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Cisco Secure Firewall vs Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
7.4
Fortinet FortiGate provides cost-effective security, yielding quick ROI and enhanced productivity with reduced support needs and downtime.
Sentiment score
5.8
Cisco Secure Firewall offers ROI through reliability, preventing costly incidents, improving efficiency, and easy integration despite ROI quantification challenges.
Sentiment score
7.3
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection provides cost savings and operational continuity, with users confirming its value and beneficial returns.
Clients are now comfortable and not wasting productive hours on IT support.
We have experienced a positive return on investment by utilizing Fortinet's products.
There's definitely an ROI. Having a centralized way of managing and applying policies across the entire organization always helps.
The implementation of Infoblox DNS allows customers to reduce operational costs by managing multiple functionalities in one window, thereby reducing the need for multiple resources.
The ROI with Infoblox is very efficient for opportunities like replacing other vendors and providing advantageous points.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.0
Fortinet FortiGate's customer support receives mixed reviews, with praise for responsiveness but criticism for inconsistency and slow resolutions.
Sentiment score
6.4
Cisco Secure Firewall users praise efficient customer service but note occasional inconsistency; direct contracts improve support quality.
Sentiment score
9.0
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection is praised for efficient, responsive 24/7 support, though some report delays and challenges.
He explained that it required a command line configuration, as it couldn't be done through the graphical user interface.
I would rate their support for FortiGate a nine out of ten.
They offer very accurate solutions.
I have to provide many logs, yet problems remain unresolved, often requiring workarounds rather than solutions.
I have been working with them on firewalls, wireless, switching, and routing, and the support is the best.
If I have a priority one case, I am able to call the manager to raise the severity.
Infoblox technical support is excellent, with good experiences and strong historical support.
Customer support is efficient, with Infoblox providing 24/7 fast support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Fortinet FortiGate is scalable and flexible, but complexities and costs can affect network expansion; overall user sentiment is positive.
Sentiment score
6.6
Cisco Secure Firewall is scalable and flexible for businesses, but costs and hardware vary, requiring careful needs assessment.
Sentiment score
8.3
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection is scalable, meeting diverse needs with flexibility, hardware options, and high ratings despite compatibility issues.
They scale up really well from smaller models like the FortiGate 40 and 50 to bigger sites with the FortiGate 100 for more throughput - up to enterprise datacenters.
The variation comes in terms of the interfaces and throughputs, but from a security perspective, you get the same benefit, irrespective of whether you have an entry-level unit or an enterprise.
You can choose a cheaper model if you only have 20-30 users, but you will need to spend more money for a FortiGate solution that covers 5,000.
Scalability presents a challenge.
Compared to FortiGate and Palo Alto, it lags in configuration and other aspects.
Scalability is well-supported in Infoblox DNS due to the availability of both hardware and virtual options.
Infoblox is very scalable.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Fortinet FortiGate is highly stable, with occasional CPU issues resolved by updates and improved through proper configuration.
Sentiment score
8.9
Cisco Secure Firewall is praised for stability, reliability, minimal issues, rapid updates for bugs, and exceptional performance under pressure.
Sentiment score
8.5
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection is generally stable and reliable, though some users note instability with added features or high traffic.
Improper handling of these can lead to a memory surge, a well-known bug that can cause the entire system to freeze.
We have not had any problems with the operating systems or maintenance of subscriptions.
The solution is very stable.
Cisco Secure Firewall offers exceptional performance and stability.
Infoblox DNS is quite stable.
Even when there are performance issues, such as hardware problems, Infoblox provides strong support to resolve the issue promptly, without delays.
 

Room For Improvement

Fortinet FortiGate needs UI and feature improvements, better integration, and enhanced support and documentation for optimal performance.
Cisco Secure Firewall users seek improvements in routing support, cost efficiency, UI design, integration, and performance enhancements.
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection faces challenges in documentation, pricing, UI complexity, integration, and requires better DNS security alerts.
If I have put 10 GBPS of throughput on a firewall and I enable all of these features available, such as IPS or UTM functionalities, the throughput comes down to 1 GBPS.
By providing an integrated solution, users would have access to all features and functionalities within a single window, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple windows.
Investing in a solution that can accommodate such growth would be more cost-effective than repeatedly purchasing new hardware.
Firepower Management Center is quite out of date compared to other vendors.
The integration between Cisco products themselves presents difficulties, such as SD-WAN configuration.
Cisco Firewalls require FMC for management.
The configuration process can be complex, which may be an area for potential improvement in terms of user-friendliness.
Infoblox needs to adapt its protection to better cover enterprises, particularly in the context of pricing when compared to competitors like Cloudflare.
The overall pricing of Infoblox is high, particularly for the Bangladesh market, and the licensing model is challenging.
 

Setup Cost

Fortinet FortiGate offers competitive pricing with flexible licensing, though potential renewals and add-ons can increase costs over time.
Cisco Secure Firewall is costly but valued for performance, support, and discounts, appealing to security-focused enterprises.
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection is costly, priced around $100,000 annually, with varied licensing and no extra setup costs.
Secure SD-WAN is free of charge.
The most expensive part is the renewal of the license subscription.
FortiGate is priced lower than Palo Alto.
It's considered a premium, but people pay that price for Cisco.
The licensing process for Cisco Secure Firewall is convoluted, involving many steps to request and enter a license key.
Licensing costs can vary depending on the number of users, sometimes costing around a hundred to one hundred fifty dollars per user.
The overall pricing is quite high, which poses a challenge when selling this product to the customer.
The main challenge with pricing is competing with vendors like Cloudflare, which often have an advantage in costs.
 

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate is favored for its features, performance, scalability, and affordability, enhancing security and network management.
Cisco Secure Firewall offers robust security, easy management, and integration with high availability, scalability, and centralized policy creation.
Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection offers centralized management, advanced security, seamless maintenance, and automated features, supporting industries with high demands.
The firewall, IPS, and VPN functions are the most valuable features.
FortiGate provides solid protection against viruses, malware, and other threats.
Within the same dashboard, you get to see the security profiles, the type of traffic that's passing through, the top applications that are being consumed, etc.
It includes features like IPS, malware protection, and other security features.
Cisco Firewall has very good features, like trusted applications and restricted access for users based on keywords.
The most valuable features of Cisco Secure Firewall include the next-generation firewall and its strong anti-malware capabilities.
They provide centralized management for DNS, DHCP, and IP address management for the DDI, along with complete visibility of the DNS flow in case of incidents, and automated responses.
Infoblox is a DDI solution that offers more than just DNS security, providing unique protection for IT management and DSCP.
Infoblox DNS Protection provides complete DDI solutions, allowing customers to easily manage their IP addresses and integrate them with DNSSEC and DSCP.
 

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate
Sponsored
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
331
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (2nd), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (1st), WAN Edge (1st)
Cisco Secure Firewall
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
411
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (7th), Cisco Security Portfolio (6th)
Infoblox Advanced DNS Prote...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
18
Ranking in other categories
Domain Name System (DNS) Security (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

Firewalls
Domain Name System (DNS) Security
 

Featured Reviews

EhabAli - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient, user-friendly, and affordable
In the past, NSS Labs was utilized to test files and verify the numbers and datasheets. It would be beneficial to have an organization or testing lab that can verify the numbers in our datasheets since changes are frequently made, which can be inconvenient for review. For instance, when comparing different competitors such as Forcepoint, Palo Alto, and Check Point, the throughput or numbers in the datasheet may be lower than the actual numbers. Conversely, Fortinet typically reports very high numbers, but they cannot be replicated in the real world. Therefore, it would be advantageous for them to partner with a neutral testing organization such as NSS Labs to validate these numbers, thus providing more credibility and comfort to everyone regarding the accuracy of the datasheets. For the migration, everyone has a firewall in use and I am selling Fortinet. Typically, I am replacing another firewall. Previously, there was a tool available to convert configurations from one firewall, such as Palo Alto, to Fortinet, but this tool is no longer free. If it could be made free again, it would be very beneficial. This tool shows a lot of promise and is very good. Making it free would help many companies deliver their products in a more efficient and integrated way. It would also be more valuable to include the tool with the firewall package or license instead of having to pay extra for it. Paying extra puts more pressure on small companies to deliver the firewall and complete the configuration, especially if they have hundreds or thousands of policies. It's very painful to move through these policies line by line. The stability has room for improvement. When it comes to Secure SD-WAN, everything is fine. They are going the right way. SD-WAN is very promising. They can provide the SD-WAN solution separately, but they will not take this approach because even the smallest firewall can support the features, so there is no need to have a separate service or appliance. They are following the right steps, and there is nothing to be improved. Feature-wise, I'm really satisfied with the new release, and the features they have added. For now, it's fine.
Maharajan S - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhances security with precise access control but has integration challenges
Overall, I would rate the product six out of ten. Because of the support and cost, I moved away from Cisco, but otherwise, it is a good product. Recommendation depends on the requirement. If lacking a proper team and being dependent on the OEM and partner, Cisco is not suitable. However, if the team is qualified with Cisco-certified people and the requirement is a big network, it can be considered. In today's hybrid work world, having an expanded gateway is more typical than having a single one. Thus, Cisco is unlikely to be recommended for a hybrid requirement unless in-house skills align. Otherwise, depending on partners and Cisco, it can be a risk. I rate the overall solution six out of ten.
Amr Shawky - PeerSpot reviewer
Replaces internal DNS servers effectively with strong support for network security
For users not already working with Infoblox, it is advisable to present it as a centralized integrated solution to handle DNS IPAM. Not all customers understand DNS security threats, so emphasizing its importance is crucial. On a scale of one to ten, I rate Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection as ten for the overall solution.
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Comparison Review

it_user206346 - PeerSpot reviewer
Mar 11, 2015
Cisco ASA vs. Palo Alto Networks
Cisco ASA vs. Palo Alto: Management Goodies You often have comparisons of both firewalls concerning security components. Of course, a firewall must block attacks, scan for viruses, build VPNs, etc. However, in this post I am discussing the advantages and disadvantages from both vendors concerning…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
20%
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Educational Organization
41%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
4%
University
4%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?
When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...
What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?
From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...
What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?
As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...
Which is better - Fortinet FortiGate or Cisco ASA Firewall?
One of our favorite things about Fortinet Fortigate is that you can deploy on the cloud or on premises. Fortinet Fort...
How does Cisco's ASA firewall compare with the Firepower NGFW?
It is easy to integrate Cisco ASA with other Cisco products and also other NAC solutions. When you understand the Cis...
Which is better - Meraki MX or Cisco ASA Firewall?
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software is the operating software for the Cisco ASA suite. It supports netw...
What do you like most about Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection?
The solution's user interface is very smooth compared to other products.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection?
The main challenge with pricing is competing with vendors like Cloudflare, which often have an advantage in costs.
What needs improvement with Infoblox Advanced DNS Protection?
Infoblox needs to adapt its protection to better cover enterprises, particularly in the context of pricing when compa...
 

Also Known As

FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate, Fortinet Firewall
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Firewall, Cisco ASA NGFW, Adaptive Security Appliance, Cisco Sourcefire Firewalls, Cisco ASAv, Cisco Firepower NGFW Firewall
Infoblox Secure DNS
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya
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.
Colruyt Group, Council Rock School District, Danone, GlaxoSmithKline, The Hershey Company 
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