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Network Engineer at IT Security
Real User
Supports a secure environment and has easy administration
Pros and Cons
  • "An eight because it's a good security solution. It's more mature than its competitors."
  • "The security features in the URL category need more improvement."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is to support a security environment. It has performed well.

How has it helped my organization?

I am a security business of consultant. I deploy this solution for our customers. 

What is most valuable?

I like the easy administration.

What needs improvement?

It could use more of a system interface.

The security features in the URL category need more improvement. 

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Secure Firewall
November 2024
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For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It performs very well. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is good. 

How are customer service and support?

Cisco has the best technical support. 

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

I worked with Check Point, but Cisco Firepower is better. It was an easy transfer to this solution. We chose Cisco because of its trustworthy reputation. They're a big, recognized brand.  

The most important criteria that we consider when evaluating a solution are performance, administration, and price.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was easy and simple. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten. An eight because it's a good security solution. It's more mature than its competitors. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
PeerSpot user
it_user456837 - PeerSpot reviewer
Project Manager with 11-50 employees
Vendor
It is very robust, trustworthy and highly customizable.

What is most valuable?

It is very robust, trustworthy and highly customizable.

How has it helped my organization?

Solutions using NAT, VPNs, internet and MPLS, are more customizable than other solutions.

What needs improvement?

It could have more functions for load balance on the internet.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using the solution for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We never had any stability issues. It is the most stable platform that I have used, and I have used several including Fortinet, Sophos, Hillstone, Cisco and D-Link.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We did not encounter any issues with scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

I would rate the technical support at 10/10. It is the best.

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

I implement solutions on several clients, Redneet is a technology integration company and I prefer Cisco ASA for my security solutions.

How was the initial setup?

The setup is a little more complex than other solutions.

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

It is a bit more expensive than other solutions, but offers more customization and security than other solutions.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Fortinet, Sophos, Palo Alto.

What other advice do I have?

Use the best practice guides and online documentation. Cisco has more information online free that any other brand, so use it!!!

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: We are a Cisco Partner.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Secure Firewall
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Secure Firewall. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,562 professionals have used our research since 2012.
PeerSpot user
Network Security Administrator at a tech company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Vendor
There were some issues with the ASDM client during deployment but high availability is a valuable feature.

What is most valuable?

  • Modular scalability
  • High availability
  • VPN services

How has it helped my organization?

It provided more secure access to the resources of my organization and created a more stable environment for the business activities between us and our partners.

What needs improvement?

Security through integrated cloud and software based services.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used it for two years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

There were a few problems with the interaction between the ASDM client and ASA device.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

10/10.

Technical Support:

9/10.

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

I previously used a Fortinet solution. I switched to Cisco because Fortinet lacked
stability and robust troubleshooting features.

How was the initial setup?

It was complex because I had to put the ASA directly into the production environment.

What about the implementation team?

I implemented the solution in-house.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I also evaluated Juniper and CheckPoint solutions.

What other advice do I have?

You should try it without restraints, and it is worth every penny.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Network Security Presales Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
MSP
Good throughput, with one-of-a-kind support, that is scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features of this solution are the integrations and IPS throughput."
  • "The price and SD-WAN capabilities are the areas that need improvement."

What is our primary use case?

I am a pre-sales engineer, and I do comparisons based on my customer's requests.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of this solution are the integrations and IPS throughput.

What needs improvement?

The price and SD-WAN capabilities are the areas that need improvement.

In the next release, I would like to see more of the FortiGate features added. FortiGate is compatible with Cisco ACI, but I can't see Firepower with Security Fabric. For example, if I had Fortinet activated, could I integrate with it?

For how long have I used the solution?

I have familiar with the Next Generation firewalls for two years, and six years with firewalls in general.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's a stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable indeed.

Our clients are SMB Enterprise.

How are customer service and technical support?

It's just a fact, nothing is better than Cisco technical support.

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

Previously, I was working with Fortinet. I would most likely recommend Fortinet, because of the price and the security fabric integration with other products. It's scalable as well, and all of the FortiGate features are useful.

It's very easy to implement and it's very easy to administrate.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward. With other vendors, it is easier, but it was straightforward.

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

This product is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
PeerSpot user
it_user857937 - PeerSpot reviewer
ICT Manager with 1-10 employees
Real User
A stable, reliable solution used to protect the network's perimeter
Pros and Cons
  • "A stable, reliable solution used to protect the network's perimeter."
  • "it is not very user-friendly for the administration."

What is our primary use case?

We use it to protect the perimeter of the network.

How has it helped my organization?

It is reliable, and does the job that it is supposed to be doing.

What is most valuable?

  • IPS
  • Antivirus
  • IP filtering

What needs improvement?

it is not very user-friendly for the administration.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The Cisco solution that we have now is very stable. That is why we are interested in continuing with the Cisco solution and upgrading to the next generation.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It can be used by multiple users.

How are customer service and technical support?

We use the technical support of Cisco through a partner, so I do not have direct access to the Cisco IT technical support.

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

We just shortlisted Cisco and Fortinet.

What about the implementation team?

We needed a Cisco technician to do the initial setup. We had to outsource the implementation.

What other advice do I have?

We need to upgrade our security requirements due to the new security requirement applicable in Europe (from GDPR) and the cyber security guidelines for our vessel (we are a US shipping company). 

Most important criteria when selecting a vendor: familiarity, reliability, and price.

Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.
PeerSpot user
it_user814596 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Manager with 51-200 employees
Vendor
Easy to deploy in a working environment between servers and users
Pros and Cons
  • "Logging is great. It will show when it reaches its capacity before it is too late, unless you have bursts of traffic."
  • "Easy to deploy in a working environment between servers and users."
  • "HTTPs inspection and higher throughput/spec would be good."

What is our primary use case?

  • Datacenter and edge firewalls
  • Used in central and remote sites.
  • Used in datacenter production sites.

How has it helped my organization?

  • Deployed between users and servers transparently.
  • Easy to deploy in a working environment between servers and users.
  • Improved security and visibility.

What is most valuable?

  • Failover
  • Transparent firewall
  • Multi-context
  • Logging is great. It will show when it reaches its capacity before it is too late, unless you have bursts of traffic.

What needs improvement?

HTTPs inspection and higher throughput/spec would be good. Now, it has been replace by Firepower, which is a lot faster. 

For how long have I used the solution?

More than five years.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user674844 - PeerSpot reviewer
Executive Manager with 11-50 employees
Vendor
The solution's reliability, performance, and security are most valuable.

What is most valuable?

The solution's reliability, performance, and security are most valuable.

What needs improvement?

The price and compatibility with other vendors' products can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used this solution for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have not encountered any issue with stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have not encountered any issues with scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

I would give technical support a rating of 9/10.

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

I used Juniper Networks and I switched due to the lack of technical and sales support in Romania.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was complex because of its outdoor position. We had to solve this problem with outdoor protection.

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

Negotiate the quote.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Before choosing, I evaluated Juniper Networks SRX.

What other advice do I have?

Be careful with temperature control in the rack area, since Cisco ASA 5585-X with SSP-10 heats up a lot.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user240570 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network, Unix and Security Engineer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Consultant
It's easy to deploy, but the routing needs to be improved.

What is most valuable?

  • NAT
  • IPSec
  • ACL

How has it helped my organization?

It solved an IPSec issue we had with a customer. We have moved from Linux IPSec to Cisco.

What needs improvement?

  • Routing
  • It needs GRE supports
  • Application visibility
  • Context

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used Cisco ASA products since 2010.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

No, it's very easy to deploy.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

With versions 8.4.4 and version 8.4.6, they had a lot of bugs. Also, after I moved to 8.4.5, route lookup changed to NAT divert and that kicked me.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No issues encountered.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

No service.

Technical Support:

No service.

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

Yes we previously used Linux and we moved because Cisco is great.

How was the initial setup?

It was straightforward as Cisco Asia integrated it into OSPF, another router on the stack, and for NAT IPSec.

What about the implementation team?

I implemented it by myself.

What was our ROI?

It's good.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No other options were evaluated.

What other advice do I have?

It's a great product.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Secure Firewall Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: November 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Secure Firewall Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.