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Cisco IOS Security vs IBM Security Network IPS 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco IOS Security
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
11th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
48
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (20th)
IBM Security Network IPS
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
25th
Average Rating
7.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 1.4%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Security Network IPS is 0.8%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
 

Featured Reviews

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…
Jacob_Koithra - PeerSpot reviewer
User-friendly and has a good blocking feature but is quite expensive
Defining the new security rules and policies sometimes becomes a challenge. Integration with other platforms becomes a challenge as well. I'd like to see more integration with other tools and technologies. XGS 7100 has an end of support for the 30th of December 2022. Many are losing support. All the products of the XGS, including XGS 3100, 4100, 5100, and 7100, support is ending in December 2022. We need to know what is the plan post that? Do we need to spend money on them? Will that be extended? There has been no communication on the website either. It's an expensive device.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The VPN was valuable for us because more people are working from home. It has a lot of reporting and easy-to-use management tools."
"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 Threat Containment feature. Its deployment and configuration are straightforward."
"You can scale it when you need to."
"The most valuable feature is the scalability. The nice thing with the bigger vendors is that they're very good at scale."
"The security is very good."
"The capabilities for scalability with this product are huge"
"This solution, called Network Access Controller, handles authentication, authorization, and accounting for devices accessing the network."
"Cisco products are very secure and integrate easily with other devices."
"The most valuable feature is its simplicity."
"The initial setup is simple."
 

Cons

"We faced significant challenges related to licensing issues, particularly when licenses expire."
"I wish it would be more like the next generation firewall technology. There should be more selection between the application and filtering."
"Signatures and other critical definitions need to be updated more frequently."
"If they could increase the performance a little better because the device sometimes gets slow."
"There's a technology called SD-WAN that we would like to see. We are unable to handle multiple connections or to automatically load balance. I would like to have a feature that enables us to automatically prepare for load balancing."
"The solution is complex and can be more user-friendly."
"In the security portfolio from Cisco, the issue is marketing. Cisco is still seen primarily as an enterprise network player rather than being acknowledged as a security vendor."
"The company needs to make its solution more affordable to make it more accessible to larger markets. Otherwise, it's seen as an enterprise-level solution that small or medium-sized organizations can't afford and therefore they won't even look at it."
"In the future, I would like to see a hybrid option so that we can work both on-premises and in the cloud."
"I'd like to see more integration with other tools and technologies."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an expensive solution."
"The tool could be priced lower. If you want advanced services, then you need to purchase them."
"The licenses for this solution are expensive."
"The pricing is average and includes all features with support."
"The solution's pricing is very good."
"The cost may be around $5,000 to $10,000 a year. If you want support you have to pay at least this price."
"Palo Alto networks are more expensive than this solution and this is why you will see more products like this one in Mexico."
"They have smart licenses that can be provided for one year, two years, three years, five years, and seven years. Alternatively, they have perpetual licenses available."
"The cost of operations is very low."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
28%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Outsourcing Company
6%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

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.
Ask a question
Earn 20 points
 

Also Known As

IOS Security
Security Network Intrusion Prevention System, IBM Security Network Protection, XGS, GX
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
Equifax, Christian Hospital Centre
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco IOS Security vs. IBM Security Network IPS and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.