Zyxel tops techconsult firewall rankings, wins VPN acclaim

Zyxel Networks has been named the top-ranked Champion for network firewalls in techconsult's 2026 Professional User Ratings survey. It was also named among the Champion vendors for VPNs.

More than 4,400 security experts from user organisations took part in the study, conducted by German research and analysis firm techconsult, part of the Heise Group. To qualify as a Champion, vendors had to score strongly in both product and company assessments.

In the network firewalls category, Zyxel ranked first among all qualifying vendors. Ten companies achieved Champion status in that category, while 23 vendors were listed overall in the survey's firewall diamond.

Zyxel also performed strongly in the VPN results. It was named one of six Champion vendors in the VPN report, which listed 21 suppliers in total, and ranked among the top two in that Champion group.

In the firewall category, survey results showed Zyxel scoring highest for ease of use, product loyalty and recommendation. It also led on supplier satisfaction and sales partner ratings.

For VPNs, Zyxel received the highest score for ease of use and recorded strong ratings for functionality, product loyalty and recommendation. In the vendor assessment, respondents rated it highest for service and support, and for information, consultancy and training.

Survey Detail

techconsult presents the results in what it calls a PUR diamond, a visual ranking based on customer assessments of both products and services. Vendors are included only if the survey receives a sufficient number of positive interviews for that supplier.

The study criteria cover performance, functionality, user-friendliness and user satisfaction. The methodology is intended to capture the views of professional users rather than vendor submissions.

Zyxel said the result reflected that user-led approach.

"Zyxel Networks' recognition as a Champion for both Network Firewalls and VPNs in the techconsult PUR Security Solutions report demonstrates the real-world strength of our products. It sends a clear message to customers that Zyxel Networks not only delivers effective protection, but stands out as a leader in SMB and SME network security, competing confidently with the biggest names in the market. Being rated the top player in firewalls is a truly significant achievement. It's especially pleasing to see our solutions ranked so highly for ease of use and to know that customers are independently recommending our cybersecurity offerings. It's a powerful reminder that Zyxel Networks is now regarded as a genuine force in network security," said Gary Chen, ANZ Regional Head, Zyxel Networks.

Chen also pointed to the survey's independence and annual format. "Our regular appearance amongst the top-ranked players in these annual reports shows that Zyxel Networks' unrelenting, consistent, innovative and customer-focused approach to research and product development continues to deliver strong results," he said.

Market Position

The rankings give Zyxel added visibility in a market where firewall and VPN suppliers compete on usability as well as technical performance and support. The findings suggest respondents placed significant weight on how easily products can be deployed and managed, alongside vendor service.

Raphael Napieralski, analyst at techconsult, highlighted those factors in his assessment of the results. "Firewalls and VPN solutions are critical to organizational security and it's vital that they are technically excellent, easy to deploy and use, and adequately supported by the vendor. The attainment of Champion status in the latest techconsult PUR survey demonstrates that Zyxel Networks is providing exceptional protection, ease of use, and innovation with its VPN products, delivering outstanding service, and achieving high levels of customer satisfaction," he said.

techconsult has operated for more than 30 years and conducts more than 35,000 interviews a year with business and technology decision-makers. Its research is used by end-user organisations to support product sourcing and strategic planning.

Zyxel, headquartered in Taiwan, sells networking and security products to small and medium-sized businesses and enterprise edge customers. It says it serves more than 1 million businesses across 150 markets.