Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs Icinga comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Cisco and Icinga are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Cisco is ranked #30 with an average rating of 8.5, while Icinga is ranked #44. Cisco holds a 0.9% mindshare in NMS, compared to Icinga’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 85% of Icinga users who would recommend it.

Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Read 62 Cisco Secure Network Analytics reviews

10,939 Views
4,594 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Icinga

Read 17 Icinga reviews

7,834 Views
5,719 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Icinga

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Icinga and Cisco Secure Network Analytics are competing in the network monitoring and security domain. Cisco Secure Network Analytics may have the upper hand due to its advanced threat management features.

Features: Icinga provides robust network monitoring, flexible alerting systems, and integration with third-party tools. Cisco Secure Network Analytics offers comprehensive threat detection, real-time insights, and advanced analytics capabilities focusing on security.

Room for Improvement: Icinga can improve its security analytics, enhance real-time threat responses, and expand its detection capabilities. Cisco Secure Network Analytics could benefit from simpler deployment processes, improved flexibility, and cost-effective pricing structures.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Icinga offers a straightforward setup with open-source flexibility, supported by a strong community and commercial support. Cisco Secure Network Analytics involves a more complex deployment due to its extensive security features, supported by enterprise-grade resources.

Pricing and ROI: Icinga is cost-effective with low setup costs, offering ROI through its open-source model. Cisco Secure Network Analytics has higher initial costs, leading to greater ROI for businesses requiring advanced security solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. Icinga Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. Icinga

September 2026

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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 Secure Network Analytics

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

30th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (5th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (6th), Cisco Security Portfolio (8th)

Icinga

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

44th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Server Monitoring (17th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (50th), Cloud Monitoring Software (34th)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Network Analytics is 0.9%, down from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Icinga is 1.1%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cisco Secure Network Analytics	0.9%
Icinga	1.1%
Other	98.0%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Muhammad Harun-Owr-Roshid

CEO at BRIGHT-i SYSTEMS LIMITED

Have streamlined network visibility and troubleshooting while seeing benefits from AI integration

In terms of improvements for Cisco Secure Network Analytics, from the implementation point of view, now that AI is in use, some other features need to be upgraded considering AI solutions. Proper management of the database is also important; it should be centralized for easier data collection from a single database. When precise manual analysis is needed, it's sometimes difficult, so having a centralized database will allow network admins to find actual scenarios more effectively, especially since some information may not be visible on the GUI. Cisco should upgrade their hardware part to run the database, because sometimes it cannot handle the load while all features are running in the network. The database management should indeed be centralized because while AI runs behind the systems, central management is essential. For example, in a network with 100 Cisco switches, a few routers, firewalls, and access points, all data generated should be preserved in a central database. This approach simplifies management and analysis for troubleshooting, as GUI interfaces may not always provide visible information. Centralizing the database will allow for better understanding of which information is preserved for each specific device.

Read full review

reviewer2292201

Innovation Service Manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Easy to use, and it's possible to customize the product as per the needs we may have but average multi-tenancy aspect

It's supported by the community. We use Icinga, which is not part of the Open-Source platform but is wrapped into a commercial solution from another provider, a local provider in Italy. Icinga is an open-source platform, so it is supported by the community. It's quite easy to use, and it's possible to customize the product as per the needs we may have. So it's not expensive, and it's quite a general purpose. We can easily monitor any kind of infrastructure we encounter. The ability to customize scripts and build your own queries to request information from the infrastructure elements you want to monitor. This level of personalization and customization is highly appreciated. The alerting is the same as any other monitoring platform. It's not a "wow" feature that has changed our lives, but it's perfectly adequate.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It works efficiently for encrypted traffic analysis."

"AI provides suggested common lines and protection features that help safeguard networks from various threats or unwanted situations."

"The solution has increased our threat detection rate. Cisco Stealthwatch has not reduced our incident response times. It has not reduced the amount of time it takes us to detect immediate threats. It has reduced false positives."

"Overall, the implementation is very good."

"It's a dependable product that is able to pinpoint where we have vulnerabilities if they occur."

"Cisco Secure Network Analytics has increased the visibility of what is happening in our network, and I think that's the most important reason to use it. We can see what is really happening instead of just looking at numbers from routers or switches."

"The feature most valuable for us is to gain visibility of what is actually floating through, so we can stop it based on whether it's good or bad traffic."

"It does change the way we troubleshoot and it is relatively easy to use once you learn it. I would recommend it to someone considering it."

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics pros

"People should know that it is simple and advanced."

"I use it for monitoring infrastructure and it was very good for that issue."

"It is really easy in Icinga to create your own plugin and integrate it without any fuss. And it works just perfectly fine."

"An affordable solution for small organizations to do basic network monitoring."

"Macros and the ability to connect it to Google Maps are valuable features."

"The value of Icinga is that it has hundreds of plugins, so it's really easy to monitor pretty much anything."

"Icinga2 was designed to delegate, distribute and balance tasks between several nodes."

"Icinga has multiple automation and integration features. There is an API for everything and a web UI for configurations. The APIs enable you to automate tasks in Icinga. We can also use plugins to talk to the API. The Icinga Director talks to a database in the background, and you can import settings from the CMDB to all systems in Icinga."

More Icinga pros

Cons

"The reporting of day-to-day metrics still has room for improvement."

"I would like to see some improvement when it comes to reporting."

"Better integration between Cisco Secure Network Analytics and Cisco Secure Workload would be beneficial."

"The GUI could use some improvement. Being able to find features more easily would be a great improvement if it was simplified."

"I would like to see more expansion in artificial intelligence and machine learning features."

"The interface is sluggish and not updated."

"The solution should have the ability to analyze security events not only at the network layer but also at the application and OS layers."

"Their response capability and the ability to push out responses along with changes in the network is important. This is something lacking, they don't have a lot of that, it's a passive tool."

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics cons

"In general, the product does not look good. However, it does what it is supposed to do. So, the improvements should focus on usability and UI."

"The user interface should be improved."

"One of the areas that are frustrating is remote monitoring for more than one machine."

"Icinga’s automation could be improved."

"I think the software is quite good, but we have had problems with getting it to recognize certain areas and amend certain checks, where we needed so we would have to create backend scripts for those checks. Though, being open source, it has the support to create backend scripts, it would be better to have these scripts in-built."

"Sometimes, it is very hard to keep an overview of what's happening."

"Icinga is a complex solution that's hard to learn. It's a powerful product for monitoring, but new users will have a hard time figuring out what to do."

"One thing that Icinga lacks is the capability to create advanced and customized dashboards within the tool itself."

More Icinga cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay for support costs on a yearly basis."

"Pricing is much higher compared to other solutions."

"It is worth the cost."

"Licensing is done by flows per second, not including outside (in traffic)."

"It has a subscription model. There is yearly support, and there is also three-year support. It depends on what the customers want."

"The pricing for this solution is good."

"The licensing costs are outrageous."

"The tool is not cheaply priced."

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics pricing and cost advice

"It is cost-effective, and the return on investment can be very interesting because the price is low."

"It's an open-source solution."

"The solution is free to use."

"The solution is cheap."

"We're using the free version of Icinga."

"Even though Icinga's financial cost is low, it is an expensive product regarding the resources required to maintain and operate it."

"This is an open-source solution with paid support."

"The product is inexpensive compared to other DBM products."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

Educational Organization

14%

Comms Service Provider

13%

University

12%

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	52

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Stealthwatch?

Regarding cost, for the Bangladesh context, Cisco Secure Network Analytics is a little bit high-priced because we are a developing country, making it tough to manage affordable solutions. However, ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco Stealthwatch?

Several features often look very promising during evaluation or implementation but end up being used only lightly in day-to-day operations. Advanced reporting and scheduled compliance reports look ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco Stealthwatch?

My main use case for Cisco Secure Network Analytics has been network visibility and anomaly-based threat detection within the enterprise environment. In security operations and VAPT-related activit...

See all answers

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SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor vs Icinga

Compared 4% of the time

Nagios Core vs Icinga

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Network Analytics

October 2026

Download Cisco Secure Network Analytics product report

Buyer's Guide

Icinga

September 2026

Download Icinga product report

Also Known As

Cisco Stealthwatch, Cisco Stealthwatch Enterprise, Lancope StealthWatch

Icinga Cloud Monitoring

Overview

Cisco Secure Network Analytics enhances network security through integrated threat detection and detailed traffic visibility, optimizing performance with AI analytics and strong platform integrations.

Cisco Secure Network Analytics offers deep visibility into network traffic, with tools like network maps and server response times. Its AI-driven analytics help detect threats, focusing on east-west traffic. Integration with platforms such as pxGrid and ISE complements its capabilities. Reporting and telemetry help in identifying bandwidth issues, yet improvements are desired in AI for better data organization. Installation complexity and false positives present challenges, and managing network loads effectively is a recognized need.

What are the key features of Cisco Secure Network Analytics?

Deep Visibility: Provides comprehensive insights into network traffic and server behavior.
Network Maps: Enhances understanding of traffic flow and infrastructure layout.
AI Analytics: Uses AI for superior threat detection and anomaly recognition.
Integration: Compatible with platforms like pxGrid and ISE for enhanced security management.
Telemetry: Delivers detailed bandwidth usage and traffic analysis reports.

How does Cisco Secure Network Analytics provide value?

Enhanced Security: Elevates threat detection and response capabilities.
Traffic Insights: Identifies encrypted and anomalous network behaviors.
Compliance Support: Assists in meeting industry standards for data protection.
Endpoint Protection: Guards network endpoints against potential threats.

Industries such as banking, defense, and police rely on Cisco Secure Network Analytics for securing networks against threats. Its capability to provide insights into encrypted traffic and facilitate device auditing makes it a sought-after choice for those requiring extensive network visibility. Users appreciate its application for threat prevention and response in demanding sectors.

Cisco

Icinga is a robust tool for monitoring IT infrastructure, known for its distributed monitoring capabilities and seamless integration with multiple platforms. It efficiently observes servers, network devices, and environments like Linux and Windows, enabling proactive issue identification and resource management.

With a focus on task delegation and clustering, Icinga offers an intuitive interface through its GUI and Icinga Director, simplifying configuration. The extensive plugin library supports diverse technologies, while the API allows automation with tools like Terraform and Ansible. Despite its strengths, users report challenges with data display in the GUI, a need for improved dashboards, and complex configuration processes. Users benefit from its SNMP alerts, email notifications, and automated incident handling, making it essential for managed service environments and enterprises.

What are the key features of Icinga?

Task Delegation: Streamlines monitoring tasks across distributed systems.
Event Handler: Enables automatic service recovery with minimal intervention.
Plugin Library: Offers extensive support for integrating diverse technologies.
API Accessibility: Facilitates automation with popular tools like Terraform.
Custom Plugins: Allows easy creation and personalization for monitoring needs.

What benefits should you consider in Icinga reviews?

Flexibility: Tailors monitoring to specific requirements with community support.
Scalability: Successfully manages growing infrastructure demands.
Proactivity: Enhances issue identification and resource allocation.
Integration: Seamlessly works with existing IT operations platforms.

Icinga is widely adopted in IT environments for monitoring servers, networks, and applications across industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology. Its ability to integrate with various operating systems and automation platforms makes it a versatile choice for industries prioritizing comprehensive surveillance and proactive management of their infrastructure.

Icinga

Sample Customers

Edge Web Hosting, Telenor Norway, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Webster Financial Corporation, Westinghouse Electric, VMware, TIAA-CREF

Puppet Labs, Audi, Spacex, Debian, Snapdeal, McGill, RIPE Network Coordination Centre

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. Icinga

September 2026

Free Report: Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. Icinga

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