Cisco Web Security Appliance vs Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Jun 9, 2023

We performed a comparison between Cisco Web Security Appliance and Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway based on real PeerSpot user reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Users have reported mixed experiences with the initial setup of Cisco Web Security Appliance and Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway. Some found it to be straightforward, while others found it complex and time-consuming. Cisco users encountered limitations when creating policies, while Forcepoint users suggested the need for a blueprint or compatibility matrix. However, both products require minimal maintenance once implemented.
  • Features: Cisco offers SSL decryption, good web reputation, and user-friendly policy framing, while Forcepoint provides web content filtering, enterprise DLP, and granular policies. Both appliances are scalable and stable, but Forcepoint has more features for data security and real-time monitoring.
  • Pricing: Cisco charges a one-time licensing fee based on the number of users, which may be expensive for smaller networks but includes technical support. Forcepoint has mixed pricing reviews and an extra cost for additional reporting. Although Cisco is comparable to other devices on the market, Forcepoint's pricing is subjective.
  • Service and Support: Cisco Web Security Appliance has excellent customer service, with responsive and helpful support. Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway, on the other hand, has mixed reviews for their customer service, with some users reporting long wait times and slow issue resolution.
  • ROI: Reviewers found it challenging to determine the ROI of Cisco Web Security Appliance as it comes as part of a larger package, but they unanimously believe that it is worth the investment. On the other hand, Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway offers a significant level of security and protection, which translates to a good ROI.

Comparison Results: After analyzing user feedback, it appears that Cisco Web Security Appliance is the better choice when compared to Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway. Users appreciate its easy-to-use interface, scalability, and integration with Active Directory. They also value Cisco's SSL decryption and high-quality technical support. While Forcepoint has more advanced features like sandboxing and cloud-based enterprise DLP, it falls short in terms of technical support, interface simplicity, and overall security protection. Furthermore, Cisco's pricing is reasonable, making it a more attractive option for smaller networks.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Web Security Appliance vs. Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The solution is stable.""The most valuable features are the antivirus as a whole, the anti-malware, and all of the protection features that scan our enterprise devices.""The protection offered by the product is the most valuable feature. It detects vulnerabilities or traps on our users' phones and then prompts them to clean up their devices. Tools we used previously would only discover, which required us to gather information on the backend, so Lookout is a welcome upgrade.""On the outside, the main differentiation is because Lookout ingest. They have ingested basically all of the apps for the last ten years and all the versions of all the apps, and we have that in a corporate database that allows us to do very large-scale machine learning and analysis on that data set. That's not something that any of the competitors really have the capability to do because they don't have access to the data set. A lot of the apps you can no longer get them because that version of the app is five or six years old, and it just doesn't exist anywhere anymore, except within our infrastructure. So, the ability to have that very rich dataset and learn from that dataset is a real differentiator."

More Lookout Pros →

"Cisco Web Security Appliance can integrate with Active Directory, enabling us to manage all the end-users within AD. It's helpful for setting rules based on individual users and groups. For example, you can configure policies for inbound and outbound traffic.""The tool has good Umbrella DNS security.""This appliance gives me good visibility in the userbase and their activities.""The technical support is good. It is reactive and the documentation is very specific and very useful.""It also has high availability.""The tool has good Umbrella DNS security.""The deployment process is very simple.""Cisco Web Security Appliance is user-friendly and easy to manage. It protects your environment while accessing the internet."

More Cisco Web Security Appliance Pros →

"Reporting and automatic updates of website categorization.""It has protected clients against cyberattacks.""The spam filter is very effective.""I like the product's scalability and stability.""The solution provided our organization with easy and secure internet access.""I have found the simplicity of the solution valuable. The dashboard and reports are good as well.""There is some sandboxing available, which is quite useful.""The product's user management is an area where my company does not face any challenges."

More Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Pros →

Cons
"Lookout was moving into the SSE space. And so their work on SecureWeb Gateway and SD-WAN is still sort of evolving.""From the analysis that we've done, they do seem to be maybe a step behind in trying to enter the market with a new solution. But when they do pick up, they do come out with some good products.""We just submitted an enhancement request reflecting the main area we want to see improvement in; the APIs. Currently, we're able to build dashboards, but it's somewhat backward because we use our MDM API to create them. Lookout should provide API to customers so we can query our data and use it in our cloud, and this is the only outstanding area for improvement with the product right now.""The stability depends on the service from where you access it. Because sometimes, the place you are in, you have Gateway. You don't have Gateway. The gateway is overutilized. At the end, you need to go through their gateways. And this is the key point here. You have a tracking point. If it's not well orchestrated, and it scales up as you add more to the existing team, you will suffer"

More Lookout Cons →

"The solution needs to be more user-friendly and easier to navigate.""I would like more automation.""The solution could improve the graphical user interface. It is not up to the regular standard of what we would expect from Cisco. Additionally, they need to improve the categorization when blocking in the settings. The CLI could have a better view than the graphical user interface but I did not investigate further.""The tool needs to improve cloud-based decryption.""It should have a user-based quota, per-user quota, that can be defined on the appliance.""The licensing model needs to be more flexible.""The one thing I don't like about Cisco is that they are very much fragmented in terms of providing the complete solution. They keep on breaking their different feature sets into different boxes.""As Cisco Web Security Appliance is eight years old, though it's simple to access its UI, the UI needs a little bit of updating. If it could be more interactive similar to the latest gen solutions, that would improve the product. Adding a few more integrations would also make Cisco Web Security Appliance better."

More Cisco Web Security Appliance Cons →

"It's the support that's the problem because that's a different question from the product itself — it's the Achilles heel.""Reports in the sand-boxing, ease of deployment of sensors to ready to go server with one click of a button.""What's missing in Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is a specific level of micro-control on protocols or devices, for example, where you can control a particular user or user device.""The product needs to have more mobility.""The initial setup can be complex.""The automation lifecycle, integration, and export functionality could all be improved.""The Sandbox solution should be integrated with the NIST to handle whatever new vulnerabilities or new sites are identified as potential threats.""An area for improvement would be the classification of websites - it can take a long time for new websites to be classified."

More Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The pricing is fair; it's comparable to our previous solution, and we carried out multiple POCs and POVs (proof of value). The product is worth the money we pay for it."
  • "Lookout is definitely on the lower end when it comes to price point and that seems to be the only differentiator. The technology is in place in this space and it's really about who is coming in at the better price point now."
  • "In terms of feature performance versus cost, they're a good value."
  • "The licensing costs are good. Prisma has much more options and support for security, but it has a higher cost. For example, Lookout costs 2/3rd of Prisma's licensing price."
  • More Lookout Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The pricing is too high."
  • "When you compare the price of this solution to the price of FortiGate, it's high."
  • "I know from the manager that the price is too high and that other solutions offer the same features for less."
  • "Licensing fees are based on the number of users."
  • "Regarding Cisco price-wise, it is always on a bit on the higher side."
  • "Cisco Web Security Appliance is not the cheapest solution on the market, but it's well worth it."
  • "This is an expensive solution."
  • "The solution's cost depends on how many users you purchase. It was maybe $3 or $5 per user, which is a bit expensive."
  • More Cisco Web Security Appliance Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Expensive, but with a good reseller you can get a very good price."
  • "It is a well-priced option."
  • "It is quite expensive."
  • "The pricing on Forcepoint Web Security is fair. Fair pricing at current market rates, if you are comparing with the competition."
  • "The licensing is not expensive."
  • "The price of this product should be reduced to make it more competitive."
  • "Licensing is flexible. License pricing information is based on the customer, their environment, and on the future approach."
  • "The solution is priced a little high compare to similar solutions."
  • More Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The licensing costs are good. Prisma has much more options and support for security, but it has a higher cost. For… more »
    Top Answer:The solution could improve identity integration as well. Zero trust, it's a good start as a zero-trust solution… more »
    Top Answer:The most valuable features of the solution are the functions of proxy for the users who use the internet and the… more »
    Top Answer:I rate the product price a ten on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price.
    Top Answer:There are certain shortcomings related to the product's management capabilities, where improvements are required. The… more »
    Top Answer:The product's user management is an area where my company does not face any challenges.
    Top Answer:Compared to the other products in the market, Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway can be a cost-effective tool. My company… more »
    Top Answer:If there is a category of generative AI or GenAI, it is not a very detailed category, as there are many AI-based sites… more »
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    CipherCloud
    Cisco WSA, Cisco Web Security
    Forcepoint SWG, Websense Web Security, Forcepoint TRITON
    Learn More
    Overview

    Lookout is a well-established and powerful secure web gateway (SWG) solution that protects more than 200 million users from threats that can result from the penetration of unsecured web traffic into their networks. Lookout is designed to enable organizations to work remotely while maintaining a tight blanket of security over their confidential business data. It provides administrators with security that extends from their endpoints to the cloud service that they are using to run their organization’s network. 

    Users of Lookout are able to proactively detect threats and keep themselves secure from a field of threats that constantly evolves. IT teams can protect their organizations without having to rely on any other security solutions. This singular solution can run on multiple kinds of mobile devices. The privacy of individuals is preserved while keeping compliance rules intact. Additionally, users gain access to a number of tools that enable them to prevent security breaches from taking place.

    Lookout Benefits

    Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by deploying Lookout include:

    • Ease of deployment. Lookout is a solution whose design makes it easy for users to deploy it. It provides users with simple, step-by-step instructions that remove the need for organizations to devote extensive amounts of time to make sure that it is properly set up. Anyone can quickly set up the solution without undergoing technical training. 
    • Built-in support. Users of the Lookout application have access to built-in demos that can teach them how to use various solution features. Instead of spending time trying to figure out the application, users can watch the demo that is most relevant to them and see for themselves how that particular feature is used.
    • Easy-to-use user interface. Lookout’s user interface is laid out in an intuitive way that makes it easy for administrators to navigate. This interface is present in both the mobile and desktop versions of this solution. 
    • Settings customization. Lookout has a built-in settings customization menu. This makes it possible for administrators to easily customize their settings so that they best conform to their needs. 

    Lookout Features

    • Activity monitoring and activity tracking. Lookout’s activity monitoring and activity tracking capabilities enable users to keep a close eye on the activities that are taking place in their networks. IT teams and administrators have the ability to watch their networks for any unusual activity. These features ensure that organizations can keep ahead of any potential threats. They provide the kinds of insights and warnings that make the jobs of those IT teams and administrators much easier and more streamlined. 
    • Encryption. Organizations that employ Lookout can encrypt their networks and keep crucial business data from being read by unauthorized parties. This feature keeps the secrets organizations are trying to keep out of the wrong hands.
    • Anti-virus tools. Lookout provides users with tools to block threats from harming their networks. These tools can successfully block 99.6 percent of threats without raising false alarms. 

    Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) is a web security solution provided by Cisco Systems. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce acceptable use policies, and provide secure access to the internet for users within the organization.

    Cisco Web Security Appliance Benefits:

    • Easy to use
    • Comprehensive security features
    • Blocks malicious websites and prevents data loss
    • Efficient reporting and analytics capabilities
    • Scalable and integrates with other Cisco security products

    Cisco Web Security Appliance Features:

    • Web Filtering: WSA offers web filtering capabilities to control and enforce policies for web access.
    • Malware Protection: The solution incorporates advanced threat intelligence and security technologies to detect and block web-based malware, viruses, spyware, and other malicious content.
    • URL Filtering and Reputation: WSA leverages URL filtering and reputation services to categorize and assess the reputation of web domains and URLs in real-time.
    • SSL/TLS Inspection: The appliance supports SSL/TLS decryption and inspection, allowing organizations to examine encrypted web traffic for threats and enforce security policies.
    • Data Loss Prevention (DLP): WSA includes DLP capabilities to prevent the exfiltration of sensitive data through web channels.
    • Application Control: The solution enables organizations to control and manage web applications and protocols.
    • User Authentication and Access Control: WSA integrates with existing identity providers and authentication mechanisms to enforce user-based policies and provide secure access to the internet.
    • Reporting and Analytics: The appliance provides comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing organizations to gain insights into web traffic, user activities, security events, and compliance violations.

    Cisco Web Security Appliance is typically deployed as a physical or virtual appliance within an organization's network infrastructure. It can be integrated with other Cisco security products and solutions to provide a layered approach to web security and network protection.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Cisco Web Security Appliance users.

    Md Manirul Islam, Deputy General Manager Pre-Sales at Beximcocomputers, states that "The most valuable feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is the provided anti-malware functionality and URL categorization. I can block access to malicious websites. 99 percent of the cases are related to a malicious website. If I cannot browse those malicious websites, then we are 99 percent protected."

    Surendar Ganesan, Technical Lead, writes that "The best feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is its policy framing. It also has a good UI and it can handle traffic well. Cisco Web Security Appliance is a good product."

        Atdhe Zyhranaj, Network Security Consultant at NSCON Network Services & Consulting GmbH, says that Cisco Web Security Appliance is "Easy to set up with scalable virtual machines and good reliability."

        Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is a secure web gateway (SWG) tool that provides multiple forms of protection against malware, including blocking categories of websites, inline scanning of downloaded files, and zero trust-based advanced threat protection. The solution monitors and controls any interaction with any website, including blocking access to websites based on category and risk score, blocking download of malware, blocking upload of sensitive data to personal file sharing accounts, and detecting shadow IT.

        Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Features

        Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

        • Real-time traffic inspection
        • Protection for off-grid workers
        • Time and content-based access
        • Data leak prevention
        • SCIM provisioning
        • Data-in-motion scanning
        • Connection policies
        • Content policies
        • RBI profiles
        • Discovery dashboard
        • Bypass prevention
        • Unified on-device agent
        • Field Programmable SASE Logic (FPSL)

        Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway Benefits

        There are many benefits to implementing Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

        • Fast: The solution is high speed with on-device enforcement. Traffic is routed directly to its destination. In addition, you will experience fewer bottlenecks and choke points.
        • Flexible: Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is designed to automatically scale up or down with traffic needs. It is also flexible because it is hosted on AWS in more than 300 data centers.
        • Advanced DLP capabilities: The solution’s advanced DLP capabilities keep sensitive information from leaking out onto websites to provide consistent protection and simplify management.
        • Streamlined security: Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is part of Forcepoint ONE, a Security Service Edge (SSE) cloud-native platform that provides secure access to web, cloud, and private apps while connecting users directly to websites so you can skip the data center.
        • Unified administrator console: You can use the solution’s unified administrator console to reduce repetitive and redundant configuration management.

        Reviews from Real Users

        Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it has strong reporting capabilities, good URL filtering, and can retrieve and analyze lost data when necessary.

        Shipra G., Service Delivery Manager at Paramount Computer Systems, says, “The reporting part of it is pretty awesome. With the reporting, you can drill down effectively. It gives us a lot of power to really look into what we are looking for. That is one very crucial feature. In the remote filtering part, the agent that they have on Forcepoint is pretty light. That also is a very, very good feature that we look into and sell.”

        Mohammed S., Security Engineer at Futuretec, writes, "The most valuable feature for me in Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is URL filtering, though all other features of the product are okay as well."

        Arvind K., Director at Foresight Software Solutions Pvt Ltd., says, “They have well-integrated web security. They have the enterprise DLP included in the cloud as well.”

        An Ict Help Desk Administrator Individual Contributor at a transportation company states, “The most valuable feature of Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is the ability to retrieve and analyze lost data. It also allows us to detect and prevent the release of all messages and to take appropriate actions in consequence.”

        Sample Customers
        New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Caixa Seguradora
        Adventist Health, Alphawest, Amadori, Anoka County, Compartamos Banco, Davies Turner, EverBank, iGATE, Karlstad Municipality, Lake Michigan Credit Union, Scavolini, Smurfit Kappa, Toyota
        Top Industries
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Computer Software Company19%
        Financial Services Firm10%
        Manufacturing Company10%
        Government7%
        REVIEWERS
        Comms Service Provider23%
        Financial Services Firm23%
        Government15%
        Healthcare Company15%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Computer Software Company23%
        Financial Services Firm12%
        Government8%
        Non Profit8%
        REVIEWERS
        Computer Software Company26%
        Financial Services Firm15%
        Energy/Utilities Company11%
        Integrator7%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Computer Software Company17%
        Financial Services Firm13%
        Government8%
        Manufacturing Company6%
        Company Size
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business22%
        Midsize Enterprise16%
        Large Enterprise62%
        REVIEWERS
        Small Business42%
        Midsize Enterprise23%
        Large Enterprise35%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business20%
        Midsize Enterprise16%
        Large Enterprise63%
        REVIEWERS
        Small Business40%
        Midsize Enterprise10%
        Large Enterprise50%
        VISITORS READING REVIEWS
        Small Business23%
        Midsize Enterprise18%
        Large Enterprise59%
        Buyer's Guide
        Cisco Web Security Appliance vs. Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway
        March 2024
        Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Web Security Appliance vs. Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
        765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

        Cisco Web Security Appliance is ranked 10th in Secure Web Gateways (SWG) with 28 reviews while Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is ranked 6th in Secure Web Gateways (SWG) with 47 reviews. Cisco Web Security Appliance is rated 7.8, while Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is rated 7.8. The top reviewer of Cisco Web Security Appliance writes "Flexible, robust, easy to install, and the technical support is helpful". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway writes "Simple to set up, reliable, and offers great reporting". Cisco Web Security Appliance is most compared with Cisco Umbrella, Zscaler Internet Access, Fortinet FortiProxy, Skyhigh Security and Netskope Next Gen Secure Web Gateway, whereas Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway is most compared with Zscaler Internet Access, Cisco Umbrella, Symantec Proxy, Fortinet FortiGate SWG and TitanHQ WebTitan. See our Cisco Web Security Appliance vs. Forcepoint Secure Web Gateway report.

        See our list of best Secure Web Gateways (SWG) vendors.

        We monitor all Secure Web Gateways (SWG) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.