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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
7.6
Check Point IPS enhances network safety, delivering immediate ROI through attack prevention, strong infrastructure, and essential cybersecurity measures.
Sentiment score
7.4
Cisco IOS Security offers high ROI through improved efficiency, reduced risks, cost savings, and a beneficial subscription model.
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.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
Check Point IPS support is effective with knowledgeable staff, though response times can be slow and weekend support is challenging.
Sentiment score
6.8
Cisco IOS Security offers expert support but faces criticism for slow responses and communication challenges, remaining a strong choice.
Our technical teams have personal relationships with our account executives and direct support people.
The customer support for Check Point IPS is very good.
Customer support for Check Point IPS is satisfactory.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Check Point IPS efficiently scales across environments, offering adaptability and seamless expansion through virtual machines or additional hardware.
Sentiment score
7.4
Cisco IOS Security is praised for scalability and efficiency but may require additional hardware and specific Cisco equipment.
The scalability of Check Point IPS is on point.
We have moved to a hyper-scale master environment, allowing us to scale by adding additional gateways to the clusters.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Check Point IPS is highly stable, with users praising its strong reliability and minimal downtime despite occasional hardware issues.
Sentiment score
7.6
Cisco IOS Security is praised for stability and reliability, with few integration issues reported when not using Cisco equipment.
Check Point IPS provides a very stable and reliable environment.
I find Cisco IOS Security to be a very stable product.
 

Room For Improvement

Check Point IPS needs accuracy, performance, cost efficiency, better deployment, management, documentation, and hardware optimization to match Cisco Stealthwatch.
Cisco IOS Security needs more intuitive management, better performance, advanced features, and improved integration, usability, and support.
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.
Automated attack path correlation in SmartEvent to improve situational awareness.
Visual analytics and automated attack path correlation in SmartEvent to enhance situational awareness and attack identification.
 

Setup Cost

Check Point IPS is costly but offers competitive pricing, bundling options, and negotiation opportunities for reduced overall expenses.
Cisco IOS Security is pricey, subscription-based, aimed at medium-to-large enterprises, with recent SMB options, often seen as expensive.
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.
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 has been satisfactory.
 

Valuable Features

Check Point IPS provides real-time protection, easy configuration, and centralized monitoring with customizable policies and minimal downtime.
Cisco IOS Security enhances network security with robust features, user-friendly interface, and strong performance, preferred over competitors.
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.
The best features Check Point IPS offers include finding threats hidden in encrypted data, which I find valuable.
This solution, called Network Access Controller, handles authentication, authorization, and accounting for devices accessing the network.
 

Categories and Ranking

Check Point IPS
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
58
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
48
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (26th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category, the mindshare of Check Point IPS is 5.0%, down from 8.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 1.7%, up from 0.7% 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 IPS5.0%
Cisco IOS Security1.7%
Other93.3%
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.
Binoob John - PeerSpot reviewer
Rrobust network security and device authentication with advanced access control features
This solution should be implemented for most enterprise-level customers. It ensures that users accessing the corporate network or wireless network with their own devices are authenticated and authorized. As a network administrator, I can track who is accessing the network, what devices they are…
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Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) solutions are best for your needs.
866,956 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
22%
Financial Services Firm
10%
University
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
27%
Government
8%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business31
Midsize Enterprise24
Large Enterprise23
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business18
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.
866,956 professionals have used our research since 2012.