Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) is a web security solution provided by Cisco Systems. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce acceptable use policies, and provide secure access to the internet for users within the organization.
Product | Market Share (%) |
---|---|
Cisco Web Security Appliance | 2.4% |
Cisco Umbrella | 16.7% |
Zscaler Internet Access | 14.5% |
Other | 66.4% |
Type | Title | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
Category | Secure Web Gateways (SWG) | Aug 27, 2025 | Download |
Product | Reviews, tips, and advice from real users | Aug 27, 2025 | Download |
Comparison | Cisco Web Security Appliance vs Cisco Umbrella | Aug 27, 2025 | Download |
Comparison | Cisco Web Security Appliance vs Fortinet FortiGate SWG | Aug 27, 2025 | Download |
Comparison | Cisco Web Security Appliance vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks | Aug 27, 2025 | Download |
Title | Rating | Mindshare | Recommending | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cisco Umbrella | 4.4 | 16.7% | 97% | 121 interviewsAdd to research |
Zscaler Internet Access | 4.2 | 14.5% | 98% | 57 interviewsAdd to research |
Company Size | Count |
---|---|
Small Business | 10 |
Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
Large Enterprise | 9 |
Company Size | Count |
---|---|
Small Business | 52 |
Midsize Enterprise | 50 |
Large Enterprise | 155 |
Cisco Web Security Appliance Benefits:
Cisco Web Security Appliance Features:
Cisco Web Security Appliance is typically deployed as a physical or virtual appliance within an organization's network infrastructure. It can be integrated with other Cisco security products and solutions to provide a layered approach to web security and network protection.
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Cisco Web Security Appliance users.
Md Manirul Islam, Deputy General Manager Pre-Sales at Beximcocomputers, states that "The most valuable feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is the provided anti-malware functionality and URL categorization. I can block access to malicious websites. 99 percent of the cases are related to a malicious website. If I cannot browse those malicious websites, then we are 99 percent protected."
Surendar Ganesan, Technical Lead, writes that "The best feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is its policy framing. It also has a good UI and it can handle traffic well. Cisco Web Security Appliance is a good product."
Atdhe Zyhranaj, Network Security Consultant at NSCON Network Services & Consulting GmbH, says that Cisco Web Security Appliance is "Easy to set up with scalable virtual machines and good reliability."
Cisco Web Security Appliance was previously known as Cisco WSA, Cisco Web Security.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Caixa Seguradora
Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
---|---|---|
Security Solution Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees | 3.5 | I use Cisco Web Security Appliance for malware protection, URL filtering, and DLP. I appreciate its advanced threat analytics, though integrating policies with BYOD can be challenging. Despite this, it outperforms alternatives like BlueCards in market competitiveness. |
Senior IP Network Defense at MTN | 4.5 | We use Cisco Web Security Appliance for cost-effective web security, particularly for remote workers, while finding some integration challenges. Despite minimal investment, it strengthens protection layers against breaches. Previously, we experienced DDoS issues with Cisco's other solutions. |
Deputy Manager Infra & Security at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees | 4.0 | We use Cisco Web Security Appliance as a proxy for secure internet browsing, appreciating its frequent updates and valuable features like malware protection. We previously used Trend Micro but switched due to Cisco's enhanced security. Cloud migration is planned. |
IT specialist at Východoslovenský ústav srdcových a cievnych chorôb, a.s. | 3.5 | I use Cisco Web Security Appliance for proxy purposes in my company. Its security features are valuable, protecting users from insecure websites. However, management capabilities need improvement. I rate the ROI high and considered alternatives like GFI KerioControl and Fortinet FortiProxy. |
L2 - Network Engineer at Sitel Group (previously Sykes) | 3.0 | We use Cisco Web Security Appliance as a forward proxy for filtering web requests, appreciating its security benefits and easy integration. However, the lack of a GUI-based troubleshooting feature makes diagnosing issues more difficult than with other vendors. |
Head of Integration Engineering / Enterprise Technology & Innovation at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees | 4.0 | We used the Cisco Web Security Appliance for security and proxy functions, appreciating its flexibility in applying policies. Although its reporting needs improvement, it was a worthy investment compared to our previous solution, Websense. |
Business Architect at Letris | 4.5 | No summary available |
DGM - Pre-Sales at Niveshan Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. | 4.5 | No summary available |