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Cisco Secure Firewall Reviews

Name: Cisco Secure Firewall
Brand: Cisco
Rating: 4.1 (428 reviews)

Vendor: Cisco

4.1 out of 5

428 reviews
83% willing to recommend

12K followers

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What is Cisco Secure Firewall?

Cisco Secure Firewall stands as a robust and adaptable security solution, catering to organizations of all sizes. It's designed to shield networks from a diverse array of cyber threats, such as ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks. Beyond mere protection, it also offers secure access to corporate resources, beneficial for employees, partners, and customers alike. One of its key functions includes network segmentation, which serves to isolate critical assets and minimize the risk of lateral movement within the network.

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Cisco Secure Firewall is the #3 ranked solution in top Cisco Security Portfolio solutions and #6 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Cisco Secure Firewall an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Cisco Secure Firewall is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate. Cisco Secure Firewall is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 42% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 31% of all views.

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Cisco Secure Firewall

July 2025

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Featured Cisco Secure Firewall reviews

Phil Shiflett

Senior Manager, Network Engineering at TTi Power Equipment

Currently, I find the event viewer feature of Cisco Secure Firewall very useful as it visually displays what is being blocked or allowed by the ACL. I also appreciate the improved visual presentation of the ACL layout. We have many different opportunities to share incidents with individuals on how traffic flows through the network, and we utilize Cisco Secure Firewall features such as network packet inspection to ensure that policies are applied correctly and to monitor traffic for what is blocked, allowed, or denied. Cisco Secure Firewall's ability to unify policies across our environment is pretty good. We can deploy different features and ACLs between various firewalls easily with the FMC, which has improved significantly from the initial deployment time, which was once poor and is now manageable for multiple firewalls. We use the new AnyConnect or Secure Connect VPNs, which works pretty well. Although we haven't switched to the latest series to utilize the VPNs fully, I appreciate the deployment phase where we can track our deployment progress. What stands out positively about Cisco is their training and support, which has effectively prepared engineers to work with their products. When hiring, I find it beneficial that most network engineers are familiar with Cisco, whereas I might question the expertise of those trained with Palo Alto or Fortinet. Performance-wise, Cisco seems to be the best. For instance, my sister company uses Palo Alto and Juniper and reports a high RMA rate. In contrast, we have only RMAed one Cisco Secure Firewall in six years, indicating stability and dependability. The interface of Cisco Secure Firewall works effectively once you become familiar with its layout, although hiring engineers requires training on the platform, especially as updates occur. They should prioritize adding to the existing product rather than overcomplicating it with new features that may not be necessary.

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Philman Tjong

Electrical Engineer Associate I at a energy/utilities company with 5,001-10,000 employees

The feature of Cisco Secure Firewall that I prefer the most is the use of ASDM where we visually are able to see all of our traffic when it comes through the firewall. Cisco Secure Firewall does a good job unifying policies across our environments because we have many firewalls that have the same rules, so when Cisco Secure Firewalls are able to do that, that's very beneficial. The fact that unifying policies will help us save time, costs, and be more efficient in general is very important for our company. Unfortunately, the impact of the cloud-delivered firewall on our company's security posture is negligible since we are an air-gapped system, and we do not deal with the cloud infrastructure. Cisco Secure Firewall does a good job in helping our company implement a zero-trust security model, and it deserves an eight out of ten.

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Chris Yankajtis

Systems Engineer at Métis Practice Solutions

Cisco Secure Firewall is easy to configure, and you can do it all in one pane of glass. It is really simple to configure. The solution allows my junior admins to go into the dashboard and look at any issues or reconfigure any features that need to be tweaked without me physically having to be there. I have been using the assurance feature in Cisco Secure Firewall recently, and I am starting to see that it is a lot more beneficial for me, with all the analytics and reporting that it provides. Cisco Secure Firewall allows us to pinpoint exactly where the packets are being delivered or dropped, and we are able to identify issues quicker than with other models or other vendors. I assess Cisco Secure Firewall's ability to unify policies across my environment as having ease of building. We need to be able to scale and deploy without running a bunch of commands, especially when managing multiple locations acting as separate entities. It is important to my organization since our team is really small. As an engineer, it is just myself and a few juniors. I can verbally tell them to look at specific things or deploy certain features. It gives them the confidence to touch a firewall without being insecure. The impact of the cloud-delivered firewall on my organization's security posture is very important. It allows us to place certain policies compared to the old infrastructure that is currently in there, with outdated hardware. It allows us to control the firmware and deploy the firmware. In evaluating Cisco Secure Firewall, I find that it helps us implement a zero-trust security model by allowing us to create one policy and deploy it across all of our networks versus multiple agents. Cisco Secure Firewall is very helpful and convenient for me.

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Cisco Secure Firewall video interviews

Watch video interviews with real Cisco Secure Firewall users to learn how the Firewalls solution helped improve their organization. The videos include info about the challenges and benefits of implementing Cisco Secure Firewall.

Aug 3, 2023

Robert LaCroix

Network Engineer at Red River

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Aug 3, 2023

Bryan Broadhurst

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

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Cisco Secure Firewall mindshare

Product category:

As of July 2025, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall in the Firewalls category stands at 6.2%, up from 5.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerResearch reports based on Cisco Secure Firewall reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Jul 5, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jul 5, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Secure Firewall vs Netgate pfSense	Jul 5, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate	Jul 5, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Secure Firewall vs OPNsense	Jul 5, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	21.2%	90%	373 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	12.3%	93%	217 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Cisco Secure Firewall's most valuable features include layer 7 capabilities, stability, versatile VPN options, and integration with FirePOWER services. Users appreciate the ASA's GUI for ease of use and management, such as ASDM. High availability and instant failover are praised. The IPS and URL filtering features are highly regarded, along with advanced NAT capabilities. Cisco's comprehensive security modules provide robust intrusion prevention and malware protection, while its reputation for reliability and low maintenance stands out.

"Cisco Secure Firewall scales incredibly well with our growing needs."
"The features I appreciate the most about Cisco Secure Firewall are the policies, ACLs, and traffic behavior analytics."
"The stability and reliability of the Cisco Secure Firewall platform are very good; it's rock solid and has always just done its work."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Secure Firewall has several areas that require enhancement. Users frequently encounter issues with the graphical user interface, finding it outdated and cumbersome. The integration with third-party products and the overall management tool can be complex, leading to difficulties in administration. The licensing model is often considered confusing and expensive. Performance concerns including speed and throughput have been reported, alongside a need for improved documentation and stability. Pricing remains a significant concern for many users.

"My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing was a nightmare. It is indeed challenging as Cisco has too many variations of support with no clear explanation of what you are actually getting."
"I don't see a return on investment with Cisco Secure Firewall; it's more of a needed tool, just something we need to do to get business done, so I'm not really looking at it as a tool that would give us an ROI."
"My impression of the visibility and control capabilities of Cisco Secure Firewall in managing encrypted traffic is that it can improve."

ROI

Users report varied ROI from Cisco Secure Firewall. While some experienced savings in operational costs, enhanced security, and reduced downtime, others cited high maintenance expenses. Many appreciated its longevity and the ease of integration with existing systems. Several users highlighted the firewall's capability to prevent attacks and optimize resources, contributing to a significant return. However, a few noted difficulties in quantifying ROI due to the complexities involved in evaluating security investments.

Pricing

Cisco Secure Firewall users report that its pricing is moderate and competitive, aligning with industry standards, though some find it expensive. Licensing is straightforward and involves one-time purchases or options to choose from one, three, and five-year increments. While some appreciate its simplicity compared to other Cisco products, flexibility in licensing could be improved. Costs can increase with advanced features, yet discounts are possible through Cisco partnerships. Setup can be costly, but overall value and support are favorable.

"The pricing is very good for us, especially since we have a partnership with Cisco. The challenge is the licensing. There are competitors that offer more flexible licensing, such as daily licensing, some offer hourly, but Cisco is locked in for one, three, and five years. We don't have much flexibility, especially if we want to shift applications or shift users at any time. Hopefully, licensing becomes more flexible."
"It's acceptable and comparable to other products."
"Licensing with Cisco Secure Firewall isn't too difficult. However, pricing seems high. We had been using a Meraki solution, and Cisco Secure Firewall seems more expensive than Meraki, even though Meraki is also cloud-based."

Popular Use Cases

Cisco Secure Firewall is primarily used for safeguarding network perimeters, managing VPNs, and providing internet security, including filtering and intrusion prevention. Users deploy it at data centers, remote sites, and cloud environments to ensure enterprise security. It effectively manages internet traffic and integrates additional security layers like IPS and advanced malware protection, catering to comprehensive firewall needs. The firewall is also leveraged in sectors like banking and manufacturing for enhanced data protection and network segmentation.

Service and Support

Cisco Secure Firewall support is viewed as excellent, often rated 9 or 10 out of 10. Customers commend knowledgeable, helpful technical support and quick, effective problem resolution. Some experience variability with support quality, indicating occasional slow response times or less knowledgeable staff. Users frequently find TAC helpful, though some escalate quickly to achieve desired support levels. Remote access support, comprehensive documentation, and the support community also receive notable praise.

Deployment

Cisco Secure Firewall's initial setup is frequently described as straightforward, aided by comprehensive documentation and user-friendly interfaces. However, complexity can vary based on user expertise and deployment scale. While experienced users find it intuitive, newcomers may encounter challenges, especially when migrating from different platforms. Training proves beneficial. Configuration can demand significant manual input, although available tools and wizards assist. Deployment time is generally short but can extend depending on the organization's network complexity and requirements.

Scalability

Cisco Secure Firewall demonstrates scalability across various deployments, accommodating expanding needs effectively. It supports clustering and can handle significant workload demands. Pricing and licensing can be hurdles, yet the adaptability through different models ensures support for growing user bases. Organizations benefit from features like high throughput and flexible integration. While some face challenges with version upgrades, the platform's expansive capabilities make it versatile for mid to large enterprises, aligning with evolving network requirements.

Stability

Cisco Secure Firewall is widely regarded for its stability, with many highlighting minimal issues and reliable performance. Users appreciate its robustness and ability to handle workloads without frequent downtime. Though some have experienced minor bugs or challenges, the overall consensus remains positive. Frequent upgrades and proper configuration ensure continued reliability. High marks are given for its unwavering stability, making it a favored choice among diverse user groups.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Cisco Secure Firewall Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

31%

Computer Software Company

16%

University

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Performing Arts

Non Profit

Insurance Company

Transportation Company

Hospitality Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Consumer Goods Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Compare Cisco Secure Firewall with alternative products

Learn more about Cisco Secure Firewall

The core features of Cisco Secure Firewall are multifaceted:

Advanced threat protection is achieved through a combination of intrusion prevention, malware detection, and URL filtering technologies.
For secure access, the firewall presents multiple options, including VPN, remote access, and single sign-on.
Its network segmentation capability is vital in creating barriers within the network to safeguard critical assets.
The firewall is scalable, effectively serving small businesses to large enterprises.
Management is streamlined through Cisco DNA Center, a central management system.

The benefits of deploying Cisco Secure Firewall are substantial. It significantly reduces the risk of cyberattacks, thereby enhancing the security posture of an organization. This security also translates into increased productivity, as secure access means uninterrupted work. Compliance with industry regulations is another advantage, as secure access and network segmentation align with many regulatory standards. Additionally, it helps in reducing IT costs by automating security tasks and simplifying management processes.

In practical scenarios, Cisco Secure Firewall finds diverse applications. It's instrumental in protecting branch offices from cyberattacks, securing remote access for various stakeholders, safeguarding cloud workloads, and segmenting networks to isolate sensitive areas.

User reviews from PeerSpot reflect an overall positive experience with the Cisco Secure Firewall. Users appreciate its ease of configuration, good management capabilities, robust protection, user-friendly interface, and scalability. However, some areas for improvement include better integration capabilities with other vendors, maturity, control over bandwidth for end-users, and addressing software bugs.

In summary, Cisco Secure Firewall is a comprehensive, versatile, and reliable security solution that effectively meets the security needs of various organizations. It offers a balance of advanced protection, user-friendly management, and scalability, making it a valuable asset in the realm of network security.

Cisco Secure Firewall was previously known as Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Firewall, Cisco ASA NGFW, Adaptive Security Appliance, Cisco Sourcefire Firewalls, Cisco ASAv, Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewall.

Cisco Secure Firewall customers

There are more than one million Adaptive Security Appliances deployed globally. Top customers include First American Financial Corp., Genzyme, Frankfurt Airport, Hansgrohe SE, Rio Olympics, The French Laundry, Rackspace, and City of Tomorrow.