Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs Cisco IOS Security comparison

Arista and Cisco are both solutions in the Firewalls category. Arista is ranked #39 with an average rating of 7.0, while Cisco is ranked #29 with an average rating of 9.0. Arista holds a 0.2% mindshare in Firewalls, compared to Cisco’s 0.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Arista users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 16, 2024

Cisco IOS Security and Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall are two leading products in network security. User reviews suggest that Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall has the upper hand due to its comprehensive features and better value for the price.

Features: Cisco IOS Security is praised for its robust network protocols, routing capabilities, and strong support. Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall stands out with advanced threat detection, intuitive management capabilities, and a feature set refined for contemporary threats.

Room for Improvement: Cisco IOS Security users commonly mention a need for a more intuitive management system, better integration with third-party tools, and a simplified user interface. Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall users express the desire for more frequent updates, improved documentation, and enhanced reporting features. Arista's areas needing enhancement are seen as less critical compared to issues noted with Cisco.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco IOS Security deployment is often portrayed as complex and time-consuming, though their customer service receives positive marks. Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall deployment is considered straightforward, with responsive support adding to higher user satisfaction.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco IOS Security has a higher initial setup cost, which some users feel does not fully justify its benefits. Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall presents a more attractive ROI due to its cost-effective pricing and comprehensive feature set, making it a preferred choice in terms of value for investment.

To learn more, read our detailed Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs. Cisco IOS Security Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs. Cisco IOS Security

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 18.8%, down from 20.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is 0.2%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 0.4%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Fortinet FortiGate	18.8%
Cisco IOS Security	0.4%
Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall	0.2%
Other	80.6%

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

A stable solution with an intuitive interface and quick customer service

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate, WatchGuard, Sophos, and SonicWall. I'm not as comfortable with SonicWall because of their UI and limitations. I prefer Fortinet above all other options. When it comes to configuration, I am confident in my ability to handle various tasks, including creating policies such as firewall rules, web policies, and application policies. Additionally, I can configure VPNs and implement load balancing, among other tasks. Overall, I feel much more comfortable working with Fortinet. Fortinet has made significant improvements by integrating AI with firewalls for threat analysis and prevention. In the past 2-3 years, they have launched FortiSASE and SIEM, and they also provide SOC services. Both Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are excellent. While Fortinet FortiGate comes at higher prices, the functionality and support justify the cost. They promptly resolve firmware issues and inform all support providers about configuration changes.

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reviewer2785293

systems engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees

Perimeter security has reduced botnet attacks and now needs better interface and logging

The best features Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall offers are its ability to push a lot of traffic along with bandwidth management and traffic policy. Bandwidth management and traffic policy help my organization by keeping our internet subscription low. Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall has positively impacted my organization by reducing botnet attacks. Immediately after I installed the firewall, it stopped a few botnet attacks.

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Danijel Cerovecki

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

Have faced challenges in keeping licensing clear and consistent while ensuring reliable network protection

We are a Gold Partner with Cisco. Our customers come from various industries, including service providers, and we target service providers and enterprise customers.We do not extensively use Zone-Based Firewalls in Cisco IOS Security, instead typically deploying standalone firewalls such as Cisco FTDs or Cisco ASA devices. For threat analytics and vulnerability scanning, we utilize third-party vendors with dedicated devices and software. We use products such as Tenable from Nessus for this type of analysis. We have implemented Secure Access Control Server in Cisco IOS Security, which combines multiple security mechanisms including AAA, 802.1X for network access control with Cisco ICE, TrustSec for identity-based segmentation, and Cisco DNA Center. Cisco IOS Security's VPN support is comprehensive and increasingly important in daily communication, from basic site-to-site tunnels to remote access VPNs and SD-WAN secure VPNs. Protecting and encrypting communication is essential in modern networks. The challenges with Cisco IOS Security are more operational than product-related. There is an understaffing issue, making automation and orchestration capabilities particularly valuable. For the products themselves, we only encounter routine operational matters such as addressing new vulnerabilities and patching. For those considering Cisco IOS Security, it is important to understand that Cisco offers a complete ecosystem. When embracing the Cisco ecosystem fully, customers receive excellent products and comprehensive solutions. On a scale of 1-10, I rate Cisco IOS Security a 9.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable features of Fortinet FortiGate are remote access, web filtering, and IPS."

"The solution is very user-friendly."

"The performance is very good and the solution is simple to manage."

"It's user-friendly and easy to operate."

"The stability of the solution is excellent, as it is with other Fortinet products."

"The solution is easy to configure and maintain remotely."

"The firewall and VPN features are the most valuable in protecting our customers' networks."

"The solution is stable."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"Phish Blocker is a valuable feature."

"Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall has positively impacted my organization by reducing botnet attacks."

"The product's initial setup phase is easy."

"Cisco IOS Security's threat detection features are effective from the point of real-time insights and alerts."

"What I have used the most and received the most benefit from is the IPsec technology."

"The most valuable features of Cisco IOS Security are the plenty of functionality it provides, many people are IT certified the usage, and the user interface is good."

"The capabilities for scalability with this product are huge"

"It covers everything we need it to without looking to secondary solutions."

"The product is easy to use."

"The solution is stable."

"The most valuable feature is the scalability. The nice thing with the bigger vendors is that they're very good at scale."

More Cisco IOS Security pros

Cons

"The support we receive when we need to upgrade is not satisfactory and has room for improvement."

"Quality control on their firmware versions needs improvement. When they introduce new firmware, there tend to be bugs."

"Reporting is limited to providing an external appliance for improving the reporting capabilities of the FortiAnalyzer. It does not offer a central management and is also sold separably as an appliance."

"The solution's real-time connection with the cloud could be improved."

"My only complaint about FortiGate is a lack of QinQ VLAN tunneling. I haven't found this feature in any Fortinet product. You can do this on all Cisco routers, including the smaller models. However, QinQ isn't available on the biggest, most expensive Fortinet units. They still don't have that. I think now we're on software version 6.0, and they still haven't found a solution for QinQ. It isn't a dealbreaker, but that's my main complaint."

"Vulnerability scanning could be improved."

"Fortinet could improve the windows opener or the virtual IP solutions for opening windows. The virtual IP settings need improvement as firewalls are trending in new development directions."

"The customization is a little bit difficult."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall can be improved, particularly the user interface, which is not very good, and also the logs, which are not very good."

"The product has a lot to improve in the area of policy implementation."

"The documentation is not clear."

"There's a technology called SD-WAN that we would like to see. We are unable to handle multiple connections or to automatically load balance. I would like to have a feature that enables us to automatically prepare for load balancing."

"Pricing can be reduced. I rate the current price for the product a four out of ten."

"In the next release of this solution, we would like to see support for the 100BT and 7000 models."

"Cisco very slowly introduces and implements the products, unlike other brands."

"It would be ideal if the solution had more capacity."

"There could be a bit more functions on offer that could make it easier to use."

"We have a very bad experience on the support. They take too much time requesting logs, and they are not coming directly online to resolve the issues."

"There are the usual bugs that are inherent to some software upgrades. Sometimes this provides some unexpected issues, however, it happens with all brands all the time."

More Cisco IOS Security cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is offered as an annual license."

"I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten"

"Fortinet FortiGate is cost-efficient. Palo Alto is expensive, but Fortinet FortiGate is not."

"FortiGate Next Generation Firewall costs our company around $12000 per year."

"Pricing for this product is comparatively lower than other products. It's an affordable solution, but when expanding the number of users, they'll ask you to replace the model, so that's an added cost."

"Its pricing is competitive with other solutions."

"It is an inexpensive solution."

"The pricing for this solution is reasonable."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"I consider it an averagely-priced tool."

"The tool is quite cheap."

"We can purchase its licenses as per specific business requirements."

"It is an expensive solution."

"They have smart licenses that can be provided for one year, two years, three years, five years, and seven years. Alternatively, they have perpetual licenses available."

"It is necessary to pay for a license in order to use the solution. It is on a yearly basis and the price is high."

"The pricing is average and includes all features with support."

"We need to pay for the license and it is expensive."

"Palo Alto networks are more expensive than this solution and this is why you will see more products like this one in Mexico."

"You can get a better price if you commit to a longer-term license. Three years, five years, or even seven or ten years will be cheaper than a three-month or one-year term."

More Cisco IOS Security pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

No data available

Computer Software Company

23%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	357
Midsize Enterprise	133
Large Enterprise	188

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	18

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...

See all answers

What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...

See all answers

What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall?

I consider it an averagely-priced tool. Adding additional features does not cost extra. My small company pays around ...

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What needs improvement with Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall?

The product has a lot to improve in the area of policy implementation. If our company wants to give a separate policy...

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What advice do you have for others considering Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall?

The product offers DPI capability. My company does not use the DPI capabilities. I recommend the tool to those who pl...

See all answers

What do you like most about Cisco IOS Security?

Cisco IOS Security is a mature product with extensive capabilities, serving as the base for the defense layer. It off...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS Security?

The cost of Cisco IOS Security for customers is on the higher end of pricing compared to the competition, depending o...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco IOS Security?

Regarding improvements in Cisco IOS Security, what consistently confuses me is the inability of Cisco to maintain a c...

See all answers

Comparisons

Sophos Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 20% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 13% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 6% of the time

OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors

Netgate pfSense vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 32% of the time

Sophos UTM vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 31% of the time

OPNsense vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 22% of the time

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 15% of the time

More Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall Competitors

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 18% of the time

Cisco Meraki MX vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 8% of the time

OPNsense vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 8% of the time

Cato SASE Cloud Platform vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 8% of the time

Juniper SRX Series Firewall vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 6% of the time

More Cisco IOS Security Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiGate

January 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Firewalls

January 2026

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall report

Download Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS Security

January 2026

Download Cisco IOS Security product report

Also Known As

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

No data available

IOS Security

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate is a versatile network security tool offering features like VPN, firewall, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and scalability. It is known for its performance and integration with other Fortinet products, making it a preferred choice for robust cybersecurity.

Fortinet FortiGate stands out as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with strong performance and ease of configuration. It delivers unified threat management, integrating features such as dynamic routing, SD-WAN support, and centralized management. Despite its strengths, improvements in the web interface's stability, pricing structures, and reporting capabilities are needed. Users seek better integration with third-party tools and automation advancements to enhance the experience further. These enhancements, alongside improvements in bandwidth management and the reduction of licensing costs, are points of interest for users looking to capitalize on FortiGate's extensive capabilities.

What are Fortinet FortiGate's key features?

VPN: Ensures secure remote connections.
Firewall: Protects against unauthorized access.
Web Filtering: Blocks malicious sites and content.
Application Control: Manages and controls applications.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and prevents vulnerabilities.
SSL Inspection: Enhances security by inspecting encrypted traffic.

What benefits should be considered when evaluating Fortinet FortiGate?

Affordability: Offers cost-effective security solutions.
Reliability: Known for consistent and stable performance.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Fortinet products.
Comprehensive Protection: Provides broad threat protection capabilities.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries as a primary firewall system for securing internet gateways and safeguarding data centers. It supports businesses in achieving SD-WAN integration and enhances cybersecurity by providing essential features like antivirus, web filtering, and application control. Enterprises utilize FortiGate for securing remote connections and ensuring compliance with security standards, making it adaptable for different network sizes and industries.

Fortinet

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall enhances network security by managing threats, providing VPN connectivity, and monitoring network traffic. It simplifies network management and ensures compliance with policies, offering features like load balancing and network reliability.

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is known for its robust security, straightforward deployment, and extensive features. It boasts reliable threat detection, flexible policy management, and scalability, catering to different network sizes. Users appreciate the streamlined management console, consistent performance in threat mitigation, and content filtering capabilities. However, customer support response time needs improvement, and software updates sometimes cause issues. The solution has a steep learning curve and requires more intuitive setup processes. Users find the troubleshooting documentation unclear and the reporting features limited, desiring more comprehensive and customizable options.

What are the key features?

Robust Security: Reliable threat detection and content filtering.
Easy Deployment: Straightforward setup process.
Flexible Policy Management: Adaptable to different requirements.
Scalability: Suitable for varying network sizes.
Streamlined Management Console: Simplifies network management.
Consistent Performance: Efficient threat mitigation.

What are the benefits and ROI?

Enhanced Cybersecurity: Blocks malicious activity and ensures compliance.
Simplified Network Management: Eases the complexity of managing networks.
Improved Network Reliability: Ensures dependable performance.
Efficient Deployment: Reduces setup time and effort.
Comprehensive Threat Protection: Monitors and addresses potential threats.

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is widely adopted in industries requiring stringent network security and efficient management, including finance, healthcare, and education. Organizations use it for load balancing, ensuring network reliability, and maintaining compliance with strict security standards. Its ability to manage policies and scale according to different network sizes makes it a versatile tool for businesses with complex security demands.

Arista

Cisco IOS Software delivers a sophisticated set of security capabilities for a comprehensive, layered security approach throughout your network infrastructure. Cisco IOS security technologies help to defend critical business processes against attack and disruption, protect privacy, and support policy and regulatory compliance controls.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

Information Not Available

Arup Group, Brunel University London, City of Biel, Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, K&L Gates , New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Offshore Northern Seas, Transplace

Buyer's Guide

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs. Cisco IOS Security

December 2025

Free Report: Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs. Cisco IOS Security

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