Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs Cisco IOS Security comparison

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs. Cisco IOS Security

September 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:

ROI

Sentiment score

5.9

Fortinet FortiGate offers cost-effective security with quick deployment, improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and providing a strong return on investment.

Sentiment score

7.2

Check Point Quantum Force offers ROI through increased productivity, cost savings, enhanced security, seamless integration, and operational efficiency.

Sentiment score

7.4

Cisco IOS Security offers high ROI through improved efficiency, reduced risks, cost savings, and a beneficial subscription model.

Clients are now comfortable and not wasting productive hours on IT support.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The automation part is giving us a cost benefit and speed; we can react faster.

Bart Homblé

BDM Fortinet & BDM Teamlead at Exclusive Networks

It's a very useful tool to mitigate and protect your enterprise.

Bernard Samontanes

Staff Infrastructure & Security Engineer at Mozn Systems

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

This is a time-saving measure because we don't need to deploy a cluster or a firewall each time; we just create a virtual system on the management server using the same appliance.

reviewer2678856

Security Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

Incident response time has reduced significantly, and downtime due to network issues has been minimized, leading to an improved return on investment.

Durgesh K.

Ot Security Network Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

The fact that we've not had any breach toward the data center side is plenty enough.

reviewer2701569

Enterprise Network Engineer at a outsourcing company with 201-500 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

The return on investment is satisfactory with Cisco products as they have long lifespans, and our customers are satisfied with them.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

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

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.6

Fortinet FortiGate support is mostly praised for responsiveness and knowledge, though inconsistencies exist in complex cases or regions.

Sentiment score

6.3

Check Point Quantum Force support is praised for responsiveness but varies in resolution speed and initial tier effectiveness.

Sentiment score

6.8

Cisco IOS Security offers expert support but faces criticism for slow responses and communication challenges, remaining a strong choice.

They offer very accurate solutions.

Taimoor Khan

Network Operations Engineer at Inara Technologies

The quick resolution of issues with Fortinet FortiGate is due to the support of the company and the fact that the equipment is easy to work with.

Alexandre Menezes

IT Manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees

I would rate the technical support for Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.

AnishKumar

NAC Support at Rah Infotech Pvt Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

The support team we engaged was knowledgeable and well-versed with the application.

Thomas Gadson

Sr. Cyber Security and Solutions Architect at a consultancy with 201-500 employees

We have escalated issues to Check Point technical support multiple times and have received timely and very good responses.

Asif Ash-Hal

Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution

Even challenging issues like those with VPNs have been resolved efficiently with their help.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

My impression is that the support quality has deteriorated over time.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

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

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.1

Fortinet FortiGate offers scalability and easy integration for diverse environments, catering to businesses from small to large enterprises.

Sentiment score

8.0

Check Point Quantum Force offers scalable solutions for enterprises, with easy upgrades and advanced options for various deployment needs.

Sentiment score

7.4

Cisco IOS Security is praised for scalability and efficiency but may require additional hardware and specific Cisco equipment.

They scale up really well from smaller models like the FortiGate 40 and 50 to bigger sites with the FortiGate 100 for more throughput - up to enterprise datacenters.

Ian Manton

IT Manager at Daltons Limited

The variation comes in terms of the interfaces and throughputs, but from a security perspective, you get the same benefit, irrespective of whether you have an entry-level unit or an enterprise.

reviewer2667480

Cewa Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

We determine sizing based on multiple factors: number of users, available links, traffic types, server count, services in use, and whether services will be published.

FatmaSamy

General Surgery Specialist at Helwan University Cairo

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

If specified correctly, even the smaller boxes offer high session and bandwidth rates, making the solution highly scalable, even up to telco-level requirements.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

It is easy to scale up by adding capacity through clustering or upgrading the license, and it effectively handles spikes in remote user connections or increased east-west traffic without noticeable bottlenecks.

reviewer2751468

Assistant Manager at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

Scalability must be carefully planned for, considering future growth and user base increases.

Manikandan Kannan

Head of Technology at Techfruits

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.7

Fortinet FortiGate is highly stable and reliable, excelling in continuous operation with effective network management, despite occasional update issues.

Sentiment score

7.9

Check Point Quantum Force is generally stable and reliable, with excellent support, despite occasional update-related disruptions and glitches.

Sentiment score

7.6

Cisco IOS Security is praised for stability and reliability, with few integration issues reported when not using Cisco equipment.

We're experiencing 99.999% availability consistently.

Ricardo Biggs

Manager, Information Technology at a consumer goods company with 11-50 employees

I would rate the stability of Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.

AnishKumar

NAC Support at Rah Infotech Pvt Ltd

Currently, we are experiencing a general outage of one of the main internet service providers of the Dominican Republic, and we have not been impacted in our operations because with SD-WAN, we have another internet service provider and we are working with the second WAN connection without any disruption.

Juan Frias

CISO at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

While the solution is generally stable, there are complications, such as requiring SmartConsole for deployment and upgrades, which can be time-consuming.

Manikandan Kannan

Head of Technology at Techfruits

I have worked with Check Point products for 15 years and haven't found any stability or performance issues.

Asif Ash-Hal

Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution

The use of Check Point firewalls has helped improve our security posture without any downtime.

Durgesh K.

Ot Security Network Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

We find Cisco products stable and thoroughly tested before new software or firmware versions are released.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

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

I find Cisco IOS Security to be a very stable product.

Binoob John

Partner/Owner and Director of Human Resources at Up arrow Systems

Room For Improvement

Users express concern over Fortinet FortiGate's interface stability, functionality, performance issues, and call for improved support and features.

Check Point Quantum Force struggles with stability, support, and costs, causing user dissatisfaction with its complex configurations and limited resources.

Cisco IOS Security needs more intuitive management, better performance, advanced features, and improved integration, usability, and support.

Investing in a solution that can accommodate such growth would be more cost-effective than repeatedly purchasing new hardware.

Jose Gisbert

Manager Network (IT/OT) at a consumer goods company with 5,001-10,000 employees

While Fortinet claims to offer a comprehensive network solution, it falls short in addressing computer application issues, particularly server security.

MOHAN SUKUMAR

Head of computer systems at Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology(IIST)

When considering Sophos XG, which we also use, the logging and reporting functionality is notably more efficient.

Taha Turkestani

Senior IT specialist at SAUDIA ALIRLINES

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

Other products, like FortiGate, are perceived as more intuitive because they are easier to configure from the start.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

More granularity and control for threat prevention, especially on the OT side, would be beneficial.

Durgesh K.

Ot Security Network Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

It would be beneficial for Check Point NGFW to integrate more advanced AI and machine learning algorithms for better threat detection and response.

Mohammad Taleb

Senior Network Engineer at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

Cisco changes their licensing policy quite frequently, which is becoming confusing and complicated.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

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

Setup Cost

Fortinet FortiGate offers high initial costs but competitive pricing, valued features, and flexible licensing compared to competitors.

Check Point Quantum Force offers comprehensive security but is often pricier than competitors, with complex licensing and negotiable costs.

Cisco IOS Security is pricey, subscription-based, aimed at medium-to-large enterprises, with recent SMB options, often seen as expensive.

Last year, I renewed the support for three years, which can sometimes be expensive but depends on the security benefits and how it helps us.

AiméKouchade

Network & System Admin at Invoke Studios

It offers cost savings as it is generally cheaper than the competition.

NilsPaley

IT Infrastructure Architect at Apotek 1

It is about 20% cheaper.

MithatBulut

Network Security Engineer at TD SYNNEX

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

In comparison to Fortinet and other products, the pricing may be considered high.

Manikandan Kannan

Head of Technology at Techfruits

Compared to other solutions, the pricing of Check Point NGFW is high.

Asif Ash-Hal

Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution

The perception is that Check Point NGFW is expensive, especially when all software modules are included.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

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

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

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

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate offers robust, affordable security with user-friendly interface, centralized management, and efficient SD-WAN capabilities.

Check Point Quantum NGFW delivers robust security with AI, easy management, and advanced threat prevention features including VPN and application control.

Cisco IOS Security enhances network security with robust features, user-friendly interface, and strong performance, preferred over competitors.

In terms of security, we have not experienced any security flaws or loopholes, and it has proven to be quite stable.

MOHAN SUKUMAR

Head of computer systems at Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology(IIST)

FortiGate has helped reduce the risk of cyberattacks that might disrupt our client's production.

Taimoor Khan

Network Operations Engineer at Inara Technologies

These features help reduce our downtime, manage the ISPs, and deploy SLAs for all the website traffic.

Syed Ali Waqas

Head IT at Burraq Cyber Security Solutions

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

The firewall's default behavior of blocking all traffic, including a cleanup rule that blocks everything from external to internal sources, is highly valuable for protecting our network.

SUNNY-KUMAR

Technical engineer (SOC Analyst) at Hitachi Systems, Ltd.

The most valuable features in my experience include perimeter firewalling, cloud and mobile security, application control, URL filtering, DLP, threat prevention, intrusion protection, and safeguarding against malware, botnets, and zero-day attacks.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

Since implementing it, we have noticed a lot less getting through that maybe other antivirus within firewalls had failed to catch.

Devon Bingham

Network Administrator at POET, LLC

This solution, called Network Access Controller, handles authentication, authorization, and accounting for devices accessing the network.

Binoob John

Partner/Owner and Director of Human Resources at Up arrow Systems

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.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

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

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 20.4%, up from 19.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is 2.8%, down from 2.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 0.3%, 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	20.4%
Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)	2.8%
Cisco IOS Security	0.3%
Other	76.5%

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.

Read full review

Hailemichael Yigrem

Senior Cyber Security Engineer at Deliver ICT and Telecommunication Technology PLC

Advanced security features enhance threat detection and prevention

Check Point NGFW provides granular application control and detailed visibility over application and user activity. It integrates with the ThreatCloud ecosystem, enabling real-time threat detection and prevention. The User Identity Awareness blade integrates with Active Directory, identifying user traffic sources. Check Point NGFW is highly scalable and has centralized management through SmartConsole, which manages policies, logs, and threat data. It reduced our incidents and decreased the time to analyze cyber threats by 70 percent.

Read full review

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

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

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.

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

26%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	350
Midsize Enterprise	130
Large Enterprise	187

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	134
Midsize Enterprise	97
Large Enterprise	195

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	19
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...

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...

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 ...

How does Check Point NGFW compare with Fortinet Fortigate?

I have experience on both from Disti and channel experience. Please find below my comments (nothing new as such). -Ch...

Which would you recommend - Azure Firewall or Check Point NGFW?

Azure Firewall is easy to use and provides excellent support. Valuable features include integration into the overall ...

What do you like most about Check Point NGFW?

Check Point NGFW provides essential security, featuring no-obligation access for secure connections, strong intrusion...

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...

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.

Sophos XG vs Fortinet FortiGate

Comparisons

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 11% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 9% of the time

OPNsense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 4% of the time

Palo Alto Networks WildFire vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 2% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 11% of the time

Sophos XG vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 8% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 7% of the time

OPNsense vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 7% of the time

More Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) Competitors

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 21% of the time

Cisco Meraki MX vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 11% of the time

OPNsense vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 10% of the time

Fortinet FortiOS vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 6% of the time

ExtraHop Reveal(x) vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 6% of the time

More Cisco IOS Security Competitors

Product Reports

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Fortinet FortiGate

October 2025

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

October 2025

Download Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) product report

Download Cisco IOS Security product report

Cisco IOS Security

October 2025

Also Known As

No data available

Check Point NG Firewall, Check Point Next Generation Firewall

IOS Security

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate excels in providing integrated VPN, firewalling, and Unified Threat Management (UTM) with centralized management and high availability. It supports remote access and comprehensive threat protection, making it a preferred choice for securing networks.

Fortinet FortiGate offers a robust security platform with features such as strong intrusion prevention, application control, and web filtering. Its integration with Active Directory and SD-WAN functionality provides scalable solutions for large networks. Users appreciate its ease of use through centralized management interfaces, ensuring robust security with flexible configurations. However, FortiGate could enhance its graphical interface and technical support responsiveness, address firmware bugs and costly licensing, improve logging, integrate better with third-party tools, and strengthen scalability and memory for log storage. Complexity in configuration and the need for intuitive features are noted challenges, and there's a demand for advanced security, zero-trust capabilities, and AI integration.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN: Secure remote access and connectivity.
Firewalling: Protects networks from unauthorized access and attacks.
UTM: Offers a comprehensive approach to threat management.
SD-WAN: Optimizes traffic routing for efficient network performance.
Web Filtering: Controls and monitors web access and ensures Internet security.

What benefits or ROI should be considered?

Centralized Management: Simplifies administration and monitoring.
High Availability: Ensures consistent security and network availability.
Scalability: Adapts to the needs of growing networks.
Comprehensive Threat Protection: Provides robust security measures.
Ease of Use: Minimizes the complexity of security management.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries like education, finance, and government. Companies use it for firewall protection, VPN, and SD-WAN capabilities, ensuring secure perimeter and data center security. It facilitates remote access management and traffic routing optimization, offering reliable security and connectivity solutions.

Fortinet

Check Point Quantum Force NGFW provides centralized management with scalable security for network perimeters. As a reliable firewall, it ensures advanced threat prevention and offers seamless integration, making it suitable for various network environments.

Offering comprehensive security, Check Point Quantum Force NGFW helps control ingress and egress traffic, secures data center firewalls, and integrates seamlessly with cloud and on-premises setups. Users appreciate its application control, deep packet inspection, and identity awareness features for enhanced protection against cyber threats. Despite pricing issues and interface complexity, its IPsec VPN and robust logging provide valuable insights into network activities.

What are the key features of Check Point Quantum Force NGFW?

Centralized Management: Simplifies administrative tasks across different environments.
Advanced Threat Prevention: Shields against evolving cyber threats with real-time protection.
Deep Packet Inspection: Analyzes traffic to prevent intrusions without impacting performance.
Application Control: Manages access to applications, enhancing security policies.
IPsec VPN: Secures remote connections with encrypted tunnels.

What benefits should users consider for Check Point Quantum Force NGFW?

Scalability: Adapts to the changing needs of organizations of different sizes.
Integration Capabilities: Works alongside existing systems for a comprehensive defense strategy.
Logging and Reporting: Offers detailed insights into network activity and threats.
User-Friendly Interface: Streamlines management with intuitive controls despite initial complexity.

Check Point Quantum Force NGFW is deployed across industries for securing network boundaries, supporting critical data center operations, and enabling secure VPN connections. In finance, it helps meet stringent compliance standards, while in healthcare, it's crucial for protecting sensitive patient data through robust security protocols.

Check Point Software Technologies

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

Control Southern, Optimal Media

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