Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Reviews

Name: Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
Brand: Cisco
Rating: 4.4 (24 reviews)

Vendor: Cisco

4.4 out of 5

24 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance?

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is known for its user-friendly approach to network analysis and performance monitoring. It excels in real-time diagnostics, helping organizations quickly resolve network issues and optimize performance effortlessly.

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Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is the #44 ranked solution in best Network Monitoring Tools and #46 ranked solution in APM tools. PeerSpot users give Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is most commonly compared to Dynatrace: Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs Dynatrace. Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 66% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 36% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance

August 2025

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Helped 865,164 peers since 2012

Featured Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance reviews

Pifu Lin

Senior System Engineer at DYNASAFE TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.

I had prepared for COC and the client. I work as a vendor for a client using Flow Mount for network performance monitoring. I focus on resolving client-side issues related to Packy Performance and quality use. This involves addressing network device issues, specifically Cisco network devices One…

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Sylvain Germe

Application and Network Performance Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

This solution is geared towards on-premise setups, and would not be useful if the company plans to move to the cloud within the next two years, such as Google Cloud for example. If the goal is to monitor bandwidth at remote sites and identify performance issues because the network is under the control, this solution is useful. However, if a company primarily uses cloud-based servers and does not manage the internet connection of its remote sites, the solution becomes less useful. I rate Accedian Skylight a seven out of ten. I have a positive opinion of the tool, but it can be challenging to set up. It is also limited in its applicability to certain use cases. I am familiar with the engineers behind the solution and have a good impression of them. However, I am not pleased with the fact that the company removed many features and raised prices after it was acquired by Accedian.

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reviewer1447356

CTO at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

For us, the most valuable feature is something called TWAMP that allows for real-time traffic in a way that is 10 times lighter than things like SolarWinds. It's in the sub-milliseconds of accuracy, and you can divide tasks so that you can literally see things like the tagging for Quality of Service. That had been incorrect with the carrier, but there was no way on this planet you'd be able to tell a carrier that they're wrong. I have dozens of scenarios where we found "No, that's not right," and got it resolved instantly. I like the reports that are very standardized and so repeatable, which is amazing. I've got CSOs who, in a prior life, would be doing application support for institutions that are 10 times larger than ours, and they were unaware of what is possible. It's one of those solutions which completely educates really smart technical people as to what is possible. It's extraordinary.

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Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance mindshare

Product category:

As of August 2025, the mindshare of Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance in the Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability category stands at 0.3%, down from 0.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability

PeerResearch reports based on Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs Datadog	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs Dynatrace	Aug 18, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs New Relic	Aug 18, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Dynatrace	4.4	10.2%	95%	349 interviews Add to research
Zabbix	4.2	3.7%	95%	107 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is praised for ease of use, offering comprehensive network visibility and analysis. Key attributes include network control, bandwidth monitoring, application performance analysis, and insightful diagnostics for protocols like HTTP and SQL. Users appreciate real-time traffic monitoring, customizable dashboards, standardized reporting, and a user-friendly GUI. The ability to capture and analyze packet data, along with efficient latency and throughput metrics, further enhances network troubleshooting and management capabilities, making it valuable for IT migrations and overall network performance scrutiny.

"One valuable feature we have is real-time monitoring for connection issues."
"One valuable feature we have is real-time monitoring for connection issues."
"The performance of Accedian Skylight is better than other vendors."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance users suggest enhancing database systems to avoid data truncation, improving virtual poller licensing, and integrating RADIUS server support. They desire better scalability, faster query performance, more flexible licensing, and an improved user interface. Reporting features and Layer 4 to Layer 7 analytics are in demand. Export options, sFlow protocol support, and a local cloud option for regions with connectivity restrictions are also requested, along with cost reductions and seamless updates.

"Human resource costs can be high when dealing with connection issues."
"Human resource costs can be high when dealing with connection issues."
"The UI interface of Accedian Skylight could improve."

ROI

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is valued for its ability to save time and money by reducing network troubleshooting times and preventing unnecessary hardware purchases. Users highlight the tool's efficiency in pinpointing issues, leading to quicker resolution and improving IT teams' productivity. It assists in managing agreements with network providers, offering refunds for service disruptions. Although ROI measurement is challenging, its cost-effectiveness is noted due to significant savings in time and operational efficiency.

Pricing

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is perceived as a valuable yet somewhat expensive solution, offering good functionality and competitive pricing compared to similar products. Users highlight the complexities of licensing, which can add to the costs. While cost savings on time are noted, installation costs remain unclear for some. The solution is appreciated for its flexibility, allowing enterprises to scale their needs; however, licensing complexities and additional fees for advanced features are factors to consider.

"The solution was previously well-regarded, but after being acquired by Accedian, the prices have significantly increased. This has made it challenging to sell the product due to its high cost. It is an expensive solution."
"The price is competitive overall, depending on the type of customer."
"The pricing of Accedian Skylight is really good. The sensors are low cost. Their model to analytics for sensors is by license, endpoint, or session. With the probes for their analytics, if they get deployed virtually, they are free. The licensing is only based on flows. So, you can effectively deploy probes everywhere in your network. Then, if you want to look at a specific type of traffic, you can enter into it with a very low cost license. You can just use things like spam ports, mirrors, TAPs, and aggregators to optimize what sort of traffic you send to these analysis tools. Then, if you want to start looking at more, you can up your licensed as you go. You are not getting forced into expensive appliances or subscription models."

Popular Use Cases

The primary use case of Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is identifying and resolving network and application performance issues. Organizations use it to troubleshoot application slowness, understand network bottlenecks, and monitor overall network health. It aids in proving infrastructure reliability and optimizing performance, especially for enterprises with complex infrastructures like hospitals and media companies. Users benefit from real-time performance insights, ensuring network capabilities meet current demands and expectations.

Service and Support

Customers describe Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance customer service as responsive, efficient, and satisfactory, with access to developers during problems. Technical support is praised for being knowledgeable, responsive within hours, and providing competent assistance. Many value the expertise and professionalism of support staff, with some noting a more hands-on approach where support agents also develop. Both customer service and technical support receive high ratings for being dependable, quick, and knowledgeable across various interactions.

Deployment

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance's initial setup was generally straightforward with well-documented instructions. Some found it simple but time-consuming, especially when configuring extensive network settings. Experienced users noted that deploying on diverse network scenarios was manageable. Common tasks like defining zones or capture ports were easy, though complex configurations required more planning. Using Accedian Skylight for troubleshooting aided in overcoming installation challenges. The setup process varied from quick and effortless to occasionally extending over a week for larger networks.

Scalability

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is generally scalable with no significant concerns reported by most users. Although some face scalability issues due to evolving infrastructure needs, the company is moving towards virtualization to enhance scalability. The use of distributed solutions like Skylight and SSDs is anticipated to improve future scalability. Licenses allow flexibility in deployment by adding new probes and servers. Larger environments with multiple data centers, switches, and servers report efficient scaling capabilities.

Stability

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is viewed as stable by users. Many experience no issues, appreciating its reliability and low maintenance needs. Users report minimal downtime with effective performance. Even when minor problems occur, they are resolved efficiently, not impacting stability. Users find it suitable for heavy usage without frequent reboots. Some mention improvements needed in human resources for connectivity but regard the system as dependable without requiring frequent upgrades.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

36%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Comms Service Provider

Energy/Utilities Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Consumer Goods Company

Educational Organization

Performing Arts

Construction Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Retailer

Healthcare Company

University

Logistics Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Hospitality Company

Insurance Company

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Renewables & Environment Company

Wellness & Fitness Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Photography Company

Compare Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance with alternative products

Learn more about Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance focuses on comprehensive network troubleshooting and performance monitoring, assisting in identifying bottlenecks and analyzing applications. Real-time data collection and evaluation ensure IT infrastructure efficiency. With active monitoring of latency, jitter, and throughput, users maintain smooth operations across multiple sites and applications. While highly effective, improvements in data handling, protocol support, and dashboard aesthetics are suggested to enhance user experience.

What are the key features of Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance?

Flow Matrices: Advanced analysis of network paths and traffic distribution.
SQL and DNS Analysis: In-depth insights into database and domain queries for troubleshooting.
Bandwidth Assessment: Evaluation of network capacity and utilization for performance optimization.
Real-time TWAMP Monitoring: Tracks network performance using Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol.
Application Performance Modules: Monitors the performance of various applications and services.
Customizable Dashboards: Personalized views for tracking critical network metrics and trends.
PCAP Capturing: Detailed packet analysis using tools like Wireshark for deeper insights.

What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?

Ease of Use: Intuitive design allowing users to swiftly diagnose network issues.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Enhanced visibility of network activity for better control.
Performance Efficiency: Optimization of throughput, reducing downtimes and improving service delivery.
Cost-Effectiveness: Balances features and functionality with competitive pricing for better ROI.

In industries such as telecommunications and finance, where network reliability is crucial, Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance offers critical network performance insights. It supports high-demand environments by providing data-driven decisions, ensuring infrastructures handle increased loads efficiently.

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance was previously known as Accedian Skylight, Accedian SkyLIGHT PVX, SkyLIGHT PVX, SecurActive, Performance Vision.

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance customers

T-Systems, Thomson Reuters, Bordeaux Metropole, CGI, Citadelle Regional Hospital Center, Lorraine Institute of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Groupe BPCE, Group S, Splitpoint, Horus-Net, Audatex, Indexis, Province de Liège, EASI, Spie Batignolles, Faymonville