Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) is a web security solution provided by Cisco Systems. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce acceptable use policies, and provide secure access to the internet for users within the organization.
Cisco Web Security Appliance has a variety of valuable features:
Cisco Web Security Appliance could improve its firewall threat defense and provide better logs. The graphical user interface also needs improvement and better categorization when blocking in the settings. The transparent proxy is difficult to enforce on smartphones and tablets. The addition of inbound features like a reverse proxy and load balancers would be useful. The reporting could be better and there should be a user-based quota.
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.
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.
Cisco Web Security Appliance Benefits:
Cisco Web Security Appliance Features:
Cisco Web Security Appliance is typically deployed as a physical or virtual appliance within an organization's network infrastructure. It can be integrated with other Cisco security products and solutions to provide a layered approach to web security and network protection.
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Cisco Web Security Appliance users.
Md Manirul Islam, Deputy General Manager Pre-Sales at Beximcocomputers, states that "The most valuable feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is the provided anti-malware functionality and URL categorization. I can block access to malicious websites. 99 percent of the cases are related to a malicious website. If I cannot browse those malicious websites, then we are 99 percent protected."
Surendar Ganesan, Technical Lead, writes that "The best feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is its policy framing. It also has a good UI and it can handle traffic well. Cisco Web Security Appliance is a good product."
Atdhe Zyhranaj, Network Security Consultant at NSCON Network Services & Consulting GmbH, says that Cisco Web Security Appliance is "Easy to set up with scalable virtual machines and good reliability."
Cisco Web Security Appliance was previously known as Cisco WSA, Cisco Web Security.
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