioritizing upgrades to the latest stable SGOS LTRs (e.g., SGOS 7.3) to ensure access to critical security fixes and ongoing support. Organizations should also consider the evolving threat landscape and their specific scalability needs, potentially evaluating hybrid or cloud-native alternatives for future-proofing their security infrastructure. Proactive management of updates, careful resource allocation for virtual deployments, and adherence to security best practices for management interface access are crucial.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.