Cisco Secure Firewall Reviews

Name: Cisco Secure Firewall
Brand: Cisco
Rating: 4.1 (407 reviews)

Vendor: Cisco

4.1 out of 5

407 reviews
83% willing to recommend

15K followers

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What is Cisco Secure Firewall?

Cisco Secure Firewall stands as a robust and adaptable security solution, catering to organizations of all sizes. It's designed to shield networks from a diverse array of cyber threats, such as ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks. Beyond mere protection, it also offers secure access to corporate resources, beneficial for employees, partners, and customers alike. One of its key functions includes network segmentation, which serves to isolate critical assets and minimize the risk of lateral movement within the network.

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Cisco Secure Firewall is the #3 ranked solution in top Cisco Security Portfolio solutions and #5 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Cisco Secure Firewall an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 407 most recent Cisco Secure Firewall reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.0. Cisco Secure Firewall is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate. Cisco Secure Firewall is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 45% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 36% of all views.

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Cisco Secure Firewall

January 2025

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Featured reviews

Daniel Going

Managing architect at Capgemini

Licensing is complex, and I'd like it to be simplified. This is an area for improvement. If we could create a Firepower solution that became like an SD-WAN or a SASE solution in a box, then perhaps we could exploit that on remote sites. We've already kind of got that with Meraki, but if we could pull out some of the features from ASA Firepower and make those available in SD-WAN in SASE, then it would be pretty cool.

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Jordan De Sousa

Network Manager at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees

We have used different types of solutions. We had Cisco ASA for about 10 years, and then we switched to an on-site firewall to MX from Meraki, Cisco. For our cloud, we have Cisco Services Routers. The migration to the cloud has been a lot of work. Not all of our systems were compliant with being on the cloud so we had to work on some applications and delete some of them. For the old systems, we had to do extra work but for the newer systems, it was fine. The migration took around 18 months to migrate 99%. We had more than 2,000 on-prem firewall sites. Cisco helped with the migration to the cloud with the migration tool. Migrating MX was really easy and the tools helped us to migrate from the old ASA we had to the new MX. The cloud, firewalling, and CSR helped us from the data center on-premise approach to the cloud because at the time we didn't have a lot of experience with the cloud. It was easy to use the Cisco appliances in that space. I think that this solution has saved our IT staff time because of the ease of deployment. When I first started as a network engineer, it took a whole day to configure a firewall because of all the particularities you could potentially have at a site. I think that this solution saved our organization's time because security saves money because. At the end of the day, firewalls block threats. This solution helped with the consolidation of tools as we had all the observability tools in the solutions. Some 10 years ago we all had third-party solutions doing the observability. Now, we have the whole package and not only the firewall. We choose Cisco 10 or 20 years ago mostly because it was a market-leading solution. I also think it's because of MX's user-friendly solution that you can get on board easily. As far as CSA goes, I believe it's because you have a lot of features on the firewalls and it's the stability of course.

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Josh Schmookler

Network Engineer at Aton Computing

The policies module in FMC specifically isn't the most user-friendly. Coming from Cisco ASA, Cisco ASA is a little bit easier to use. When you get into particularly complex deployments where you have a lot of different interfaces and all that kind of stuff, it's a little bit tricky. Some usability improvements there would be nice. For scalability, they could support a little bit more diverse deployments around clustering and high availability. Currently, it's very active standby, and being able to do a three firewall cluster or four or five firewall cluster would suit some of my deployments a little bit better. It would also help to keep the cost down for the customer because you're buying smaller devices and clustering them versus larger devices.

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Cisco Secure Firewall video interviews

Watch video interviews with real Cisco Secure Firewall users to learn how the Firewalls solution helped improve their organization. The videos include info about the challenges and benefits of implementing Cisco Secure Firewall.

Aug 3, 2023

Robert LaCroix

Network Engineer at Red River

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Mar 30, 2023

Anthony Smith

Principal Security Consultant at Vohkus

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Apr 9, 2023

Kamal Benmekki

CTO at Intelcom

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Cisco Secure Firewall mindshare

Product category:

As of January 2025, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall in the Firewalls category stands at 5.8%, up from 5.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Jan 10, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 10, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Secure Firewall vs Netgate pfSense	Jan 10, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate	Jan 10, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Secure Firewall vs OPNsense	Jan 10, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	20.3%	90%	317 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	17.6%	94%	206 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Cisco Secure Firewall is renowned for its robust security features and reliability. It offers exceptional VPN capabilities, including AnyConnect and IPsec, along with advanced security modules like Firepower for intrusion prevention and URL filtering. Users value its ease of use, integration capabilities, and stability. The ASDM interface, application visibility, and modular scalability enhance usability, while Cisco Talos provides timely threat intelligence. These features make Cisco Secure Firewall a top choice for comprehensive network protection.

"Their hardware can handle substantial amounts of data without causing latency."
"The VPN functionality is consistent, and the performance is good."
"The advantage of using Cisco is its integration within the Cisco fabric, which allows for effective threat detection and mitigation."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Secure Firewall needs improvements in ease of configuration, interface usability, and integration capabilities. Users find the ASDM outdated, and the licensing model complex. Performance and stability issues are frequent, along with a lack of advanced functionality like application visibility and integrated threat management. Cost is a significant concern, with users seeking more competitive pricing. Advanced features such as real-time logs, enhanced VPN capabilities, and better third-party integration are desired to enhance overall user experience and security.

"Cisco Firewall is not user-friendly. They complicate simple configurations, requiring multiple steps."
"Cisco Firewall is not user-friendly."
"Cisco could improve its score by developing more features that integrate seamlessly with various applications and investing in hardware acceleration to enhance performance."

ROI

Cisco Secure Firewall offers significant ROI, particularly through stability, reducing downtime, and providing robust security that prevents incidents. Many users find it cost-effective, appreciating savings in time and resources, alongside efficient integration with existing systems. Reduced operational expenses and enhanced productivity are frequently noted, with users experiencing large returns in various areas. Cisco's efficient support and long-lasting hardware contribute to ROI, visibly improving user satisfaction without unexpected expenses or failures.

Pricing

Cisco Secure Firewall is perceived as an expensive yet robust solution, often requiring negotiation for competitive pricing. Initial setup costs vary widely, with some reporting $10,000 as a one-time expense, while others emphasize high recurring annual maintenance fees. Licenses for advanced features like IPS, AMP, and VPN are additional and sometimes complex, often necessitating collaboration with channel partners to ensure complete coverage. Discounts are available for partners, but overall, costs can be a barrier for smaller enterprises.

"Pricing depends on partnerships and certifications."
"Pricing is high."
"The solution’s pricing is competitive."

Popular Use Cases

Cisco Secure Firewall is primarily utilized for securing external connections such as internet and VPN access. Its use cases include data center protection, perimeter security, and firewalling tasks for enterprise environments. Users implement it for network segmentation, intrusion prevention, secure remote access, and managing firewall rules. It's also integrated with VPN services to ensure secure connectivity across distributed networks and serves as a critical component in enterprises for maintaining comprehensive network security policies.

Service and Support

Cisco Secure Firewall's customer service is consistently rated as excellent, providing responsive and knowledgeable help. Technical support varies; users report having either great experiences with knowledgeable engineers or encountering delays and less experienced staff. Although some find the technical support system slow, especially when escalating issues, many praise the expertise and dedication of Cisco's TAC team, highlighting prompt problem resolution and knowledgeable personnel, particularly in critical situations.

Deployment

Cisco Secure Firewall's initial setup showed mixed experiences. Many users found it straightforward with robust documentation, while others noted it as challenging without prior training. Familiarity with Cisco devices eased the process for some, whereas inexperience led to complexity. The availability of tools and training resources facilitated smoother transitions for seasoned users, yet new configurations often required expert handling or partner assistance. For large organizations, detailed planning helped navigate the complexities of deployment.

Scalability

Cisco Secure Firewall offers varied scalability across different models, supporting small to large deployments. Users often highlight its flexibility to expand with clusters and additional nodes. However, some report that scaling decisions are crucial depending on initial sizing and anticipated growth. Cost and licensing complexities are noted concerns. The capability to accommodate increased traffic and user demand can vary, influenced by chosen configuration and hardware, impacting performance and scalability.

Stability

Cisco Secure Firewall has a strong reputation for stability, with most users experiencing minimal issues. It operates reliably even under high demands, with consistent performance over time. While some users mention occasional bugs or necessary updates, they report that stability improves with each version. Overall, it is considered reliable and effective, with many users noting its longevity and dependability. There are instances of temporary disruptions, but they are generally manageable.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Cisco Secure Firewall Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

36%

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

University

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Performing Arts

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Logistics Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Consumer Goods Company

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Learn more about Cisco Secure Firewall

The core features of Cisco Secure Firewall are multifaceted:

Advanced threat protection is achieved through a combination of intrusion prevention, malware detection, and URL filtering technologies.
For secure access, the firewall presents multiple options, including VPN, remote access, and single sign-on.
Its network segmentation capability is vital in creating barriers within the network to safeguard critical assets.
The firewall is scalable, effectively serving small businesses to large enterprises.
Management is streamlined through Cisco DNA Center, a central management system.

The benefits of deploying Cisco Secure Firewall are substantial. It significantly reduces the risk of cyberattacks, thereby enhancing the security posture of an organization. This security also translates into increased productivity, as secure access means uninterrupted work. Compliance with industry regulations is another advantage, as secure access and network segmentation align with many regulatory standards. Additionally, it helps in reducing IT costs by automating security tasks and simplifying management processes.

In practical scenarios, Cisco Secure Firewall finds diverse applications. It's instrumental in protecting branch offices from cyberattacks, securing remote access for various stakeholders, safeguarding cloud workloads, and segmenting networks to isolate sensitive areas.

User reviews from PeerSpot reflect an overall positive experience with the Cisco Secure Firewall. Users appreciate its ease of configuration, good management capabilities, robust protection, user-friendly interface, and scalability. However, some areas for improvement include better integration capabilities with other vendors, maturity, control over bandwidth for end-users, and addressing software bugs.

In summary, Cisco Secure Firewall is a comprehensive, versatile, and reliable security solution that effectively meets the security needs of various organizations. It offers a balance of advanced protection, user-friendly management, and scalability, making it a valuable asset in the realm of network security.

Cisco Secure Firewall was previously known as Cisco ASA Firewall, Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Firewall, Cisco ASA NGFW, Cisco ASA, Adaptive Security Appliance, ASA, Cisco Sourcefire Firewalls, Cisco ASAv, Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewall.

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Cisco Secure Firewall customers

There are more than one million Adaptive Security Appliances deployed globally. Top customers include First American Financial Corp., Genzyme, Frankfurt Airport, Hansgrohe SE, Rio Olympics, The French Laundry, Rackspace, and City of Tomorrow.