Cisco IOS SSL VPN and Check Point Remote Access VPN compete in the enterprise security sector, providing secure remote access solutions. Cisco has the upper hand in enterprise-level stability and comprehensive security features, justifying a higher price point, whereas Check Point is favored for its cost-effectiveness and simple licensing model.
Features: Cisco IOS SSL VPN provides strong enterprise-level stability, robust security features like multifactor authentication integration with Cisco Duo, and easy management of user-based access control. Check Point Remote Access VPN offers seamless integration with Check Point firewalls, robust multi-factor authentication, and strong endpoint compliance features to prevent unauthorized access.
Room for Improvement: Cisco IOS SSL VPN could enhance affordability with more flexible pricing options, improve integration capabilities with non-Cisco products, and offer a more intuitive interface for less technical users. Check Point Remote Access VPN could improve its SSL connection reliability, expand platform compatibility beyond Windows and macOS, and enhance the central management console for better user experience.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco IOS SSL VPN is known for a fairly straightforward deployment process and supportive technical assistance, appreciated for high availability among Cisco engineers. Check Point Remote Access VPN boasts a simple installation process, particularly advantageous for those with pre-existing Check Point firewall infrastructure, bolstered by highly reliable customer support.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco IOS SSL VPN uses a yearly licensing model, generally perceived as higher in cost but offering a high return on investment due to its bundled networking solutions and strong security. Check Point Remote Access VPN is seen as more competitively priced and offers a strong return for organizations using its existing NGFW, although it requires an additional license for VPN functionality.
It reduces the dependency on being physically present in the office and enhances the overall user experience, saving time and maintaining security.
In this case, everything is pre-inbuilt, allowing me to easily create new users and share their details so they can connect to Check Point VPN and access internal servers.
I have definitely seen a return on investment from using Check Point Remote Access VPN, as time saved is money saved.
Contacting the Technical Assistance Centers (TACs) initially can be difficult, but once I get in touch with the TAC team, it is easy to solve problems.
The timing of technical support does not always align with our working hours.
While the support team is generally good, it takes at least three to four days to address ticket issues.
When Cisco first took over, it was a bit more difficult to get support, but they now integrate it without differentiating the support for Linksys versus full-blown Cisco switches.
We contact support regularly, especially for deployments, and they are very responsive.
Currently, 130 users can connect simultaneously, and it is very reliable and efficient.
I feel confident that Check Point Remote Access VPN can scale effectively if our organization grows, as it can handle additional users and traffic.
It integrates well with Cisco's ecosystem, providing flexibility and options to connect to diverse environments.
Check Point Remote Access VPN is stable and has been reliable for my users.
Linksys can be fairly stable for easy environments, but in more complex network environments, Cisco is definitely a lot more stable.
Check Point Remote Access VPN could improve by automatically switching between my two ISPs when one goes down.
Deploying these solutions requires higher technical expertise than other solutions.
Check Point Remote Access VPN can be improved by having more granular options to steer traffic, like easier configurations for split tunneling, which is currently complex.
There have been issues with operating systems where newer updates cause problems with backward compatibility.
I believe Cisco could support easier configuration and having tools that allow for easier management and configuration.
The pricing, setup costs, and licensing for Check Point Remote Access VPN are a bit low compared to my previous solution.
It is competitively priced, and we have chosen it for its market leadership in the firewall space.
The pricing, setup cost, and licensing are straightforward, though the setup is a bit expensive.
For more than one hundred users, it costs about $60 per seat.
We don't know what vulnerabilities exist in outside networks, so when they connect to Check Point Remote Access VPN, they enter the internal network where traffic is monitored by my firewall, which provides comprehensive threat protection and prevents users from connecting to malware.
The end-to-end endpoint security provided by Check Point Remote Access VPN impacts our organization by ensuring compliance and enhancing security.
The visibility offered by Check Point Remote Access VPN has benefited my organization as it detects unauthorized access attempts, immediately alerting me via a pop-up for any threat protection issues.
The solution is also very scalable, offering up to one hundred licenses for free, and can integrate well with Cisco's ecosystem, such as Cisco ISE and NAC.
Configuring QoS on Linksys is pretty easy, especially compared to Cisco QoS, which I am certified in, as it helps ensure that the bandwidth for voice or other applications doesn't bleed over into the data links.
Remote secure access VPN is a solution that provides users with remote access to an organization’s network. The host may have VPN client software loaded or use a web-based client. The solution leverages security features like multi-factor authentication, endpoint scanning, and encryption of all data in motion.
Check Point Remote Access VPN provides individuals with protected and efficient access to a company network from anywhere. This strategy fosters collaboration and connectivity between distributed teams and offices.
Features of Check Point Remote Access VPN
Key features of the secure remote access VPN include:
The system enforces endpoint security with endpoint compliance. It monitors and verifies the security status of each endpoint and reports back to the Security Gateway. The gateway, in turn, checks the compliance level and directs the connectivity to the right resources.
Users can deploy the Remote Access VPN in one of three ways:
Remote Access VPN is centrally managed. The centralized console enables management and enforcement of policies with a single log-in.
The Remote Access VPN has a web portal that users can use to connect securely to corporate applications, such as web-based resources, file-sharing, and email. Administrators can customize the web portal to match the brand identity.
Remote Access VPN offers two choices for remote access:
The authentication features include password management, RADIUS challenge/response, CAPI software, and hardware tokens. P12 certificates, and SecurID.
The system establishes a VPN tunnel on demand. It also re-arranges connections when roaming. The tunnel can automatically tear down when the user is on the corporate LAN.
There are several connection features, such as Hotspot detection, office mode IP, split tunneling, and automatic fallback to HTTPS.
Benefits of Check Point Remote Access VPN
One of the key advantages of Remote Access VPN is that it provides remote workers with a secure way to connect to a corporate network from any device, including their personal devices. The data encryption in transit enables them to securely access the resources they need for their tasks.
It also provides IT support and technicians with a faster way to troubleshoot software issues. In the case of a ticket, IT doesn’t need to go to the server location to fix the problem but can troubleshoot it remotely.
A remote secure access VPN is also an affordable alternative for small and medium-sized businesses, without requiring expensive infrastructure.
Reviews from Real Users
A Global IT Network and Security Service Senior Specialist at a manufacturing company who uses Check Point Remote Access VPN says, "I found the MEP feature the most valuable. This has improved users' latency allowing the users to connect to the nearest Azure Check Point VM."
"Organizations that already use the Check Point NGFW Solution do not require any additional hardware, which makes the implementation straightforward and reduces the time to go live," explains Basil D., Senior Manager at a financial services firm.
Manuel B., a Voice and data infrastructure specialist at a tech services company, says that "The IPSec VPN, Mobile Access, and Identity Awareness are three of the blades with which we have been working with since the pandemic. This has given us great mobility, making our network more dynamic."
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