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Cisco Secure IPS (NGIPS) vs Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.1
Cisco Secure IPS improves threat detection, though setup costs impact ROI recognition, yet users acknowledge enhanced network protection.
Sentiment score
6.4
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention is valued for effectiveness and security features, driving loyalty and growth despite costs.
It offers insights into security threats, despite the inability to quantify its impact in numbers.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.3
Cisco Secure IPS customer service is responsive and expert, though regional variability suggests room for improvement in initial response times.
Sentiment score
6.0
Palo Alto Networks support is effective and reliable but hindered by communication delays and reliance on third-party providers.
Fortinet, on the other hand, offers quicker response times and same-day RMAs, which gives them an edge in customer service.
The response was fast, and they provided experts to solve our issues quickly.
I have proof of this rating - when I escalate a case, I receive a reply from TAC support after two days.
I rate technical support from Palo Alto as eight out of ten.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Cisco Secure IPS scales well for various organizations but faces hardware constraints and high costs affecting flexibility.
Sentiment score
7.6
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention is highly scalable, supporting diverse organizational sizes and environments with effective integration.
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention is scalable and works well wherever enforcement points exist.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
Cisco Secure IPS is generally stable and reliable, though some users report bugs and mixed feelings about its dependability.
Sentiment score
7.7
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention is praised for stability, though users note occasional bugs and recommend specific PanOS versions.
Proper sizing of the firewall models ensures that the system does not experience crippling performance issues.
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Secure IPS users desire better SIEM integration, user-friendliness, third-party tools support, and enhanced management with AI and cloud integration.
Palo Alto Networks needs improvements in email filtering, AI analytics, pricing, and local support, especially in Saudi Arabia.
Incorporating AI capabilities would enhance its functionality.
The behavioral detection capabilities could be expanded to address all threats at the perimeter, reducing the reliance on endpoint detection and response systems.
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Secure IPS is costly but valued for strong security, with potential deals and discounts available through vendor negotiation.
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention is effective but expensive, posing budget challenges despite its premium capabilities.
It's cheaper to integrate with existing IT security solutions compared to other expensive brands with subscription costs.
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention requires an add-on license and is considered expensive compared to competitors like Cisco AMP and FortiGate firewalls.
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Secure IPS offers robust threat detection, seamless integration, and adaptable security features for comprehensive and cost-effective network protection.
Palo Alto Networks offers comprehensive threat prevention with automation, machine learning, and seamless integration for efficient, robust network security.
Cisco Secure IPS (NGIPS) is quite powerful for threat detection and includes botnet detection.
As traditional signature-based mechanisms become less effective due to the evolving nature of attacks, this solution's focus on behavioral analysis is crucial.
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Secure IPS (NGIPS)
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
9th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Palo Alto Networks Advanced...
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
28
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure IPS (NGIPS) is 4.4%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention is 7.6%, down from 8.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
 

Featured Reviews

Yosevan Sinaga Sinaga - PeerSpot reviewer
Effectively identifies malicious behavior while future automation and AI advancements hold potential
Cisco Secure IPS (NGIPS) ( /products/cisco-secure-ips-ngips-reviews ) is quite powerful for threat detection and includes botnet detection. It effectively blocks unwanted software, hashes, and suspicious behaviors. The tool is easy to integrate with other IT security solutions due to similar protocols. The system offers effective threat detection features, although automation capabilities are not yet fully utilized.
Nasir Akbar - PeerSpot reviewer
Numerous support challenges arise but unique security features impress
In this scenario with Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention, I did not get any opportunity to work on it. The only thing I did was forward the logs to the SIEM ( /categories/security-information-and-event-management-siem ) solution.For government entities, they are not allowing configuration changes. For non-government users, there is a support portal to get the configuration file and upload it to the portal. We can identify misconfigurations and where the loop is very big, so we can get the report and establish it. In Saudi Arabia specifically, the support service needs improvement. When customers have incidents with Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention and want to open a case with the Palo Alto team, the available number in Saudi Arabia leads to a long procedure. They're not able to answer within one or two hours. This needs to be implemented. They may need to open offices in Dubai or other places for Arabic-speaking people to access TAC support.
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Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) solutions are best for your needs.
861,524 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
University
15%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco NGIPS?
The product's initial setup phase was easy.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco NGIPS?
Cisco is one of the top brands known for cost-effectiveness, making it worth the money. It's cheaper to integrate with existing IT security solutions compared to other expensive brands with subscri...
What needs improvement with Cisco NGIPS?
In the future, I hope to see automation features like automatic blocking and rule creation. Additionally, incorporating AI capabilities would enhance its functionality.
Which is the best DDoS protection solution for a big ISP for monitoring and mitigating?
Arbor would be the best bid, apart from Arbor, Palo Alto and Fortinet have good solutions. As this is an ISP, I would prefer Arbor.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Palo Alto Networks Threat Prevention?
Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention requires an add-on license and is considered expensive compared to competitors like Cisco AMP and FortiGate ( /products/fortinet-fortigate-reviews ) fi...
 

Also Known As

Sourcefire NGIPS, Firepower NGIPS
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

American Electric Power, Huntington Bank, Keycorp, Nationwide, Transunion, Marriott, Inova Health, Ford, Thomson Reuters, Dow Chemical, Equifax, Chevron, Walmart, Coca Cola
University of Arkansas, JBG SMITH, SkiStar AB, TRI-AD, Temple University, Telkom Indonesia
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure IPS (NGIPS) vs. Palo Alto Networks Advanced Threat Prevention and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
861,524 professionals have used our research since 2012.