Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Logo

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Reviews

Vendor: Cisco
4.0 out of 5
Leave a review

What is Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?

The Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is the administrative nerve center for select Cisco security products running on multiple platforms. It provides unified management of Cisco Secure Firewalls with Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) software for port and protocol control, application control, IPS, URL filtering, and malware protection functions. Firewall Management Center is the centralized event and policy manager for:

Get the Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, FireMon Security Manager, Palo Alto Networks Panorama and more!
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is the #6 ranked solution in top Firewall Security Management solutions. PeerSpot users give Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is most commonly compared to FireMon Security Manager: Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs FireMon Security Manager. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 57% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 13% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
December 2025
Get the report
Helped 879,310 peers since 2012

Featured Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center reviews

Read more reviews

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center mindshare

As of December 2025, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center in the Firewall Security Management category stands at 1.5%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewall Security Management Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center1.5%
Tufin Orchestration Suite21.9%
AlgoSec21.8%
Other54.8%
Firewall Security Management

PeerResearch reports based on Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryFirewall Security ManagementDec 30, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersDec 30, 2025Download
ComparisonCisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs AlgoSecDec 30, 2025Download
ComparisonCisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs Tufin Orchestration SuiteDec 30, 2025Download
ComparisonCisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs Palo Alto Networks PanoramaDec 30, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
FireMon Security Manager4.117.4%88%57 interviewsAdd to research
Palo Alto Networks Panorama4.27.0%97%92 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center offers crucial features like intrusion prevention, scalable management, and user-friendly interface. Its integration with Cisco products enhances efficiency in policy creation. Advanced functionalities include malware protection, VPN, ECL, and security intelligence. The centralized management allows monitoring multiple devices, providing application visibility and threat intelligence. Customization options and integration with Talos threat intelligence enhance security operations. Users highlight its powerful performance and seamless interoperability, benefiting large enterprises significantly.
  • "Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center has been protecting our network; the fact that it's working as mentioned is its main value."
  • "The overall product rating is eight out of ten."
  • "I like the dashboard since it gives me a lot of information."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center needs improvement in performance, user interface, and pricing. Initial setup is complex. Features like encryption affect performance negatively. Licensing issues impact stability. Integration with AI and enhanced analytics are expected. Enhancements in deployment, event logging, user management, and number of ports are needed. Better tutorials and sandboxing are desired. Users find it difficult to manage policies and updates, leading to operational burdens. Support limitations due to sanctions affect some regions.
  • "I would go with a rating of three out of ten for the stability issues."
  • "I expect more integration with AI."
  • "I recommend they work on usability and ensure the solution is more user-friendly."

ROI

The return from Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center varies. Some indicate a moderate return, while others highlight its efficiency in reducing operational costs despite higher initial expenses. Several find the investment worthwhile, appreciating its protection and user-friendly policy management. Some express doubt about the return due to similar features available in less expensive alternatives, yet acknowledge the importance of deriving benefits, as Cisco offers a compelling brand reputation. The purchase is considered valuable in some cases.

Pricing

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is perceived as costly, with users noting various licensing options that offer flexibility. Many view the pricing as mid to high-range, with costs depending on features and licenses needed, such as malware and URL protection. Purchases often involve multi-year subscription models, with separate charges for support. Although some find the upfront costs expensive, there are permanent licenses that minimize recurring fees, allowing users to tailor the solution to specific needs.
  • "The product pricing is reasonable and falls in the mid-range."
  • "My license offers all the protection, like malware protection, VPN protection, IDS, IPS, and endpoint protection."
  • "As for pricing, the tool is expensive for us. I'd rate it eight out of ten on a scale where ten is the most expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center to protect servers, manage perimeter and data center firewalls, ensure network security, and configure firewall policies. It enables secure VPN connections, advanced malware detection, application visibility, intrusion prevention, and traffic exclusion between network zones. In manufacturing, it secures IT and OT networks. It serves as a control hub for managing multiple devices and provides insights through logging and reporting in diverse environments like hospitals and enterprises.

Service and Support

Many users find Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center's support very helpful, rating it an eight out of ten, although some note delays and varied engineer expertise. Organizations in certain regions face challenges due to sanctions. For others, technical assistance stands out for its knowledge base and promptness. Differing experiences show strong service but occasionally slow responses. Many rely on in-house or third-party support, finding Cisco's documentation helpful yet complex. Overall satisfaction varies.

Deployment

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center's initial setup varies in complexity. Some describe it as straightforward, particularly with experience, while others find it intricate. Deployment times range from a few hours to multiple weeks, reflecting different environments and resource availability. Teams generally need between two to five staff for deployment and maintenance. Documentation and Cisco's support contribute positively, though challenges arise with specific configurations or lack of familiarity. Integration with existing networks can also impact ease of setup.

Scalability

Users find Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center highly scalable, allowing easy scaling with additional licenses. Many organizations, both small and large, use it effectively. Most rate scalability between eight and ten out of ten. The platform accommodates growth, handling increased traffic and devices efficiently. Some users feel there's room for improvement in scalability, while others highlight its extensive flexibility. Various users have rated its scalability capabilities with high marks, demonstrating strong adaptability to different needs.

Stability

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is praised for its stability. Users rate it between seven and ten, but issues like high CPU load and bugs appear in older versions. Newer updates have improved performance. Occasional challenges arise from VDP updates and software bugs, requiring technical support. Pilot testing before deployment enhances stability. Clients rarely report issues, contributing to its reputation for reliability and ease of control. The stability is described as high by most users.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Midsize Enterprise8
Large Enterprise7
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise30
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Healthcare Company
9%
Retailer
9%
Performing Arts
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Transportation Company
8%
University
6%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Outsourcing Company
4%
Logistics Company
4%
Government
2%
Marketing Services Firm
2%
Media Company
2%
Financial Services Firm
2%
Renewables & Environment Company
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Security Firm
2%
Consumer Goods Company
2%
Construction Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Educational Organization
2%

Compare Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center with alternative products

Go!

Learn more about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

● Cisco Secure Firewall with the Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) OS

● Cisco ASA with FirePOWER Services

● Cisco Secure IPS (Firepower Next-Gen IPS / NGIPS)

● Cisco FirePOWER Threat Defense for ISR

● Cisco Malware Defense (AMP)

Related questions

  • 14
How can I view objects that are already pulled to my feed lists in Cisco FMC (Security Intelligence)?
  • 66
Which lesser known firewall product has the best chance at unseating the market leaders?
  • 38
Comparing network security vendors and devices
  • 162
When should companies use SSL Inspection?
  • 11
When evaluating Firewall Security Management, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
  • 103
What are the most important features you would be looking for in a firewall?
  • 212
How do I estimate the required firewall throughput for my organization?
  • 10
What are the pros and cons of Tufin, AlgoSec and RedSeal?
  • 38
Tasks to Perform on Preventive Maintenance.
  • 11
Why is network segmentation important?

Product Categories

Product Categories
Firewall Security Management

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons
FireMon Security Manager vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Logo
FireMon Security Manager vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
Palo Alto Networks Panorama vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Logo
Palo Alto Networks Panorama vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
AWS Firewall Manager vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Logo
AWS Firewall Manager vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
Cisco Security Cloud Control vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Logo
Cisco Security Cloud Control vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center
See all alternatives
 
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Senior Network and Security Engineer at Symbol Technologies PLC4.0I use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center for device management due to its comprehensive dashboard and visibility features, though it lacks AI integration and real-time logging improvements. While valuable, its high cost doesn't offer significant ROI compared to alternatives.
Deputy Director, Information Technology at Afe Babalola University Nigeria3.5We use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center in our hospital network and while it works as expected, licensing and support have been challenging, and we're considering alternatives like Fortinet due to limited automation impact and cost concerns.
Network Engineer at Comprehensive Technical Group, Inc. (CTG)4.0I use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center as a perimeter firewall for its all-in-one protection, including IPS, IDS, and application visibility. Though it's pricey and complex to update, the tool is definitely worth its cost for its security benefits.
Founder Director at Ninesec Integration Pvt. Ltd4.5We use Cisco Secure Firewalls for perimeter defense and internal segmentation. The integration with other Cisco products enhances management efficiency. Some improvements needed are pricing and product range. Despite higher costs, ROI is achieved rapidly due to operational efficiency.
Student at BCU3.5I use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center to compare firewall products in my company. Its user-friendly GUI and easy policy-making are valuable, but more tutorials are needed. We also evaluate products from Palo Alto and FortGate for comprehensive analysis.
Chief Information Security Officer at Allied Bank Limited4.0We use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center for traditional firewall functions, advanced malware detection, and application visibility with valuable features like Advanced Malware Protection. However, it needs performance improvements for faster policy push and API integration. ROI is good.
Senior Network Engineer at Hispasat4.0I use the Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center for security and technical actions, valuing its malware detection, URL filtering, and antivirus features. While we rely on standard policies without much customization, we're transitioning to a specialized security team for better management.
Network Admistrator at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees4.0I use Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center frequently, but stability issues have arisen due to licensing problems, leading to traffic overloads and service disruptions. The interface is not user-friendly, and generating reports is challenging. Improvements are necessary.