Cisco Secure Email Reviews

I use Cisco Secure Email mainly as a email security gateway, including internal email distribution.

We rely heavily on antivirus protection, email content filtering, and authentication mechanisms to ensure compliance with email security. Regarding phishing attempts, while phishing protection features are crucial, we also emphasize user education as a critical defence. The intelligence services Cisco provides, such as the Cisco Intelligence Center, play a significant role in analyzing and validating threats, including phishing attempts, in our email security practices.

The discontinuation of physical hardware solutions is a significant area for improvement in the Cisco Email Security Appliance. This decision has posed challenges as virtual appliances are now the only option, which may not be suitable for all industries. The uncertainty regarding the future of the hardware aspect of the solution is a notable concern.

I have been using Cisco Secure Email for the past twenty years.

In terms of stability, there have been minimal issues, mainly typical hardware-related ones like hard disk failures. However, overall, it's a competent solution.

My experience with the scalability of Cisco Email Security Appliance has been positive, as it can handle our processes efficiently. We do have plans to increase usage based on business needs.

The technical support is satisfactory.

The setup process for Cisco Email Security Appliance is straightforward in my experience. Integration with our existing ecosystem of Cisco tools was seamless for networking features.Maintenance primarily involves tuning and understanding SMTP and email infrastructure and general email operations.We deployed it on our private cloud, and the physical enablement on the network was relatively fast, usually within a day.

Regarding return on investment, I find it highly valuable and worth its cost in the email security market. I recommend this solution to others, as it stands out as one of the best options .

The pricing for Cisco Email Security Appliance involves recurring costs for licenses based on the contracted time frame, such as one year, three years, or five years. Renewals are required after the license expires.

Cisco Secure Email may incorporate AI capabilities, but I'm not directly familiar with its implementation in threat detection. I would rate it as a nine out of ten due to its effectiveness, reliability, and value for investment.

My company operates as a service provider, and we use Cisco Secure Email so that we can secure the endpoints, systems, and emails in our data center.

The most valuable feature of the solution is the ease of use. It is easy to set up and manage the tool.

There are some concerns in the way the architecture is set up, making it an area where improvements are required. When you set up the tool, the way you put your SMTP routes should be possible through an easier process.

I have been using Cisco Secure Email for ten years. I am a customer of the tool.

The product is stable. The only challenge is the IPs get easily blacklisted. The IP addresses of IronPort devices easily get blacklisted. Cisco should make items to contact the companies whose IP addresses get blocked. During the configuration of the tool, there should be some provision in the product to indicate which IP addresses are from IronPort devices and not from the server.

It is a scalable solution.

My company uses three Cisco Secure Email solutions in parallel. In my company, we have set the product for different segments or networks, but all three sync well with each other and work fine.

For administration purposes, there are five people who use the product. As end users, there are over 2,000 to 3,000 people who use the product.

I am happy with the responses and the solutions provided by the solution's technical support.

The product's initial setup phase was easy.

The product's price falls on the higher side when compared to the other products on the market.

Whether the product would be worth the money for a business is something that depends on what a company is trying to do with the solution. If you are looking at the profitability angle, the new can get cheaply priced solutions in the market. I work in a government organization where profit alone is not our goal, and we need a product that offers security.

I recommend the product to those who plan to use it.

The DLP feature in the product is not a functionality that we have configured yet, but we do have access to its settings.

A beginner can learn to use Cisco Secure Email through a straightforward process.

Cisco Secure Email has integrated with our company's existing email gateway in a very straightforward manner through a configuration process involving IronPorts, and then URLs on IronPorts are set up.

Though it is easy to set up the product, the cost of the solution is not favorable for everybody.

I rate the tool a seven out of ten.

I primarily focus on managing secure settings for our organization. About ninety percent of my work involves overseeing security measures. I begin by concentrating on the operational site and then extend my attention to other aspects, such as network sites. As I progress, I tackle new tasks that come my way, often centered around enhancing security and efficiency.

The primary consideration for adopting a new product revolves around its most valuable features, and this assessment is product-specific. In our organization, we heavily rely on this evaluation to determine if the product aligns with our needs.

Capital expenditure is a significant consideration, and the impact on major expenditures prompts a careful analysis before onboarding the new product. We evaluate its suitability for our organization, assessing whether it aligns with our requirements.

Many smaller businesses opt for more cost-effective solutions, such as Gmail or Hotmail accounts, instead of investing in Cisco Secure Email, given its higher cost. While theoretical knowledge, especially in terms of POC and PNA technology, is commendable, the challenge lies in the practical application.

We have been working with it for the past five months.

The stability depends on the volume of the workload.

It provides a high scalability. Our customers are enterprise businesses. I would rate is eight out of ten.

It provides good customer support services. I would rate it nine out of ten.

Positive

The ease of deployment is contingent upon the size of the organization, specifically the number of users and titles involved. If the deployment is for a smaller organization, with a straightforward configuration, it can be completed quickly, often within a month or two. In contrast, for larger enterprises with a significant number of users, numerous branches, and a complex organizational structure, the deployment timeline can extend to six to eight months.

It is a relatively expensive option compared to other alternatives. I would rate it eight out of ten.

While Cisco is a preferred choice for larger enterprises, its products, especially in the realm of security, tend to be more expensive due to their advanced features. Many organizations commonly rely on Microsoft Outlook for their email needs. Transitioning to Cisco security solutions, including Cisco SecureMail, requires careful consideration and typically involves a learning stage. The decision between traditional hardware and virtual machines (VMs) for deploying solutions like Cisco Secure Mail often depends on financial considerations. VMs are generally more cost-effective compared to dedicated hardware, leading industries to increasingly favor VM deployment. The choice is particularly relevant when the server's capabilities are robust enough to meet organizational needs. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

We use Cisco email security against threats such as phishing and malware and block weaponized URLs. Cisco provides a cloud solution, along with the appliance, and a hybrid solution is also there. We deploy the solution as per the customer's requirements.

The solution is very robust because it talks to Cisco Talos. Talos is the number one threat detection engine, the most trustworthy and used globally. That's one strong reason we back our products. Not only do we use it on our premises, but this is the product's main USP when we sell it.

Cross-platform is one major pain point. Many of our clients use an open-source Linux system. These components cannot provide for any Ubuntu or any Linux open-source system, and that's where we get stuck most of the time. Previously, we were doing a POC for Cisco Umbrella, and we got stuck at the point where the customer had almost 200 to 300 of his endpoints, almost 80% of his workforce, working on Linux. This was both on the server and roaming user sides, and Cisco has no solution for Ubuntu. We have raised this suggestion many times when interacting with Cisco during seminars and webinars we've attended. However, we only got feedback from them that they will introduce that feature very soon with their Cisco AnyConnect agent. But it's still only available for Windows and Mac.

I've used this solution for one year.

The product is stable. There have been no complaints from the customers. Fine-tuning is important, which will come whenever you go live, especially for larger domains where customers have 1,000 or 2,000 email IDs and multiple domains. That is the only challenge where we have to fine-tune the policies. But the product is stable.

Cisco Email Security's scalability is good. We have had a couple of cases where the user increased the licenses. There is no challenge to scalability. For the past year, there have been four to five customers to whom we have sold the product.

Cisco's technical support is excellent. Whenever we contact tech support, the hierarchy starts with our regional ACs. If they cannot resolve our issue, we contact TAC, and TAC is a ten-on-ten. They're well versed with their technology. They know the capabilities of their product and how it works. The one thing we expect when we contact an OEM technical person is clarity on the subject and the issue. There should not be a gray area. When we reach out to them with any issue and when the customer is also on the call and has already purchased the product or is about to purchase the product, the most important thing is for there not to be a gray area in figuring out whether the product will work or not. That's more important than providing a prompt solution. Cisco's tech support always clarifies whether a feature will work before proceeding with the solution. If it is possible, they always provide the solution. If it is impossible, they provide the proper documentation explaining why it is impossible.

Positive

The initial setup is straightforward. That's one of the main USPs, the deployment of these products. It takes hardly 20 minutes to deploy Umbrella over a network. And with email security, it's less than a one-hour job. After deploying, the fine-tuning part comes. That comes under the policies, so I don't count that under deployment. The next step will take another one or two hours, but not more than that.

When deploying the solution, we first go on a call with the customer, understand their pain points, and understand their existing network. We have to analyze the scope of work before deploying. Depending upon the existing setup the customer has, we make our steps. "Is there any prerequisite required? Are there any virtual appliances needed in the network to be deployed?" Accordingly, we will plan our activities. In a two or three-hour call for the first session, we have to define what we have to cover, and in the second session, we have to define the success criteria. The deployment is not a template. It changes from customer to customer.

Cisco's price point is good. When we talk about Cisco to our customers, they already have the mindset that Cisco has a particular price point. It beats other competitors when it comes to the quality of the product.

I rate Cisco Secure Mail a nine out of ten. Cisco is improving. We had a session where we asked them to improve their GUI. They have improved it and the end-user experience because it was too mechanical a dashboard earlier, where it was difficult to find mail logs. We recommend the solution.

We use Umbrella for our DNS layer security, blocking all the DNS layer threats. For endpoint security, we are using Cisco Amp. Whenever there is a requirement, we hunt for greenfield opportunities where no Cisco solution is present. We can then create a window where we can reach in. We deploy one product and then explain the single vendor advantages to customers. That mostly goes with the Cisco Umbrella, which goes hand in hand with Meraki. Once the user gets his ecosystem on Cisco, giving a single vendor solution is possible.

Similarly, XDR is there. XDR is one of the key products we're pitching these days. It's a simple single glass pane where we can orchestrate all the customer's products from a single dashboard. That's a major concern we hear these days from security personnel and IT teams. They have several products from several OEMs, and whenever it comes to orchestration or finding a glitch, they have to access all the products independently on different tabs or screens.

As far as policies and security with the components are concerned, Cisco is the perfect product.

The tool has a DLP solution which we can implement. Its database is updated regularly. 

The tool's pricing can be improved. 

I have been using the solution for seventeen years. 

Cisco Secure Email is stable. 

We have more than 1500 users for the product. 

The tool's support is good. 

Cisco Secure Email's installation was straightforward. We discussed with the integrator, designed the implementation and tested the product. 

An integrator helped us with the product's installation. 

Cisco Secure Email is not expensive, and licensing costs are yearly. 

I rate Cisco Secure Email a nine out of ten. 

We use Cisco Secure Email for email security, aiming to safeguard email communications. It plays a crucial role in protecting the integrity of email integrations, particularly as many companies now opt for Microsoft email services. It's designed to secure email activities and interactions within such systems.

Cisco Secure Email is part of Cisco's extensive efforts and investments in technology, especially in the realm of cyber security. The product is one among many security solutions offered by Cisco. 

While Cisco offers excellent solutions and innovations, the pricing may not be suitable for everyone. The cost of the software is relatively high. In the current market, there are numerous competitive alternatives that focus on security, enterprise networks, and various other aspects. Cisco, being a comprehensive provider, extends its expertise across data, servers, storage, and security, making them a preferred choice for many enterprises. However, when it comes specifically to security solutions, there are other vendors that specialize solely in this domain, offering competitive options.

I've personally been working with Cisco Secure Email for the past three to four years. However, in a professional capacity, I've been dedicated to the field of security for about one year and eighteen months.

I will rate it 8 out of 10.

They were helpful.

Positive

Migrating to cloud systems could be challenging. 

We handle end-to-end implementation and also provide support services.

It is expensive. I would rate it 2 out of 10, where 1 is the most expensive and 10 is the cheapest. 

I consider Cisco Secure Email to be a top-notch product and would rate it as a ten out of ten.

This solution provides some benefits, like comfortable access to TAC support. You get prompt support when working directly with Cisco. Moreover, the current integration level is fine.

There are some drawbacks, like the pricing. It's not a default version, and the cost can be prohibitive. If you're working on projects where winning the bid is crucial, then the high price tag can be a major obstacle. Partnerships are required to use the solution. So it can be more affordable.

In future releases, I would like to see two main improvements come to mind. First, the current solution requires maintaining two separate operating systems for FTD, which can be cumbersome. I'd love to see a single operating system for the FTD box. 

Second, some improvements could be made in the documentation and reporting.

I  have been using it for two years. 

Performance is actually very good. I have deployed around 10 to 15 instances of this solution, and so far, I haven't encountered any major issues. As of now, it's a good product.

I would rate the stability an eight out of ten. 

I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten. 

The customer service and support are very good. 

Positive

The initial setup is not that easy. We needed experienced engineers because FTD is a new technology, especially if you're used to VMware or other on-box solutions. Cisco provides both on-box and VM solutions. However, deploying the FTD with the on-box option requires managing two separate operating systems: the FXOS and the FTD. It's not the most user-friendly process, but once deployed, management is quite easy.

You can use the FMC to manage all Cisco security products from one place, making management convenient. However, deployment is still a bit clunky.

Deployment typically takes a whole day. The time can vary depending on the number of firewalls involved. Updating the system can also be time-consuming, especially with the new FCDI and FCDO operating systems.

Maintenance is actually quite easy after initial deployment. Once a supplier sets it up, ongoing maintenance is straightforward.

I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive. 

Overall, I would rate the solution a ten out of ten. 

Our customers use the solution as an email security tool.

The product blocks spam emails.

The scalability must be improved. The product is a bit traditional. There are many vendors in the market. A customer might not always choose Cisco.

I have been reselling the solution since 2010.

I rate the tool’s stability an eight out of ten.

I rate the tool’s scalability a seven out of ten. Our customers are medium and enterprise-level businesses.

I rate the ease of setup a seven or eight out of ten. The deployments takes one to two weeks.

I rate the product a seven out of ten on a scale where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

Sometimes, customers choose Forcepoint or Barracuda. Usually, if the customers have a Cisco setup, they choose Cisco Secure Email.

Cisco is an integrated solution. Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.