Cisco Web Security Appliance Reviews

The reviewers mentioned that ROI cannot be calculated for a security solution like Cisco Web Security Appliance, but it is possible to evaluate potential losses in case of an attack. One reviewer highlighted the challenge of determining the ROI as the product was included in a larger package with other services, making it difficult to break down the costs. However, they believe that it is worth the investment based on their experience with the product. Another reviewer also expressed satisfaction with the investment but was unsure about the cost breakdown as they only saw the overall cost of the package.

Cisco Web Security Appliance requires a subscription-based license that is calculated by the number of users and paid annually, with technical support included. The licensing options begin at 100 users, which may be too high for smaller networks. Premium or bundle licenses may require additional third-party support. The cost of the solution varies depending on the number of users purchased, but it's mid-level in terms of price and comparable to other solutions on the market. It would be beneficial to offer one-year licenses in addition to multi-year packages.

• "I rate the product price a ten on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price."
• "The tool's licensing is yearly."
• "I rate Cisco WSA a seven out of ten since it is costly."

Cisco Web Security Appliance is used for a variety of purposes including firewalls, site-to-site VPN, routing, and remote work. It can be used as a proxy for sending all traffic to the internet with advanced security features such as anti-malware and attack prevention. The solution is used for enforcing security and controlling internet access for enterprises, government projects, and internal purposes. It can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise and is often used as a web security gateway and additional proxy. The solution is also used to verify the identity of users connecting to the network and check the compliance of their systems.

Customers have generally had positive experiences with Cisco Web Security Appliance's customer service and support. Some have rated it highly, with one even calling it the "best support team available on this planet." Others have noted that technical support is good compared to other solutions, and that they have been helpful and responsive when reached out to for assistance. However, a few have experienced issues with SMARTnet support and suggest that improvements could be made.

The initial setup for Cisco Web Security Appliance varies greatly depending on the user's knowledge and needs. The level of flexibility in creating policies was a common concern, with some feeling limited by the provided constraints. However, those who found the setup easy and intuitive praised the user-friendly interface and straightforward configuration process. 

The Web Security Appliance has varying degrees of scalability according to different users. Some rate it high, while others have encountered issues when adding new devices related to clustering and load balance in the Active Directory. Overall, the solution offers good scalability and has been successfully used by organizations with up to 50,000 users. 

The virtual appliance is easy to implement and has no crashes, although hardware appliances may be affected by power outages due to encrypted hard disks. The ability to block uncategorized traffic is a favored feature, although it can become an administrative headache if not managed properly. Some users have experienced no issues over a period of several years, while others find the stability lacking and in need of improvement.