Hayden

Every enterprise security administrator has faced this critical question: “How long will our current security solution be supported?” For organizations running ForcePoint Web Security, understanding the product lifecycle and licensing policies is essential for maintaining robust security operations.

This comprehensive guide covers everything IT professionals need to know about ForcePoint Web Security’s EOS (End of Sale)/EOL (End of Life) schedules and licensing policies, based on the latest available information.

 

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1. ForcePoint Product Lifecycle Policy Framework

ForcePoint operates a unified product lifecycle policy as of January 2023. This policy is divided into four main categories:

Main Policy Categories

  • Appliance & Hardware Life Cycle: Hardware and appliance products
  • Enterprise Software & Software Versions Life Cycle: On-premises commercial software
  • Cloud-Delivered SaaS Solutions Life Cycle: Cloud-based SaaS solutions
  • Global Governments Software Life Cycle: Government-specific software

ForcePoint Web Security primarily falls under the Enterprise Software category, while cloud versions follow SaaS solution policies.

 

 

2. ForcePoint Web Security Software Version Support Status

Current Supported Versions

VersionRelease DateSupport StatusEnd of MaintenanceKey Features
8.5.6September 19, 2024Currently SupportedTBD4 new AI/ML categories, Trellix engine integration
8.5.5April 29, 2022Currently SupportedTBDVMware ESXi 7.0 support, OpenSSL 1.0.2y
8.5.4June 8, 2020Currently SupportedTBDRed Hat 7.9 requirement, stable release
8.5.3November 30, 2018End of Maintenance~2022Last version for G3 series appliances
8.5.0March 2018End of Life2020V20000 G1 initial support

Lifecycle Stage Definitions

General Availability (GA): Production-ready official release End of Maintenance: Minor releases discontinued, critical security patches only End of Support: Technical support services completely discontinued End of Sale: License sales discontinued End of Life: All support completely terminated

Web Security Lifecycle Policy

  • New major release impact: Versions 2 major releases back or 18+ months old enter End of Maintenance
  • Difference from NGFW: Web Security provides longer support periods than NGFW (which only supports 1 major release back)

 

 

3. Hardware Appliance Models and Actual EOS/EOL Timeline

V-Series Appliances Support History and Current Status

ModelGenerationLaunch PeriodEOS/EOL DateLast Supported VersionCurrent Status
V20000 G14th Gen2018Active8.5.6+Currently Supported
V10000 G4 R24th Gen2018Active8.5.6+Currently Supported
V10000 G44th Gen2016-2018Active8.5.6+Currently Supported
V5000 G4 R24th GenDecember 2019Active8.5.6+Currently Supported
V5000 G44th Gen2017-2019Active8.5.6+Currently Supported
V10000 G33rd Gen2015-2016EOL: November 20188.5.3 (Final)End of Life
V10000 G3 R23rd Gen2016-2017EOL: November 20188.5.3 (Final)End of Life
V5000 G33rd Gen2014-2016EOL: November 20188.5.3 (Final)End of Life
V10000 G2 R22nd Gen2014-2015EOL: March 20187.8.x (Final)End of Life
V10000 G2 R12nd Gen2013-2014EOL: March 20187.8.x (Final)End of Life
V5000 G2 R22nd Gen2014-2015EOL: March 20187.8.x (Final)End of Life
V5000 G2 R12nd Gen2013-2014EOL: March 20187.8.x (Final)End of Life

X-Series Appliances (Blade Server)

ModelGenerationEOS/EOL DateLast Supported VersionCurrent Status
X10G G2 R22nd GenActive8.5.6+Currently Supported
X10G G22nd GenActive8.5.6+Currently Supported
X10G G11st GenEOL: November 20188.5.3 (Final)End of Life

I-Series Appliances (Hybrid Deployment)

ModelForm FactorSupport StatusPrimary Use Case
i5001U rackmountCurrently SupportedCloud on-ramp, Network Agent
i500vVirtual applianceCurrently SupportedVirtualized environment integration

Virtual Appliances

TypeSupported PlatformCurrent Version
Web Security VAVMware ESXi 8.0/7.0/6.7/6.58.5.6

 

 

4. ForcePoint Appliance Lifecycle Pattern Analysis

Historical EOL Pattern (2018-2024)

Based on actual EOL dates, ForcePoint follows a 4-5 year hardware lifecycle:

Wave 1 (March 2018): G2 Series Complete EOL

  • All G2 generation appliances discontinued with ForcePoint 8.0.0 release

Wave 2 (November 2018): G3 Series EOL

  • V5000 G3, V10000 G3, V10000 G3 R2, X10G G1 received final support with version 8.5.3

Current Generation (2024): G4 Series Active

  • V5000 G4/G4 R2, V10000 G4/G4 R2, V20000 G1, X10G G2/G2 R2

Predicted Next EOL Wave (2025-2026)

Based on the 4-5 year cycle pattern:

  • Early G4 models (launched 2016-2018) may reach EOL in 2025-2026
  • V5000 G4 R2 (launched December 2019) likely supported until 2027-2028

 

 

5. Hardware Appliance Lifecycle Policy Details

Appliance Support Phases

Support ItemGA PeriodEOS Years 1-2EOS Year 3EOS Years 4-5
Critical Security Patches✓✓✓✓
Content Updates✓✓✓✓
New Major Software Versions✓✓✓–
Minor Releases✓✓––
Hardware Repair/ReplacementFree warrantyWith warranty extensionWith warranty extensionWith warranty extension

Warranty Policy

  • Basic warranty: 36 months NBD (Next Business Day)
  • Maximum extension: Up to 5 years from purchase date
  • Critical note: Once a model reaches EOL, software support immediately ceases

 

 

6. ForcePoint ONE Web Security Edition (Cloud)

Cloud Service Lifecycle

ForcePoint ONE Web Security Edition follows a distinct lifecycle:

  • End of Sale notice: 1-3 months advance (vs. 3 months for on-premises)
  • Renewal period: 1 year after EOS
  • Service termination: Immediate discontinuation at EOL

Minimum License Requirements

  • Minimum users: 500 users (AWS Marketplace standard)
  • Auto-renewal: Monthly auto-renewal after expiration
  • Non-cancellable policy: All orders non-cancellable

 

 

7. Web Security Upgrade Paths and Compatibility

Software Upgrade Paths (to 8.5.6)

Current Version8.5.6 UpgradeIntermediate StepsNotes
8.5.5Direct upgrade–Recommended path
8.5.4Direct upgrade–Recommended path
8.5.3Staged upgrade required8.5.4 → 8.5.6Last version for G3 appliances
8.4.x and belowISO method required8.5.0 → 8.5.6Professional support recommended

Operating System Requirements (8.5.6)

Operating SystemSupported VersionStatus
Red Hat Enterprise Linux7.9+Required
Windows Server2022New support
Windows Server2019, 2016Supported
Windows Server2012 seriesEnd of support
VMware ESXi8.0, 7.0Recommended

Appliance Upgrade Compatibility Matrix

Appliance Generation8.5.6 SupportLatest Software SupportHardware Status
G4 Series (Current)Full support8.5.6+Active production
G3 SeriesNot supported8.5.3 (Final)Hardware replacement required
G2 SeriesNot supported7.8.x (Final)Hardware replacement required

Critical Migration Requirements

Organizations using G3 or older appliances must:

  1. Immediate Action Required: Plan hardware replacement
  2. No Software Path: Cannot upgrade to 8.5.4+ without new hardware
  3. Security Risk: Missing 6+ years of security updates (G3 users on 8.5.3)

 

 

8. Web Security License Policy

On-Premises License Structure

ComponentDescriptionRenewal Policy
License FeeSoftware usage rightsBased on License Term
Maintenance FeeUpdates, patches, technical supportBased on Maintenance Term

License Renewal Critical Points

Non-Cancellable Policy:

  • All orders non-cancellable after confirmation
  • No fee adjustments or refunds for decreased usage

Support Gap Penalties:

  • Reinstatement fees for support lapses exceeding 1 year
  • Retroactive payment required for lapsed periods

ForcePoint ONE Web Security Subscription

Basic Requirements:

  • Minimum 500 users
  • Monthly/annual subscription billing
  • Auto-renewal (30-day notice for termination)

 

 

Reference Documentation:

 

 

With around 20 years of experience managing IT security and compliance at multinational financial institutions, I run a tech blog sharing hands-on expertise and insights across IT security, compliance, AI, and infrastructure. Managed by a certified CISSP, CISA, and PMP professional, this IT-specialized blog delivers content in Korean, English.

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