Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs SonicWall Connect Tunnel comparison

Cisco and SonicWall are both solutions in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category. Cisco is ranked #8 with an average rating of 9.0, while SonicWall is ranked #16 with an average rating of 9.0. Cisco holds a 2.0% mindshare in EIV, compared to SonicWall’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Read 50 Cisco IOS SSL VPN reviews

1,295 Views
1,062 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Read 2 SonicWall Connect Tunnel reviews

619 Views
619 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 6, 2024

Cisco IOS SSL VPN and SonicWall Connect Tunnel are key competitors in the SSL VPN market. SonicWall Connect Tunnel has an upper hand due to its robust features and simplicity in deployment, although both products have areas for improvement.

Features: Cisco IOS SSL VPN delivers reliable performance, extensive security protocols, and consistent connection stability. SonicWall Connect Tunnel offers advanced integration with other security measures, detailed logging capabilities, and a comprehensive feature set that users prefer.

Room for Improvement: Cisco IOS SSL VPN could benefit from more intuitive navigation, better configuration options, and a less steep learning curve. SonicWall Connect Tunnel requires faster support response times, simpler troubleshooting procedures, and enhanced user documentation.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco IOS SSL VPN deployment is considered straightforward by most, though some experience a learning curve. Customer service is generally favorable but can be slow. SonicWall Connect Tunnel boasts simple deployment with smooth implementation, but its customer service suffers from slow response times despite easier deployment.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco IOS SSL VPN has high setup costs, but long-term reliable performance ensures value for the investment. SonicWall Connect Tunnel offers competitive pricing, justified by versatile features and fast ROI due to its pricing structure and integration capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Connect Tunnel Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Connect Tunnel

December 2025

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Helped 881,082 peers since 2012

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 SSL VPN

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

8th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SSL VPN (2nd)

SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

16th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS SSL VPN is 2.0%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Connect Tunnel is 1.3%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco IOS SSL VPN	2.0%
SonicWall Connect Tunnel	1.3%
Other	96.7%

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Viktor Masnyy

student at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

Cost efficiency and ease of setup define network management while potential improvements in complexity handling are noted

Optimizing and configuring for network segmentation is the biggest thing for helping with segmenting traffic management. 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. In the past, Linksys has been pretty good at network protection, segmenting off that protection for unauthorized access or cyber threats. Cost savings and ease of use are the benefits I've seen from Linksys. It's a little bit less complex to set up and configure compared to Cisco switching. I utilized the VLAN support feature in the Linksys switches. A lot of the networks I have were broken up by VLAN, and I definitely configured them for different VLANs. The best feature of Linksys in my opinion is cost, as they tend to be more cost-effective compared to larger switches or Cisco switches.

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Raghuram K M

Chief Technology Officer at Prognosys Medical Systems

Offers advanced security features and is easy to install

The product's feature to secure remote access needs is an area that is looked after by the IT team in our company. I work in a healthcare organization where we need to protect certain private information. My organization does not focus on network or database protection. I know about the VPN encryption in the tool. My company has not faced any problems with the product's performance, speed, and connectivity. Performance-wise, my company is satisfied with the product. I will tell those who plan to purchase the product that they need to look at the level of security or encryption they expect for their environment. If there is a requirement for the different networks in the domain of those who planned to purchase the product to be isolated, then it should be done. I rate the overall tool a nine out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The product is very stable."

"It is highly scalable, speedy, and reliable."

"IOS is user-friendly and simple. You connect to a particular VPN, and that's it. You become seamless after that."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN is integrated with domain controller, SSO and MFA."

"The product's setup phase was easy."

"The multicast feature is useful for us."

"The split panel functionality is much better in the Cisco IOS SSL VPN than in the Aruba VPN."

"It is very simple to use, and it allows me to get into the university's network from my home, which is very useful for me."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pros

"The most valuable features of the solution stem from the advanced security features it offers."

"The best features are security and ease of use."

Cons

"The administration should be improved."

"The Secure Plus Connect product could be improved with many enhancements in any price license, especially for licensing. Cisco could simplify the licensing; it could make it easier to order and use the features."

"It would be helpful if Cisco IOS SSL VPN could help us set up devices on our iPads and phones."

"The flexibility of configurations could be improved."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN doesn't support the configuration of multiple VPNs."

"Sometimes the connection drops, and we don't like that. I'm not sure the reason, but sometimes it will take time to connect or it will disconnect fast."

"I think the administration can be improved to include web interfaces."

"The servers should be more user-friendly."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN cons

"An improvement would be to update the look and feel of the interface, which is very traditional and doesn't fit the current market trend."

"The product's configuration, administration, and user interface are areas of concern."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN comes with a cost-effective subscription."

"Cisco IOS SSL VPN is more expensive than the Aruba VPN, but it is worth the money."

"It stands as the priciest solution available in the market."

"The tool is expensive."

"I would say it is a bit expensive, but I think it is worth the price."

"Users have to pay a yearly licensing fee for Cisco IOS SSL VPN."

"Price flexibility could be improved in comparison to other vendors."

"The solution is reasonably priced, and we have around 50% to 60% discounts from Cisco."

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN pricing and cost advice

"Connect Tunnel is expensive."

"The product is expensive. Two or three years ago, when the solution was purchased for our company, I remember that it was not the cheapest compared to the tools offered by competitors."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

Healthcare Company

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

13%

University

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	24
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	24

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

The solution is pretty fast.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

I am not sure about the pricing of Cisco IOS SSL VPN.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco IOS SSL VPN?

I have not found any areas that could be improved so far. I am not sure how Cisco IOS SSL VPN can continue their improvements for the future, but I think it is a great product. To stay on top, they...

See all answers

What do you like most about SonicWall Connect Tunnel?

The most valuable features of the solution stem from the advanced security features it offers.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Connect Tunnel?

The product is expensive. Two or three years ago, when the solution was purchased for our company, I remember that it was not the cheapest compared to the tools offered by competitors.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SonicWall Connect Tunnel?

The product's configuration, administration, and user interface are areas of concern. From an improvement perspective, the configuration, administration, and user interface must be simplified. The ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 25% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

Citrix Gateway vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 10% of the time

Array AG Series vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 8% of the time

Sangfor SSL VPN vs Cisco IOS SSL VPN

Compared 8% of the time

More Cisco IOS SSL VPN Competitors

SonicWall Netextender vs SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Compared 48% of the time

AWS Direct Connect vs SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Compared 12% of the time

Oracle VPN Connect vs SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Compared 12% of the time

Tailscale vs SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Compared 11% of the time

SonicWall SMA vs SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Compared 9% of the time

More SonicWall Connect Tunnel Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN

January 2026

Download Cisco IOS SSL VPN product report

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

January 2026

Download SonicWall Connect Tunnel product report

Also Known As

Cisco SSL VPN

No data available

Overview

Cisco SSL VPN solutions help you easily and securely extend the network to users who have access to the Internet and a web browser. You can customize access and extend the reach of your corporate network to individuals based on their roles, including teleworker contractors and business partners.

Cisco

SonicWall Connect Tunnel enhances secure remote access with high-level encryption to protect sensitive data and ensure a seamless connection experience for enterprises.

SonicWall Connect Tunnel offers a robust platform for enterprises looking to secure remote networks. It provides dynamic solutions focusing on protecting against sophisticated cyber threats. This service reduces downtime through reliable connections and addresses security concerns with its advanced encryption techniques. Ideal for IT administrators and security experts, SonicWall Connect Tunnel improves operational efficiency and keeps networks secure.

What are the key features of SonicWall Connect Tunnel?

Advanced Authentication: Offers multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
High Encryption Standards: Utilizes strong encryption to secure data over networks.
Seamless Integration: Easily integrates with existing security infrastructure.
Scalability: Supports a growing number of users without compromising performance.

What are the key benefits or ROI of SonicWall Connect Tunnel?

Improved Security: Protects data against unauthorized access.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces the need for additional security hardware.
Increased Productivity: Ensures user productivity through stable connections.
Scalable Deployment: Offers flexibility to adapt to business growth.

SonicWall Connect Tunnel is widely implemented in industries such as finance, healthcare, and education. In finance, it ensures secure remote transactions; in healthcare, it protects patient data; and in education, it facilitates remote learning by providing secure access to educational resources, proving its versatility and reliability.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

MST Systems

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Connect Tunnel

December 2025

Free Report: Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Connect Tunnel

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco IOS SSL VPN vs. SonicWall Connect Tunnel and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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