Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Palo Alto Networks and Broadcom are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Palo Alto Networks is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while Broadcom is ranked #29. Palo Alto Networks holds a 6.5% mindshare in WSG, compared to Broadcom’s 0.9% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Palo Alto Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks and Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway are competing in the secure web access and data protection category. Prisma Access has an advantage in pricing and support, while Symantec is often favored for its comprehensive feature set.

Features:Prisma Access includes advanced threat protection, integration with cloud environments, and scalable cloud design. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway offers robust web filtering, seamless integration with on-premise systems, and extensive web control features.

Room for Improvement:Prisma Access could enhance features related to on-premise system integration, customization options, and comprehensive web control functionalities. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway may benefit from improved cloud integrations, streamlined deployment efficiency, and user interface enhancements for better usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service:Prisma Access offers streamlined cloud deployment and strong customer support, appealing for businesses transitioning to cloud solutions. Symantec provides flexible deployment with extensive customization, catering to organizations needing adaptable service offerings.

Pricing and ROI:Prisma Access is known for favorable setup costs and a strong ROI due to its scalable cloud design. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway, while having a higher initial investment, is perceived to deliver significant long-term value through its robust features. Prisma's cost-effectiveness in cloud solutions is highlighted compared to Symantec's comprehensive web security value.

To learn more, read our detailed Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway Report (Updated: November 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

November 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

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category, the mindshare of iboss is 3.2%, up from 2.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is 6.5%, down from 10.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway is 0.9%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	6.5%
iboss	3.2%
Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway	0.9%
Other	89.4%

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

Featured Reviews

Ashok Ananthula

Senior Consultant Proxy Engineering at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Cloud gateway has strengthened remote web security and now needs better Mac and ISP support

The problem our organization had is that iboss failed for the Mac devices. It is not able to give a successful agent for the Mac agents. That is where in 2025, we had to migrate to the Palo Alto-based platform. If your use case is for just Windows laptops,you can consider this platform as an option One issue is the data center resiliency part. In India especially, they are not tied up with the Tier 1 ISPs like Tata or Airtel; they were having Tier 2 ISPs and encountered many issues reaching few major sites that my organization depends on, and they were having problems that they could not fix quickly. They also lack a mechanism to route that traffic within their data center; rather, they ask customers to make a pac file change to route it to Singapore explicitly. It would be better if they route from their backend , i mean even if I send it to India DC, they should be able to route it internally to make that work; however, they fail to do that and ask the customer to route it in the pac file. Another suggestion is that in China, they do not have the proper setup; they used to have numerous problems with slowness and lack of premium circuits in China as well. That leads to multiple sites working slowly with latency-related issues. So the main issue is the ISP-related problems that need to be solved.

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IgorPinter

Director at PULSEC

Zero-trust access has improved remote security and now simplifies cloud-based firewall management

Regarding the integration part for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, the integration with identity providers is pretty much good. It is basically firewall as a service, so it performs well. I completed the integration without any issues. What Palo Alto Networks can do better for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is probably to have the point of presence available in more locations. The point of presence from the Serbia region has the nearest POP in Frankfurt, which is an issue since it is your gateway—when you start browsing the internet, you go through a commercial connection in Germany. They definitely need to spread the service in other countries.

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cto543714

CTO at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Simplifies management by shifting from on-premises solutions to cloud-based

Depending on the complexity of your system, you might need additional help during implementation. Considerations such as whether you’re using federated Active Directory or on-premises Active Directory need to be addressed. While setting up a system can be quick, taking only ten minutes to get started, rolling it out for an enterprise requires careful planning. Ensuring you make the right configuration choices is crucial for a successful deployment. It depends on the size of your deployment. While you can handle the setup, larger deployments might require additional support to manage effectively. I rate the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I would say iboss is a very good product; its scalability is very good, and it's seamless for the user."

"We were impressed by the solution's mental health function, which can detect if someone needs help. It scans what users are browsing and flags warning signs so we can check to see if they are okay. We've had to use it a couple of times."

"Content filtering is the most useful feature of iboss."

"iboss is among the few products providing inline filtering where no application is needed on the device. It operates on the network side and is not device-based. This feature was one of the main reasons why we stayed with them for so long."

"Overall, the major benefit from Browser Isolation is improved security without compromising employee productivity."

"This product is solid, fairly easy to use, and reliable."

"As I mentioned, the return on investment is significant, as it saved our office locations' bandwidth because when you are working remotely at home, your internet traffic routes directly to iboss and will not go to your office building, saving bandwidth bottlenecks and ensuring that issues with our building internet circuits will not impact your internet connectivity because you are directly going to the iboss data center."

"I would rate the technical support of iboss a solid 10 without a shadow of a doubt."

More iboss pros

"From an audit or security perspective, the solution has been very stable so far."

"The product's initial setup phase is simple."

"To quarantine and clean a malware file provides a lot of security."

"Prisma helped us build a moat around our production systems. It's now impossible to log into our production from a non-MDM laptop. Prisma Access provides decent security overall."

"There are plenty of features this solution provides and the most valuable would be the complete security protection we are receiving, including similar security to the Palo Alto AWS solution with features such as a firewall and machine learning AI, while the cloud server provides maximum uptime, controls, and overall strong security."

"Its hands-off security and the fact that we don't have to maintain it are the most valuable features."

"Prisma Access does everything beautifully."

"My advice for those who are looking for a SaaS solution is to use Prisma; it's one of the best solutions in the industry at the moment, simpler and really easy to deploy, with a very trustworthy support team from Palo Alto."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks pros

"I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy to set up. It was pretty straightforward."

"The product is easy to install and deploy on the cloud."

"This solution does not require much administration."

Cons

"The reporting feature needs improvement. It doesn't give you the expected results. It is quite difficult to get the specific reports needed, and it is not as intuitive as the rest of the platform."

"Sometimes the agent stops working in iboss, and we have to reinstall the agent."

"For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company ExxonMobil."

"If they could implement an extra security layer preventing access to iboss from the open internet, it would be great."

"Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern."

"The solution could be stronger on the integration side and offer more cloud applications like G Suite or Oracle."

"The endpoint-type solution is an area that needs some improvement."

"Iboss is growing so fast that it is often hard for them to keep up with the challenges."

More iboss cons

"My clients would like to see a more feature-rich product."

"It's not very easy to use. Sometimes it's buggy and there are problems when doing updates. The user interface is okay, but some configuration items are difficult. I would like it to be less buggy and easier to configure, to better streamline the user experience."

"We've run into some challenges, having hit a lot of bugs over the past year in the deployment of GlobalProtect. We've had our fair share of issues that I haven't been happy with. We're working with the support organization to remediate them and waiting for updated releases. The response on getting the bugs fixed has not been what I would consider adequate for a product like this."

"There should be a dedicated portal or SASE-based solution. They're trying to add a plugin but it needs a dedicated portal because it is now an enterprise solution for multiple organizations. People should be able to directly log in to a dedicated page for Prisma Access, rather than going into a Panorama plugin, and always having to update the plugin."

"If you compare Prisma SaaS against other products, such as Cloud Log, it's a little bit tricky to understand, but it offers different functionality that other products don't have. From a user usability point of view, you need some training for this product, as an admin, you need a couple of demos."

"It is a managed firewall. When you run into issues and have to troubleshoot, there is a fair amount of restriction."

"I would like to see better pricing and an easier logging process. Also, if there was a way to log a global log, everything could go onto the system. It would be better if there was a third log, otherwise one would have to do everything manually."

"The BGP filtering options on Prisma Access should be improved."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks cons

"Symantec support is not very good. It is now outsourcing a significant portion of its support desk functions to distributors, who are taking over some of the help desk responsibilities."

"WSS runs slowly sometimes, I would like for this to be looked into."

"Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway can be improved by giving customers more ability to provide feedback on the categorization of websites and the site review portal."

"The product is cost-effective, considering its features, technology, and support services."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"It is a little expensive. Because it is one of the best in the market, it is a little bit more expensive than other vendors."

"Compared to other products, the price is slightly high."

"The initial prices of Prisma Access were okay. But as soon as you start deploying Palo Alto gear, the support prices and the recurring prices, which are the major operational costs, tend to increase over time."

"I'm still comparing, but the solution is quite expensive."

"Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is an expensive solution, especially when compared to other solutions like Cisco. There are no additional charges apart from the standard licensing costs attached to the solution."

"The solution requires a license and the technical support has extra costs. The licensing model could improve."

"We have to pay additional costs for maintenance and support services."

"Prisma Access is a little bit expensive."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks pricing and cost advice

"The price is fixed and affordable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

18%

Construction Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Performing Arts

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	16

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	26
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	27

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

iboss could be improved by making the dashboard more user-friendly, providing more detailed real-time alerts, and imp...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for iboss?

iboss is primarily used for cloud security, helping to protect users when they access websites and cloud applications...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

The pricing and licensing for iboss were reasonable for the security features. The setup costs were manageable, thoug...

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What is the better solution - Prisma Access or Zscaler Private Access?

We looked into Prisma Access before choosing Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). Palo Alto’s Prisma Access is a secure ac...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks?

From my experience, Palo Alto is more expensive compared to solutions like Netskope and Triscale.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks?

Regarding the integration part for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, the integration with identity providers is pr...

See all answers

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Comparisons

Netskope vs iboss

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs iboss

Compared 5% of the time

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Netskope vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 13% of the time

FortiSASE vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 5% of the time

Appgate SDP vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 2% of the time

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Cisco Umbrella vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 20% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 11% of the time

Fortinet FortiProxy vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Web Security Appliance vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 9% of the time

Skyhigh Security vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 5% of the time

More Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

October 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

October 2026

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks report

Download Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks product report

Buyer's Guide

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

October 2026

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway report

Download Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access, Prisma Access, GlobalProtect, Palo Alto GlobalProtect Mobile Security Manager, Prisma SaaS by Palo Alto Networks, Prisma Access

Symantec Web Security Service

Overview

iboss is the Zero Trust SASE platform that gives organizations complete visibility and governance over their AI, data, and applications through one unified platform, one console, one policy engine, and one data lake.

Your endpoints may already stop malware. Your data and application activity can still be invisible. iboss decrypts and understands every connection, then turns that signal into answers security leaders can act on.

The platform leads with three capabilities in this order: AI Security and Visibility, Data Security and Visibility, and App Visibility and Control. Zero Trust Network Access, VPN replacement, and SD-WAN sit underneath as the access fabric that carries those three. Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

- AI Security and Visibility: conversation capture, shadow-AI discovery, AI DLP, and agent governance across Claude, Co-Work, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, and emerging services.

- Data Security and Visibility: full SSL/TLS decryption, deep content inspection, MIP label compliance, and one-click compliance reporting.

- App Visibility and Control: signatureless CASB, dual risk scoring, in-app controls, and SSPM for major SaaS.

- Containerized Zero Trust SASE: dedicated containers, isolated SSL keys, one console, one policy engine, one data lake.

- Access fabric: ZTNA, VPN replacement, and SD-WAN under the same platform.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

- Complete visibility over AI, data, and applications from one platform instead of separate point tools.

- Encrypted traffic is inspected by default so data decisions use content and context together.

- Shadow SaaS and new web tools appear as they are used, with enforceable controls in one console.

- Native data sovereignty through dedicated containers, in-region inspection, and per-customer SSL key custody.

- Scale proven in published materials: 10M+ users, 100+ countries, 150B+ transactions, 2.5B+ threats blocked.

Economic buyers are CISOs, CIOs, and VPs of Security. Champions include security architects, network and infrastructure leaders, SecOps, and GRC. Primary segments: enterprise and business, financial services, government (including FedRAMP Gov Cloud), healthcare, manufacturing, legal and professional services, retail and hospitality, and MSP/MSSP partners. Education, including K-12, is one vertical among these.

iboss

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks delivers robust security features including secure remote access across apps and traffic monitoring. It integrates smoothly with cloud environments to provide advanced threat protection and visibility into network traffic.

Prisma Access offers a comprehensive suite of security tools designed to protect cloud environments and remote workforces. With its focus on real-time risk identification and threat prevention, Prisma Access provides encrypted tunnels and centralized management for seamless connectivity and enhanced data security. Designed to scale across platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP, it optimizes traffic and connectivity while offering extensive visibility into vulnerabilities. However, integration with third-party products, usability, and support services are areas for development, as users report interface challenges and desire improved scalability and geographic coverage, especially in regions like China and South America.

What are the key features of Prisma Access?

Real-Time Risk Identification: Detects and manages potential threats instantly.
Secure Remote Access: Ensures secure connectivity to applications from anywhere.
Traffic Monitoring: Provides comprehensive oversight of network traffic.
Seamless Integration: Works well with platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Firewall Capabilities: Blocks unauthorized access and threats.
Scalability: Adapts to various cloud environments to meet growing demands.

What benefits should users expect when evaluating Prisma Access?

Reduced Data Breach Risk: Protects sensitive information through encrypted connections.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies management and configuration tasks.
Centralized Management: Offers a single view for managing all security policies.
Advanced Threat Protection: Regular updates guard against new threats.

Prisma Access is effectively used in industries requiring secure remote access and stringent data protection, such as finance and healthcare. Organizations leverage it to enforce Zero Trust policies, optimize network performance with SD-WAN, and ensure security compliance across multiple platforms.

Palo Alto Networks

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway provides effective web security solutions designed to protect against internet threats while ensuring secure access to web applications.

Designed for companies seeking reliable web security, Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway offers a resilient platform to defend against threats and control web access. It leverages advanced technologies to filter undesirable content and protect sensitive data. It enables secure browsing and delivers robust policy enforcement to keep enterprise networks safe, helping businesses stay compliant and safeguard their data against modern cyber threats.

What are the key features of Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway?

Advanced Threat Protection: Safeguards against sophisticated malware and cyber threats.
Content Filtering: Blocks unwanted web content and enforces safe browsing policies.
Data Loss Prevention: Protects sensitive data from being exposed or stolen.
HTTPS Inspection: Monitors encrypted traffic to prevent threats and ensure compliance.
Access Control: Enables granular control over user and device web access.

What are the benefits when evaluating Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway?

Enhanced Security: Provides comprehensive protection against web-based threats.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces risks and potential data breach costs with advanced protection.
Compliance Assurance: Helps maintain compliance with industry regulations.
Scalability: Easily adapts to growing organizational demands without compromising performance.
User Productivity: Encourages secure access to necessary resources improving productivity.

In industries like finance and healthcare, Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway is crucial for protecting confidential data and ensuring secure communications. Its ability to implement strict compliance measures makes it a preferred choice for sectors with high regulatory standards. By preventing data breaches and unauthorized access, it supports enterprises in maintaining their business integrity and reputation.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

Concord Hospital, State of Colorado, Essilor International, RheinLand Versicherungsgruppe, University of Westminster, Universidade Nove de Julho, SPAR Austria, CAME Group, ZipRealty, Greenhill & Co., IKT Agder, Aviva Stadium, Animal Logic, Management & Training Corporation, Brigham Young University Hawaii, School District of Chilliwack

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

November 2026

Free Report: Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

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