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Business Architect at Letris
Reseller
Has high availability and is easy to scale horizontally
Pros and Cons
  • "It also has high availability."
  • "If a user wants to use it for other devices like mobile or smartphones, this product isn't so reliable."

What is most valuable?

Web Security Appliance is a proxy and I have gotten active with the open-source proxy. If I want a feature that is not present, most of the database updates and filters are good. Our clients use Cisco Palace which is a very big database that is very quickly updated.

It also has high availability. These kinds of solutions impact the user experience. If you have an issue with the proxy not responding, you have to install or activate new does in order to reestablish the connections for the customer. 

What needs improvement?

There are some problems with this solution but it's not related to this product. If a user wants to use it for other devices like mobile or smartphones, this product isn't so reliable. If you want to implement it in a track point mode, it is difficult to implement and is not so reliable. There should be more implementation. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Web Security Appliance for five to six years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's very stable. We have thousands of users and they don't have any issues with it. It's very stable.

If you want this product to be stable you have to put it through the EPS and you have to manage the connection to the power. If you shut down the product, there will be a problem because they encrypt the discs and you'll have hardware loss. The solution won't work. 

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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's very scalable. If you buy one bundle with 100 users, you can install unlimited appliances to scale horizontally. You can have ten appliances that can log share communications. It's very scalable. 

How are customer service and support?

We have contacted Cisco support for other products. I am satisfied with their support. It depends on the level of the technician you get. If you are an end-user you start with level one help which isn't so easy. If you request escalation to the next level you get a good level of support. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I only used an open-source solution. Cisco's advantage is the support and they have good scalability which is not so easy to implement in other solutions. 

How was the initial setup?

The level of complexity of the initial setup will depend on the level of customization. If you want to start the product with the best practices presented by Cisco, it's very easy. You have to manage your own IP addresses and check that the service is okay. It's integrated with other services and then apply it to your users. It's very easy to implement. You need a high level of skills to manage it. If you want special customization or a high level of security activation, it may be a bit more complex. 

For a single appliance without any high-appliance activated and if you have all the data, DNS servers, and IP addresses, it can around an hour to implement.

What other advice do I have?

Try it. See how it works, it's not difficult to implement and it's not so expensive. I would recommend it. 

I would rate it a ten out of ten. 

In the next release, I would like to see reporting to implement more features. The license should also be more flexible. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1300410 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Network Security Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Stable solution with good technical support but the graphical interface needs improvement
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is that we can use it as a proxy."
  • "They need a better graphical interface, and they need a better ISE mechanism."

What is our primary use case?

We are using this solution as a proxy.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is that we can use it as a proxy.

What needs improvement?

They need a better graphical interface, and they need a better ISE mechanism.

In the next release, I would like to see the reporting features enhanced.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the Cisco Web Security Appliance for three to four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

If you want to go to the next level, you will have to change the hardware. The general requirement is that when you reach the hardware limitations, you have to change it.

Depending on the customer, there are anywhere from 100 to 500 uses.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have contacted technical support and I was satisfied with their help.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup wasn't easy but not complex either.

What about the implementation team?

I implemented this solution.

What other advice do I have?

You need a fair comparison with other solutions to judge and compare others fairly. I have only used Cisco and would not be able to provide a fair assessment.

I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Web Security Appliance
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Web Security Appliance. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
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reviewer1006023 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Team Leader
Real User
Technical support is good but the feature awareness needs to be better
Pros and Cons
  • "The technical support is good. It is reactive and the documentation is very specific and very useful."
  • "The FTD 21 model's Firepower Threat Defense does not have the multi-instance feature for the virtualization with the physical equipment."

What is our primary use case?

This is one of the solutions that we provide to our customers.

What needs improvement?

The price of this solution needs to be reduced.

The FTD 21 model's Firepower Threat Defense does not have the multi-instance feature for the virtualization with the physical equipment. This makes it difficult to propose this solution to the customers. 

The issue that we are facing is, for example, if we have a project with a client, and we suggest the twenty-one series, we don't know until we have implemented it that we do not have the multi-instance feature.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for five years.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support is good. It is reactive and the documentation is very specific and very useful.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

When you compare the price of this solution to the price of FortiGate, it's high. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution a six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Deputy General Manager at BTS Group
Real User
The web security is good and it is user-friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "The setup was very easy and straightforward."
  • "The solution is not very compatible with other products."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution mainly for web security for content and products, or for URL filtering. 

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features is of the solution is that it is user-friendly and we get good web security from it.

What needs improvement?

The pricing is too high, so that could be improved. Also, the solution is not very compatible with other products.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a very stable solution.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was very easy and straightforward.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is a very expensive program and therefore many people choose other, cheaper programs.

What other advice do I have?

I will rate this solution a nine out of ten. I hope to see the next release being more affordable and better integration between platforms. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner.
PeerSpot user
Director at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
Real User
It's most valuable feature is its convenience.

What is our primary use case?

We use it for security.

What is most valuable?

It's most valuable feature is its convenience.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see management automation in the next release.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It's so expensive. It's $10,000 per year.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user1272714 - PeerSpot reviewer
Integrating engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
A stable part of our overall security solution
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is security."
  • "The GUI is not user-friendly, so it needs to improve or be simplified."

What is our primary use case?

We are system integrators and deploy solutions in our client's environment. The primary use case is to allow or deny access to sites or special networks.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is security.

What needs improvement?

The GUI is not user-friendly, so it needs to improve or be simplified.

The initial setup is complex, it could be easier.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the Cisco Web Security Appliance for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution itself is stable, but it all depends on the infrastructure of the end-user, and how to integrate the product to the end-user.

It really depends on the complexity of the infrastructure and the design.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's a scalable product.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were using the Fortinet FortiGate Cloud a year ago. Fortinet is easier to use than Cisco.

We also use Cisco Firepower, ASA, the WSA, and ESA for email.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is a bit complex.

It can take two to three days to deploy.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We are evaluating the Fortinet FortiGate Cloud.

What other advice do I have?

In the future, we plan to use it in the cloud when there is a Cisco solution available, depending on the market and the purchasing power of the customers.

I would rate this solution an eight out ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
PeerSpot user
Network Administrator at GAEB
Real User
Top 20
Works as a filter and proxy preventing threats in the organization
Pros and Cons
  • "Since working with the tool, we have not found any threats in our organization."
  • "The solution is priced high."

What is our primary use case?

We use the tool as a filter and proxy. 

What is most valuable?

Since working with the tool, we have not found any threats in our organization. 

What needs improvement?

The solution is priced high. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for three years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have not faced any issues with stability. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable and we have around 1200 users for the product. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used Fortinet FortiGate before. We switched to Cisco because its sandbox is more effective and the solution is more scalable. However, FortiGate has a simple user interface. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution's deployment phase lasted around three months. 

What about the implementation team?

We did the product's deployment in-house. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution has a standard license. 

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the product an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: June 2025
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Secure Web Gateways (SWG)
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Web Security Appliance Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.