Aruba Remote Access Points vs Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) comparison

Aruba Remote Access Points vs. Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

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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

Aruba Remote Access Points

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

11th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Secure Client (includ...

Ranking in Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

3rd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SSL VPN (1st), ZTNA as a Service (9th), Cisco Security Portfolio (5th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Enterprise Infrastructure VPN category, the mindshare of Aruba Remote Access Points is 0.9%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) is 7.0%, down from 8.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise Infrastructure VPN

Featured Reviews

Theesula Majuwanagamage

Head Of ELV and ICT at Intec Systems Solution Pvt Ltd

Efficient Setup and Strong Performance Highlight Versatile Capabilities

In terms of areas for improvement in Aruba Remote Access Points, when planning for the customer's end, you need to highlight the precautions against EMF emissions and environmental emissions, as well as power management limitations. If the user is in one direction and you're transmitting everywhere, that's not good power management. Currently, all access points provide the same power requirement to the client, but we should explore what extra mile we can go. We are facing energy crises and climate issues, along with GHG and SDGs protocols. If we highlight the alignment with these protocols, it can enhance the product quality as an environmentally friendly option. Apart from that, service-wise, every unit is the same. Users can only distinguish those requirements using spectrum analyzers; otherwise, minor data delays of one or two seconds do not matter, but for high-security or high-speed needs, it becomes significant.

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Wouter Beer

Technical Manager at Gannexion BV

Generates revenue through service offering while needing additional safety features

The primary use case for Cisco Secure Client, including AnyConnect, is as a VPN for remote access I use AnyConnect because I have Cisco infrastructure. It utilizes certificates, which allows for automatic setup. The security features are beneficial, and the whole idea of the app is that it should…

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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

"Aruba works well in large spaces, especially for manufacturing. That's when you start seeing the effectiveness of Aruba."

"The platform has the most valuable advanced filtering feature."

"The product is very flexible. So far the stability of the solution has been good."

"The tool's most valuable features are its ease of configuration and deployment."

"I can use the solution from my home or any remote office to access printers, servers, etc."

"It’s very light."

"What I like best about Aruba Remote Access Points is that it's pretty easy to set up."

"The stability and performance of Aruba Remote Access Points with minimal issues in an IT environment are worth a recommendation."

More Aruba Remote Access Points pros

"AnyConnect SMC's best features are that it's secure and connects seamlessly to clients' networks."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"Advanced malware protection helps us to prevent any virus from contaminating computers. We also have DLP for prevention. And AnyConnect has a feature that lets us do some sandboxing to evaluate files that arrive from the outside. So before opening them, we can check them with the sandbox."

"The most useful feature of Cisco Secure Client is the capability for any kind of VPN, facilitating remote connections in the network."

"The ability to add multiple two-factor authentication options for the user to choose from when they log in has helped increase the security of our network, especially with so many people working remotely."

"I like the ability to share the connections or simply to be able to pass the credentials for a connection to other colleagues without bothering too much about the connection being tracked or about security, because each and every user will require a secret password, so I don't really care about sending the details. It's very secure."

"The ability to connect to the VPN remotely."

"Easy to deploy and has good NAC integration."

More Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) pros

Cons

"They can add more graphical reporting systems so that network admins and system admins get more information about user usage, such as which user, what they use, and when they use it."

"It would help if the remote APs had some kind of SoHo environment with built-in firewall features. That way it could connect directly in a client-to-site type of environment, or a site-to-site VPN environment. That way users could have a complete office setup without coming to the private cloud."

"In terms of areas for improvement in Aruba Remote Access Points, when planning for the customer's end, you need to highlight the precautions against EMF emissions and environmental emissions, as well as power management limitations."

"I would rate stability as five out of ten. Sometimes it is stable, and sometimes it is not."

"It could have better monitoring features."

"The security side of Aruba Remote Access Points could be improved."

"The product is not user-friendly."

"The solution's technical support has some shortcomings that need improvement."

More Aruba Remote Access Points cons

"Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client is a stable solution. However, there have been times it has not worked and I needed to call our IT department. It could be more stable."

"If there's any cloud version available, instead of on-premise, that would be ideal."

"I think, in general, most of the applications are slow, but this is everyday stuff. I think this is more related to the link speed — the links, the lossage, etc."

"The cost could always be a bit less."

"Behavior analytics and other newer technologies should be integrated into the solution."

"We'd like the product to be cheaper."

"I haven't found there are any shortcomings in the product. For how I use it, it works well."

"It should autodetect or monitor it, when I am in the office it goes to the network in the office, or when I'm not at the office, it automatically activates my VPN connection."

More Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In terms of pricing, we've found Aruba's offerings to be very competitive."

"Price-wise, Aruba Remote Access Points is in the middle, so my rating for its pricing is three out of five."

"Aruba Remote Access Points' pricing is good and affordable."

"You require no separate licensing to convert an access point to RAP."

"The price of Aruba Remote Access Points could be better. It is a little expensive."

"There are no other expenses than standard licenses for the product."

"Aruba pricing is not very high. They offer competitive pricing for what they provide."

"I would rate the pricing for the license of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client around four to five out of ten. It's not the cheapest option, but it's also not overly expensive."

"I am using a paid version of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client."

"We have yearly licensing and it's very affordable."

"The pricing depends on the requirement, so proper planning and an RF analysis help to properly size the solution and get the best pricing."

"It costs around 80,000 Indian rupees for a hundred licenses, so approximately $1,020 USD."

"We are in the North African region, and Cisco products are expensive for us. On a scale from one to ten with one being very affordable and ten being expensive, I'd rate the price at eight."

"The initial cost is the ASA and other items, but after that, it is relatively inexpensive."

"The price is okay."

More Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Healthcare Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

29%

Educational Organization

17%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Remote Access Points?

This solution is widely adopted and involves both technology and non-technical devices. It is robust, except in cases of significant power outages.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Remote Access Points?

The pricing is adequate. It is available in every range, from medium range to high range and enterprise level. Thus, it is not an issue.

What needs improvement with Aruba Remote Access Points?

To make the solution better, the cloud solution should be more integrated as it has too many different menus, and it would be preferable to have it more cohesive in one solution. The automated netw...

What do you like most about Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?

The tool is user-friendly, robust and easy to use in any environment.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) is somewhat expensive compared to others such as Fortinet or Palo Alto, which provide free VPN when the firewall is purchased. Palo Alto and Fortinet prov...

What needs improvement with Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client?

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) is sufficient now after the update to version five or later, and I believe there's nothing to improve. I would prefer the cost to be reduced by about 20% ...

Tailscale vs Aruba Remote Access Points

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Product Reports

Aruba Remote Access Points

Download Aruba Remote Access Points product report

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)

Download Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) product report

Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect) report

Also Known As

Aruba RAP

Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client

Overview

emote APs connect to a controllerusing Extended Authentication and Internet Protocol Security (XAuth/IPSec). AP control and 802.11 data traffic are carried through this tunnel. Secure Remote Access Point Service extends the corporate office to the remote site. Remote users can use the same features as corporate office users. For example, voice over IP (VoIP) applications can be extended to remote sites while the servers and the PBX remain secure in the corporate office.

Secure Remote Access Point Service can also be used to secure control traffic between an AP and the controllerin a corporate environment. In this case, both the AP and controllerare in the company’s private address space.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cisco Secure Client, including AnyConnect, provides secure remote access, enabling employees to connect to company networks from different locations. It offers reliable connections, strong encryption, and multi-platform support, making it suitable for secure and efficient remote work.

Cisco Secure Client, including AnyConnect, is crucial for organizations seeking secure remote access. Its reliable connectivity, combined with robust encryption and multi-platform support, ensures employees can access company resources seamlessly. Users benefit from its easy-to-use interface, seamless integration with existing infrastructure, and enhanced security features like endpoint protection and network visibility. This client helps maintain operational efficiency and safeguards sensitive data, making it highly valued in diverse professional settings. Despite its benefits, some users report disconnection issues, a complex configuration process, and high resource consumption.

What are the most important features?

Reliable Connectivity: Ensures stable remote access with minimal disruptions.
Robust Security: Strong encryption and endpoint protection enhance data safety.
Multi-Platform Support: Compatible with various devices for seamless access.
Easy Deployment: Intuitive setup process simplifies installation.
Efficient VPN Capabilities: Provides secure and efficient virtual private networking.
Integration with Cisco Products: Works well with other Cisco solutions for unified management.
Customizable Policies: Allows detailed administrative control over access settings.
Minimal Disruption: Stability during updates prevents workflow interruptions.

What benefits and ROI should users expect?

Enhanced Security: Protects sensitive data with powerful encryption and endpoint security.
Operational Efficiency: Improves productivity with reliable remote access.
Flexibility: Supports multiple devices, facilitating remote work.
Cost-Effective: Reduces the need for additional security tools through comprehensive features.

Cisco Secure Client, including AnyConnect, is widely adopted across industries such as healthcare, finance, and education for its secure remote access capabilities. Healthcare organizations use it to protect patient data while providing remote care. Financial institutions rely on its encryption standards to secure sensitive transactions. Educational institutions integrate it to provide secure access to online learning resources, ensuring data privacy for students and staff.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Trafford Metropolitan Borough

MST, Molina Healthcare, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Arup, New South Wales Rural FireService

Aruba Remote Access Points vs. Cisco Secure Client (including AnyConnect)