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Cisco Web Security Appliance pros and cons

Vendor: Cisco
3.9 out of 5

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Cisco Web Security Appliance provides effective categorization for applications like YouTube and Facebook, allowing control over access on both mobile and PC.
The integration with Active Directory enhances user management, enabling customized policy settings for inbound and outbound traffic.
Cisco offers excellent anti-malware functionality and URL categorization, significantly reducing the risk of accessing malicious websites.
The appliance seamlessly integrates with other Cisco products, including Cisco Email Security Appliance, ensuring comprehensive protection.
Its scalability and high availability ensure reliable performance, making it highly recommended for organizations seeking robust web security.

CONS

Cisco Web Security Appliance is not very compatible with other products.
Technical support from Cisco needs improvement due to long response times and lack of communication.
FSO Cisco model's Firepower Threat Defense lacks the multi-instance feature for virtualization with physical equipment.
Cisco Web Security Appliance's licensing model is inflexible and considered overpriced.
Cisco Web Security Appliance requires enhancement in cloud-based decryption capabilities and web page categorization management.
 

Cisco Web Security Appliance Pros review quotes

AT
Deputy General Manager at BTS Group
Oct 13, 2019
The setup was very easy and straightforward.
reviewer1006023 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Team Leader
Nov 4, 2019
The technical support is good. It is reactive and the documentation is very specific and very useful.
MF
Network Security Engineer & Systems Engineer at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Nov 28, 2019
This solution offers categorization for YouTube and other specific applications from Facebook to WhatsApp, which can be controlled whether it's on mobile or PC.
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Web Security Appliance. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1300410 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Network Security Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Mar 16, 2020
The most valuable feature is that we can use it as a proxy.
Usman Rasool - PeerSpot reviewer
VP - Head Enterprise Technology Infrastructure at MCB Islamic Bank Ltd.
Apr 26, 2020
This appliance gives me good visibility in the userbase and their activities.
DA
Business Architect at Letris
May 17, 2020
It also has high availability.
DD
Solution Architect- Network Infrastructure at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Jun 14, 2020
Cisco is the best in giving technical support. There is no doubt about that.
it_user1272714 - PeerSpot reviewer
Integrating engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Aug 19, 2020
The most valuable feature is security.
Enrique Diaz Jolly - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at Jolly Security Inc
Jan 26, 2021
It integrates well with Cisco Email Security Appliance.
reviewer1478394 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Manager at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
May 27, 2021
I would recommend this solution to others.
 

Cisco Web Security Appliance Cons review quotes

AT
Deputy General Manager at BTS Group
Oct 13, 2019
The solution is not very compatible with other products.
reviewer1006023 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Team Leader
Nov 4, 2019
The FTD 21 model's Firepower Threat Defense does not have the multi-instance feature for the virtualization with the physical equipment.
MF
Network Security Engineer & Systems Engineer at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Nov 28, 2019
Technical support needs to be improved because they take a very long time and there is no communication or notification.
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Web Security Appliance. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1300410 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Network Security Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Mar 16, 2020
They need a better graphical interface, and they need a better ISE mechanism.
Usman Rasool - PeerSpot reviewer
VP - Head Enterprise Technology Infrastructure at MCB Islamic Bank Ltd.
Apr 26, 2020
The licensing model needs to be more flexible.
DA
Business Architect at Letris
May 17, 2020
If a user wants to use it for other devices like mobile or smartphones, this product isn't so reliable.
DD
Solution Architect- Network Infrastructure at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Jun 14, 2020
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.
it_user1272714 - PeerSpot reviewer
Integrating engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Aug 19, 2020
The GUI is not user-friendly, so it needs to improve or be simplified.
Enrique Diaz Jolly - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at Jolly Security Inc
Jan 26, 2021
Sometimes reporting is a little bit short.
reviewer1478394 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Manager at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
May 27, 2021
This solution could be more secure.