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Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs Skybox Security Suite comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 1, 2025

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
2.2
Cisco Secure Firewall offers good ROI for some users, though opinions vary due to premium pricing and alternative options.
Sentiment score
6.8
Skybox Security Suite provides large organizations significant value and savings, with quicker returns noted in major Serbian companies.
There are a lot of solutions which can provide the same features.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is praised for its helpful support, though some experience delays and complex documentation.
Sentiment score
5.6
Skybox Security Suite's support is inconsistent, with varying responsiveness and effectiveness, especially during upgrades or complex issues.
A significant issue was contacting support after hours on the weekends.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is praised for scalable performance, supporting small to large organizations with flexible expansion capabilities.
Sentiment score
6.9
Skybox Security Suite excels in scalability and complex environments, though some face vertical, hardware, and cost limitations.
I would rate scalability capabilities as ten out of ten.
One issue I faced with scalability was the transition from Skybox Security Suite's 6500 platform to the 7500 series due to licensing costs becoming prohibitive.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.0
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is reliable but faces occasional issues with updates, high CPU use, and legacy integrations.
Sentiment score
7.3
Skybox Security Suite is stable, with occasional issues on virtual machines; users appreciate updates and support despite minor concerns.
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center faces challenges in setup, integration, performance, and cost, with better competitor alternatives available.
Skybox Security Suite requires a web-based interface with improved features, enhanced support, better pricing, and increased automation and customization.
I remember version 6.4 had an integration with Eddie, allowing me to define a policy according to my users, however, the latest version, lacks this integration.
The lack of continued support and problematic licensing costs were also areas needing improvement.
It would be better if something more attractive or similar useful information found in AlgoSec was available.
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is costly, but offers flexible licensing for feature customization, rated moderate to high.
Skybox Security Suite's cost varies widely, prompting buyers to assess ownership costs and licensing complexities with reseller guidance.
From a commercial perspective, AlgoSec is more expensive compared to Skybox Security Suite.
The pricing became prohibitive when transitioning between the 6500 and 7500 series models.
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Secure Firewall offers centralized management, integration, and advanced protection features, praised for scalability, stability, and threat intelligence.
Skybox Security Suite excels in scalability, vendor integration, network impact analysis, vulnerability management, and offers comprehensive reports and compliance.
It provides full visibility of my devices, whether I have six or ten devices.
The tool successfully helped in preventing vulnerabilities and breaches.
The most helpful feature is the firewall analyzer.
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Secure Firewall Manag...
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
8th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Skybox Security Suite
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
6th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
37
Ranking in other categories
Vulnerability Management (30th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Firewall Security Management category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is 1.3%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Skybox Security Suite is 9.6%, down from 10.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewall Security Management
 

Featured Reviews

Yonas Abebe - PeerSpot reviewer
Great dashboard with extensive visibility and good support
I expect more integration with AI. I expect Cisco to be easier for users in India, especially for junior users. For a junior one, it may somehow be complex, especially when configuring something. I remember version 6.4 had an integration with Eddie, allowing me to define a policy according to my users, however, the latest version, lacks this integration. The logging of FMC should be improved as it does not offer real-time solutions like DazaSodo.
NenadMijatovic - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient in vulnerability management, stable and easy to use
Vulnerability management is the most valuable feature because it lets you focus on the most critical vulnerabilities. That's the important thing. Here in Serbia, there are not so many companies that have too many firewalls inside one company. So, they usually don't buy this model for Firewall Assurance unless there is some compliance. So you can prove that your firewalls are compliant. So, that model is not so important here in Serbia. It's for bigger companies. So, they usually buy network assurance to build the model of the network and vulnerability management to focus on the most important vulnerabilities. Moreover, Skybox can collect data for many vendors. From the endpoint protection vendors to the network equipment vendors to other security vendors. So, it supports more than one hundred vendors to collect data from them.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
22%
Computer Software Company
16%
Engineering Company
9%
Performing Arts
6%
Financial Services Firm
17%
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Energy/Utilities Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?
The platform has significantly enhanced our organization's operations by providing secure communication channels between different office locations.
What needs improvement with Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?
Licensing has been a challenge with Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, and personally, I would consider switching to another solution. We are thinking of taking a Fortinet or another solution...
What do you like most about Skybox Security Suite?
Overall, the tool has helped us reduce risks. If any step is missing, it's easier for my team or engineers to identify it. The tool provides accurate recommendations based on the data. Its integrat...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Skybox Security Suite?
From a commercial perspective, AlgoSec is more expensive compared to Skybox Security Suite. Skybox Security Suite is cost-effective.
What needs improvement with Skybox Security Suite?
The dashboard's UI is not interesting; it is quite normal. It would be better if something more attractive or similar useful information found in AlgoSec was available.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
ADP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BT, USAID, Delta Dental, EDF Energy, EMC, HSBC, Johnson & Johnson
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs. Skybox Security Suite and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.