


Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks and Cisco Web Security Appliance are two competitors in the network security category. While Prisma Access seems to have the upper hand with its advanced cloud-native security features and scalability, Cisco focuses on robust integration within its ecosystem and comprehensive content filtering.
Features: Prisma Access offers strong monitoring capabilities, zero-trust security, scalable architecture, and integrated threat prevention. Its features include user integration, WildFire Analysis, and the ability to protect all app traffic. Cisco Web Security Appliance emphasizes content filtering, proxy capabilities, and deep integrations with Cisco's ecosystem, along with providing robust security visibility.
Room for Improvement: Prisma Access users have expressed a need for better documentation and more flexible third-party integrations, especially for identity management, along with improved technical support and user interface. Cisco Web Security Appliance needs stronger integration capabilities, particularly consolidating multiple Cisco products into a single solution, and it is perceived as having a less user-friendly interface.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Prisma Access supports both cloud and on-premises environments with hybrid cloud deployment options, although customers report slow technical support despite its responsiveness. Cisco Web Security Appliance is primarily on-premises, with reliable customer service, though both solutions face challenges with long wait times for support. Both receive positive feedback for their dedicated deployment and technical advice teams.
Pricing and ROI: Prisma Access is perceived as expensive, with high pricing reflecting its feature set and security capabilities, yet offers a flexible licensing model that must be managed carefully for a good ROI. Cisco Web Security Appliance is also viewed as costly but effective, offering satisfactory threat protection despite its higher upfront costs compared to other market solutions. Both are seen as worthwhile investments for organizations focusing on security.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks | 9.2% |
| iboss | 2.4% |
| Cisco Web Security Appliance | 2.1% |
| Other | 86.3% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 6 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 5 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 11 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 11 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 24 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 21 |
| Large Enterprise | 27 |
Iboss offers a comprehensive cloud-based security platform valued for its scalability and autonomous features, ensuring robust security with easy deployment and management capabilities.
Renowned for its robust security architecture, Iboss integrates seamlessly within diverse networks, delivering efficient granular filtering and advanced content categorization. Its single pane of glass console provides ease of management, allowing rapid scalability suitable for rapidly deploying environments. Operates in BYOD setups due to inline filtering without device installation. Integration with cloud-based applications enhances user control, and features like SASE, SSL inspection, and ChatGPT risk protection stand as highlights. Despite its strengths, users have pointed out areas for enhancement like direct navigation in reports, SSL decryption, and better cloud integration while having room to improve data loss prevention.
What are the most important features of Iboss?The usage of Iboss spans educational institutions, specifically K-12, to enforce internet policies, protect data, and support remote work environments. It provides web filtering and security frameworks to ensure safe browsing. Its platform-as-a-service model offers flexibility for both cloud-based and on-premises requirements, integrating seamlessly to deliver enhanced security features suitable for various deployment needs including zero trust, CASB, and network security for work-from-home setups.
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:
Cisco Web Security Appliance Features:
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."
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks provides consistent security for all users and applications across your remote networks. Prisma Access grants users safe access to the cloud and data center applications and the internet as well. In addition, the solution combines all of your security and networking capabilities into a single cloud-delivered platform, enabling flexible hybrid workforces.
Prisma Access can be managed two ways:
Prisma Access delivers both networking and security services, including:
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks Features
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks has many valuable key features including: App-ID, User-ID, Device-ID, SSL Decryption, Dynamic User Group (DUG) Monitoring, AI/ML-Based Detection, IoT Security, Reporting, URL Filtering, Enterprise Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM)*, Logging, Policy Automation, Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), and many more.
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks Benefits
Some of the benefits of using Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks include:
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics
users who are currently using the solution.
PeerSpot user Partha D., Global Network Tech Lead at a computer software company, speaks about his experience using the product, saying, "It protects all app traffic so that users can gain access to all apps. Unlike other solutions that only work from ports 80 and 443, which are predominantly for web traffic, Prisma Access covers all protocols and works on all traffic patterns... The most sophisticated attacks can arise from sources that are not behind 80/443."
Tejas J., a Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a computer software company, mentions that "it is geographically dispersed, and it sits on top of Google and AWS platforms. Therefore, you don't face the standard issues, such as latency or bandwidth issues, that you usually face in the case of on-prem data centers.”
Another PeerSpot reviewer, Max I., Associate Director at Cognizant, comments that "Security is absolutely spot-on, really top-notch. It's the result of all the components that come together, such as the HIP [Host Information Profile] and components like Forcepoint, providing end-user content inspection, and antivirus. It incorporates DLP features and that's fantastic because Prisma Access makes sure that all of the essential prerequisites are in place before a user can log in or can be tunneled into."
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