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Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
Ranking in Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions
2nd
Ranking in WAN Edge
2nd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
92
Ranking in other categories
Network Management Applications (5th)
Forcepoint Next Generation ...
Ranking in Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions
10th
Ranking in WAN Edge
11th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
42
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (24th)
 

Featured Reviews

MOHAMEDELSHERIF - PeerSpot reviewer
Good centralization and manageability for edge routers but quite expensive
The setup is quite straightforward and the solution is easy to deploy. Deployment time depends on the size the customer or enterprise. Each customer has its own use case so it is difficult to give a time estimate. In any case, the work is straightforward with no obstacles or challenges.
OusaidAbaz - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides decent protection for the LAN but complicated interface
We had some licensing issues with its web filtering capabilities. That's why we migrated our web filtering to Cisco Umbrella. Moreover, the interface is complicated. It's difficult to locate all the necessary menus and functions. For example, one of the many issues is with SSH. Even now, we haven't successfully opened the port to connect using SSH mode when we want to change the configuration. It's like a black box—not very open to changes and customization. It's simply not easy to configure. There are other problems, too. For example regarding Forcepoint's Websense component. We had a lot of problems managing the web settings within Websense. That's why we migrated to Cisco Umbrella for cloud-based web filtering. It's not that Forcepoint is inherently bad. The issue is that it's not user-friendly. It is not easy to use. The developers need to redesign the interface (GUI) for better management. It is very difficult to manage. For example, simple actions require too many clicks compared to FortiGate or Palo Alto. That's the main problem.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"This solution can scale from SMB to the enterprise level. It is very impressive."
"Cisco SD-WAN is a highly stable solution."
"Cisco SD-WAN's most valuable feature is the ease of transition."
"The product's brand recognition is one of the most valuable aspects of the solution."
"The most useful feature is centralized telephony."
"Cisco SD-WAN is a stable solution."
"It is very simple and easy to manage, compared to other methods."
"The solution is stable and reliable."
"One of the most valuable features is having the ability to cluster multiple firewalls even if they are different versions."
"The most valuable feature is the console management."
"I have two offices, and I can route the internet of both offices using the same product. The connectivity is great."
"The feature that we like the most about Forcepoint is that we know the technology and have confidence in it. We can have several functionalities to simplify operations and management. We can combine functionalities like log ownership to review the number of devices in the infrastructure."
"They offer templates that provide detailed reports categorized by user, device, and internal network access."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the support."
"The VPN is great."
"I found the initial setup process to be very simple and straightforward."
 

Cons

"It's an expensive solution."
"Customers require features that are secure for endpoints, on-premises, and for the cloud."
"Cisco SD-WAN could improve on the ease of integration, the configuration should be easier. At the moment the process is more command line based and it would be better if it was able to be done through an interface."
"We recently found some bugs."
"One of the major areas that Cisco can improve on with their SD-WAN offering is their security features. When compared with Fortinet, who have what they call their 'security pillars' (e.g. firewall and security features built-in to their SD-WAN solutions), Cisco generally comes up short. With Cisco, if you need a security component, you have to pay more to get it done. So if they could add more security features that come part and parcel with their existing solutions, then I think Cisco could be very aggressive in the market."
"It should also be much more affordable for a larger number of customers."
"The client portal needs to be improved in order to make the solution much better."
"Simplifying the definition and implementation could add significant value, as it can be complex due to multiple product integrations and customization requirements."
"Its interface is complex when compared with a firewall like FortiGate. Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall needs a management console, whereas FortiGate doesn't need any console. When you have a few devices, a console is not really necessary. It's good to have a private console only when you have a lot of devices."
"The interface is complicated. It's difficult to locate all the necessary menus and functions."
"We feel the product's technical support could be better, as this relates to the solution itself, to the installation of the product, and to having a proper understanding of the case."
"Management could be better. They can improve the management. I think all our customers can't accept firewalls that have standalone management. So, they prefer Fortinet or Palo Alto. But overall, inspection and other features are working fine."
"The endpoint protection capabilities of the product are an area of concern where improvements are required."
"They need to improve their alerts."
"This solution would be improved with the inclusion of custom reporting."
"Configuration is not easy because it has an old-fashioned interface. The configuration interface is highly complex, and it's been the same for years. They have to change the interface."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It's expensive. If you compare Cisco with Fortinet and Juniper, you'll find that Cisco is more expensive than other vendors."
"The product is not too expensive."
"We can only buy three-year licenses, not monthly. The cost seems high for us, especially since we're in Vietnam, which isn't a rich country. But we still like the product because it is good."
"The costs are a bit on the high side."
"The price of the solution is the only negative factor, it is much more expensive compared with the Cisco Meraki SD-WAN solution."
"Cost-wise, Cisco SD-WAN is comparatively high."
"80 percent reduction in WAN costs. There are no MPLS or P2P circuits left in the organization."
"It is going to be on a yearly basis. There are no additional costs."
"It could be cheaper like Fortinet."
"Everything in Forcepoint comes with an individual license, which is kind of a problem. In our last meeting, they said that it may change at the beginning of 2021, and they will try to merge some licenses together. Customers will get more features than what they got previously. We will wait and see."
"Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall is reasonable, it is priced the same as other firewalls."
"We have just a subscription for the cloud, and this license is great. The license is so good."
"Next Generation Firewall is moderately priced."
"We have found the price could be reduced. It is a little expensive."
"Forcepoint is very expensive but it's really secure."
"The pricing should be more competitive against other vendors in the market."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
44%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco SD-WAN?
When considering the most valuable features of Cisco SD-WAN, the decoupling of self-monitoring stands out significantly.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco SD-WAN?
The product pricing is high. Fortinet is cheaper than Cisco. I rate the product’s pricing a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall?
There is a need to make payments towards the licensing charges attached to the product. The product is not expensive.
What needs improvement with Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall?
My experience with this Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall wasn't very pleasant due to its complexity. For example, the firewall loses some features when working in a cluster, which is a huge chal...
 

Also Known As

Cisco SD-WAN
Forcepoint NGFW, Stonesoft Next Generation Firewall, McAfee Network Security Platform, Intel Security Network Security Platform
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Doyle Research, Ashton Metzler & Associates
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs. Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
825,399 professionals have used our research since 2012.