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PeerSpot user
Senior Network Administrator at a tech services company
Real User
We use it to receive, send, scan, and filter our incoming and outgoing email
Pros and Cons
  • "The system enables end users to manage their own whitelists/blacklists."
  • "The system provides our service desk with the means to troubleshoot email delivery issues with ease."
  • "Administration of the email domains and custom filters are easily done via the web interface."
  • "The user interface could be updated."
  • "Better dashboards and more interactive overviews would be nice, but the current functionality is sufficient."

What is our primary use case?

The Cisco Email Security Appliance is being used as the primary email gateway for our datacenter. We use the Cisco Email Security Appliance to receive, send, scan, and filter our incoming and outgoing email.

We use the Talos Threat intelligence to filter out known 'bad' email sender. The Sophos Antivirus plugin for antivirus scanning and the DKIM signing for our outgoing mails.

How has it helped my organization?

The system enables end users to manage their own whitelists/blacklists and provides our service desk with the means to troubleshoot email delivery issues with ease.

What is most valuable?

On-box DKIM and DMARC features let us secure our email flows and reduce the risk of our domains being used for spamming.

Administration of the email domains and custom filters are easily done via the web interface.

What needs improvement?

The user interface could be updated. Better dashboards and more interactive overviews would be nice, but the current functionality is sufficient.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Secure Email
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Secure Email. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
842,767 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

Three to five years.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

The Cisco Email Security Appliance has enabled us to reduce spam by at least 30% compared to our previous solution.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Enrique Diaz Jolly - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at Jolly Security Inc
Real User
Top 10
Protects our customers with URL and Reputation Filtering
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are Advanced Malware Protection, URL filtering, and of course Reputation Filtering."
  • "The reporting functionality needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

I have experience as an SE for IronPort as well as a private consultant. I have used this solution in multiple environments.

How has it helped my organization?

I have been able to help customers improve their email security, both new customers purchasing Cisco Secure Email Gateway, as well as long-time users. 

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are Advanced Malware Protection, URL filtering, and of course Reputation Filtering.

What needs improvement?

The reporting functionality needs to be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Email Security for nearly 15 years.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Secure Email
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Secure Email. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
842,767 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user6381 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager of Infrastructure at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
Vendor
Solid 1U appliance, but we had problems with the XML file rule not working

Valuable Features:

We chose Cisco Iron Port as it delivers strong email security protection and our company needed it to protect the company's email systems from spam, email viruses, .exe files, unwanted email from unwanted sender etc. For this, we choose Cisco Iron Port c160. Cisco Iron Port is a solid 1U appliance, no need for additional hardware, easy to plug into existing network. Email channel protection worked across the board without regard for which email client we used. When Cisco engineers became aware of the XML file rule not working as designed they immediately recorded this in their internal issues database and provided us with an issue ID. More significantly, they quickly supplied a workaround that allowed us to block XML files using a different type of rule.

Room for Improvement:

More than a few steps are required to apply rules and these are not essentially intuitive. Even though we were able to get real-time event information from the email logs, it would be nice if the higher-level journalism tools could synchronize more quickly. Price might be an obstacle for smaller networks. Need to reduce the price so that small organizations can use this product.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user2871 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Engineer at a university with 51-200 employees
Vendor
Cisco IronPort is a powerful device that adds more to traditional Cisco NAC appliances the capability to defend against application and operating system attacks

Valuable Features:

Our company was facing a problem of user complaints with network performance despite the fact that we used Cisco ASA and Cisco IPS. When we scanned the mail server with antivirus we found a lot of threats that couldn't be treated, so we need to use IronPort. Cisco IronPort mail security was very helpful by blocking threats, viruses, worms and Trojans from attacking the mail accounts and user PCs.

Room for Improvement:

-Added cost and delay to the network traffic, but performance did remain stable. -Requires knowledge and operation time to manage an added security device to the network devices besides IPS and ASA.

Other Advice:

Cisco IronPort is Cisco's new network access controller (NAC). Cisco IronPort email and web security products are used online with the firewall Cisco ASA and Cisco IPS to filter attacks, threats, phishing and data loss.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user3882 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Administrator at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Consultant
Simple to add to our network and efficient to troubleshoot

Valuable Features:

• Cost-effective since they do not require extra hardware • They are simple to plug into the available network • Protection of mail channel works well regardless of the email client used • Efficient to troubleshoot

Room for Improvement:

• Requires several actions to employ rules • It takes time to harmonize information from the email log events with higher level reporting tools

Other Advice:

Security risks presented by web-based malware, spyware and web traffic exposes organizations to compliance and productivity dangers introduced by improper usage of the web within the organization. IronPort allows visibility into the problem and an easy way to pinpoint policy offenders. It includes a user friendly interface and easy content incorporation, filtering and reporting infrastructure.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user386826 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user386826Distribution Systems Analyst at a pharma/biotech company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Vendor

I would not suggest Cisco Ironport to anyone, just installed a 40mb circuit and it's not going well pings to 108.171.131.161 are just sad. We are reviewing the configuration but overall it is just a waste of our time and money. I'm not impressed at all...

See all 2 comments
Systems Engineer at a non-tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Email threat defense effectively catches phishing and spam emails
Pros and Cons
  • "The technical support from Cisco is perfect."
  • "The user interface of the Email Security Gateway should be improved."

What is our primary use case?

I have deployed Cisco Secure Email for various companies, including production companies and municipal territories. I have several customers using Cisco Secure Email, primarily for enhancing their email security.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Secure Email includes two products: the Email Security Gateway and the Email Threat Defense. The most valuable product, in my opinion, is the Email Threat Defense, particularly for those using Office 365. It is highly effective in catching phishing and spam emails.

What needs improvement?

The user interface of the Email Security Gateway should be improved. It would be beneficial to have the functionality of the Email Threat Defense integrated into the Email Security Gateway so customers don't have to buy two products for full email protection.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Cisco Secure Email for the last five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Based on my experience, the stability of Cisco Secure Email is very strong.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Secure Email is highly scalable, suitable for all company sizes.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support from Cisco is perfect.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The setup of Email Threat Defense is very simple. However, the setup for the Email Security Gateway can be complex.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing structure is good as it is user-based or email client-based, which is positive for clients.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

The main competitor for Cisco Secure Email is Microsoft 365. Most customers already have features included in Office 365, so they don't see the need for an additional protection tool.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate Cisco Secure Email an eight out of ten. Although many customers think they have full protection with Office 365, Cisco Secure Email enhances email security and I rate it an 8.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Secure Email Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Secure Email Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.