Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Check Point IPS vs Cisco IOS Security comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.2
Users find Check Point IPS offers strong protection and ROI, valuing its cost and time-saving benefits despite measurement challenges.
Sentiment score
7.4
Cisco IOS Security delivered significant ROI through improved routing, security, stability, and cost-efficiency, despite competitive vendor pressures.
We have seen a return on investment with Check Point IPS because we have not seen any security events, malicious activities, or any device compromised, so we are secure now, and money has been saved.
I have seen a return on investment more in the risk saved since it catches a lot of stuff security-wise that is good to catch.
I have seen a return on investment since using Check Point IPS, as evidenced by fewer incidents.
The return on investment is satisfactory with Cisco products as they have long lifespans, and our customers are satisfied with them.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.7
Check Point IPS customer service is praised for responsiveness, though some note occasional delays and a decline in recent quality.
Sentiment score
6.7
Cisco IOS Security support is generally praised for speed and skill, though some report delays and complexity in access.
Our technical teams have personal relationships with our account executives and direct support people.
Customer support for Check Point IPS is satisfactory.
The customer support for Check Point IPS is very good.
My impression is that the support quality has deteriorated over time.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Check Point IPS is scalable, handles large networks well, supports cloud and virtual environments, but may face hardware scaling challenges.
Sentiment score
7.4
Cisco IOS Security offers scalable, enterprise-level solutions but may increase costs and limit universality due to required hardware.
We have moved to a hyper-scale master environment, allowing us to scale by adding additional gateways to the clusters.
The scalability of Check Point IPS is on point.
The scalability of Check Point IPS is great because when I deploy gateways in the cloud, I create a cluster, which offers a very scalable option.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Check Point IPS is highly stable and reliable, with users rarely encountering issues and rating stability highly.
Sentiment score
7.6
Cisco IOS Security is generally reliable with occasional issues, frequently updated for stability, scoring 7-10 in satisfaction.
Check Point IPS provides a very stable and reliable environment.
Check Point IPS is very stable.
We find Cisco products stable and thoroughly tested before new software or firmware versions are released.
I find Cisco IOS Security to be a very stable product.
 

Room For Improvement

Check Point IPS needs improved detection, performance, user interfaces, scalability, integration, and support to address operational and cost concerns.
Cisco IOS Security struggles with integration, usability, cost, lacking features, complex licensing, performance, and requires enhancement and support.
Automated attack path correlation in SmartEvent to improve situational awareness.
At least 60% of all the alarms generated by the IPS are false positives or something that's not important to look at, and this generates a significant workload for my team.
Visual analytics and automated attack path correlation in SmartEvent to enhance situational awareness and attack identification.
Cisco changes their licensing policy quite frequently, which is becoming confusing and complicated.
 

Setup Cost

Enterprise buyers find Check Point IPS expensive but competitive, noting better deals at quarter’s end and favorable protection value.
Cisco IOS Security is costly, favoring medium to large enterprises with longer-term savings over SMB challenges.
Comparisons with Fortinet show that Check Point IPS is relatively more expensive, but we found it cheaper to retain it rather than switch.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Check Point IPS is good; it's baked into the firewall licensing, so that's very good.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Check Point IPS has been satisfactory.
The cost of Cisco IOS Security for customers is on the higher end of pricing compared to the competition, depending on the targeted customers.
 

Valuable Features

Check Point IPS provides easy-to-use, real-time threat prevention with automatic updates and customizable profiles for robust security management.
Cisco IOS Security offers scalable, stable solutions with VPN, AAA, firewall integration, and user-friendly management for high-demand environments.
The integration with Check Point ThreatCloud ensures the IPS engine is updated with the latest attack signatures.
The solution employs behavioral heuristic analysis to block zero-day attacks using AI-powered engines.
Whenever any zero-day attack is detected, it downloads that signature into the firewall and prevents that threat.
This solution, called Network Access Controller, handles authentication, authorization, and accounting for devices accessing the network.
The best features of Cisco IOS Security are its integration with software management tools such as Cisco DNA Center and Cisco ICE, which provide centralized policy and network access control.
 

Categories and Ranking

Check Point IPS
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
3rd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
62
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Cisco IOS Security
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
14th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
49
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (24th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category, the mindshare of Check Point IPS is 3.8%, down from 5.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 1.6%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Check Point IPS3.8%
Cisco IOS Security1.6%
Other94.6%
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer2751156 - PeerSpot reviewer
Expert intercepts threats in encrypted data while improving risk management
Check Point IPS could be improved with more automation and focus on removing false positives. At least 60% of all the alarms generated by the IPS are false positives or something that's not important to look at, and this generates a significant workload for my team. That is my main concern about the needed improvements.
Danijel Cerovecki - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) solutions are best for your needs.
872,019 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
27%
Government
9%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business39
Midsize Enterprise21
Large Enterprise23
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business19
Midsize Enterprise14
Large Enterprise18
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Check Point IPS?
The most valuable feature of the solution is called tunneling. Tunneling is one of the major security features that hackers cannot penetrate through.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Check Point IPS?
I am not in charge of pricing, setup cost, and licensing.
What needs improvement with Check Point IPS?
For the product itself, there is nothing that I wish worked better or was easier, but it can become complex to manage all the rules if the infrastructure is very big. I do not want to add more abou...
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 offers good network visibility, which helps in rapid response through the Rapid Thr...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS Security?
Pricing can be reduced. I rate the current price for the product a four out of ten.
What needs improvement with Cisco IOS Security?
While I do not have specific recommendations for improvement, pricing can be reduced.
 

Also Known As

Check Point Intrusion Prevention System
IOS Security
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Morton Salt, Medical Advocacy and Outreach, BH Telecom, Lightbeam Health Solutions, X by Orange, Cadence, Nihondentsu, Datastream Connexion, Good Sam, Omnyway, FIASA, Pacific Life, Banco del Pacifico, Control Southern, Xero, Centrify
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
Find out what your peers are saying about Check Point IPS vs. Cisco IOS Security and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.
872,019 professionals have used our research since 2012.