Azure Firewall Manager vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Microsoft and Cisco are both solutions in the Firewall Security Management category. Microsoft is ranked #10 with an average rating of 9.3, while Cisco is ranked #13 with an average rating of 7.7. Microsoft holds a 3.8% mindshare in Firewall Security Management, compared to Cisco’s 3.3% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Azure Firewall Manager

Read 9 Azure Firewall Manager reviews

1,989 Views
975 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Cisco Secure Firewall Manag...

Read 29 Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center reviews

1,902 Views
1,826 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

Azure Firewall Manager

Cisco Secure Firewall Manag...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 2024

Azure Firewall Manager and Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center are competing products in the network security landscape. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center emerges as the superior product due to its advanced features and comprehensive management capabilities, which users find worth the investment, despite Azure Firewall Manager showing competitive pricing and support satisfaction.

Features: Azure Firewall Manager provides seamless integration with Azure services, central management capabilities, and enhanced security policies. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center offers strong analytics, advanced threat protection, and extensive policy control, making it suitable for complex network environments.

Room for Improvement: Azure Firewall Manager could improve with more robust analytics, enhanced threat detection, and expanded policy control features. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center can benefit from more competitive pricing, simplified deployment options, and integration flexibility with non-Cisco products.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Azure Firewall Manager provides cloud-native deployment optimized for quick setup and effective management within Azure. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center offers an intricate on-premises or cloud-based deployment model with detailed documentation and robust customer service, beneficial for troubleshooting complex issues.

Pricing and ROI: Azure Firewall Manager is cost-effective with a flexible pricing model, offering good ROI through integration within Azure. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center involves a higher initial cost but justifies this with substantial long-term ROI due to its comprehensive features and robust security infrastructure.

To learn more, read our detailed Azure Firewall Manager vs. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Azure Firewall Manager vs. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

September 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

Azure Firewall Manager

Ranking in Firewall Security Management

10th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Microsoft Security Suite (25th)

Cisco Secure Firewall Manag...

Ranking in Firewall Security Management

13th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Firewall Security Management category, the mindshare of Azure Firewall Manager is 3.8%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is 3.3%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewall Security Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Azure Firewall Manager	3.8%
Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center	3.3%
Other	92.9%

Firewall Security Management

Featured Reviews

Sikkander Batcha

DevOps Engineer at CloudIQ

Has managed traffic effectively but lacks visibility and advanced control features

Azure Firewall is typically behind other vendor firewalls because we don't see what kind of traffic is traveling through it. That is one drawback. The main drawback is that we need log support from Azure Firewall, which can be quite costly. There is no login feature in Azure Firewall because only the IAM feature is available in the Azure site; we manage it only through the Azure portal, not through any other portal. Other vendors, such as Palo Alto, provide GUI or CLI interfaces to manage their firewalls, whereas we only manage Azure Firewall through the Azure portal. In the future, I would like to see additional features in Azure Firewall Manager to make it more competitive, such as technologies like App-ID and User-ID that Palo Alto has. Azure Firewall currently only allows traffic based on layer four and sometimes layer seven, so they need to improve in those areas compared to other vendors.

Read full review

SurajYadav

Network Security Consultant at NTT DATA

Centralized firewall control has improved visibility and policy management but needs faster UI performance

The best features of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center are the centralized management and strong security visibility. The most useful feature for me is centralized policy management, where I can create and enforce access control policies across multiple firewalls from a single console. It saves a lot of time and ensures consistency. Another key feature is IPS visibility. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center provides detailed intrusion events and signatures, which help in quickly identifying and responding to threats. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center has had a positive impact mainly by improving centralized control and visibility across our firewall environment. Earlier, managing multiple firewalls individually was time-consuming and inconsistent. With Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, we can manage policies from a single console, which has improved efficiency and reduced configuration errors. It has also enhanced our security posture with better visibility into traffic and IPS events. We are able to detect and respond to threats more quickly, which helps in reducing risk and improving overall incident response time.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Azure Firewall Manager is the testing and configuration."

"I would definitely recommend the solution to my clients, especially if one is using Azure Cloud."

"From a traffic management perspective, it's a good firewall because it's automatically scalable based on the traffic availability."

"The tool's support is good."

"The most valuable feature is the web firewall, as it is easy to install and does not require any plugins for your browser."

"It has helped us in multiple ways; for example, we don't require different spaces to manage it, we can do a lot of automation integrations into the code, we could integrate it into the DevOps pipeline, and it has helped us with our time-to-market for a very specific product when we are actually deploying or upgrading."

"We are utilizing Azure Entra ID for group labeling, so Active Directory, or now it is Entra ID, securing our application for everyone who accesses it, and Azure Firewall Manager is definitely securing our projects and all its features are fine."

"The best feature of Azure Firewall Manager is that it is easy to maintain and configure."

More Azure Firewall Manager pros

"We have not had any complaints about the stability of the Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center."

"The product's user interface is very easy to use and convenient."

"Malware detection, URL filtering, and antivirus are the most beneficial features for our security management. The platform has three main components: filters, hardware, and antivirus. We use the standard approach for automation and integration. The person in charge of management follows the rules and policies of the equipment and handles operations. However, we haven't set up any notifications, so it's mostly manual."

"Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center has been protecting our network; the fact that it's working as mentioned is its main value."

"The overall product rating is eight out of ten."

"The tool helps with internet access protection."

"The solution is quite scalable."

"My clients have never contacted me with any issues, so I believe the solution is stable."

More Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center pros

Cons

"The tool's security features need to improve. It needs also to include a monitoring system for logs. It is also complicated to find a query on the Azure firewall."

"The configuration and settings require substantial time for learning, particularly for new users. Improvements in ease of configuration would benefit users significantly."

"With Azure Firewall, the problem is that the NAT-ing still has to be improved."

"Azure charges for many aspects including scaling, automated scaling deployment, and traffic management, which leads to higher costs."

"For Azure Firewall Manager, the learning curve for new people is a bit challenging, but the integration should be more straightforward for configuring a centralized system."

"The cost is a significant concern because we are in a region where the dollar is not our default currency, and converting to dollars makes it very expensive."

"We could do only one-way NAT-ing, where the traffic comes from outside to internal, to Azure, which is fine. However, when we actually do NAT-ed traffic to hit the firewall, that way is not working."

"There should be a simple one-click deployment for a firewall, rather than a set of setup instructions that include steps such as the DNS configuration, et cetera."

More Azure Firewall Manager cons

"I expect more integration with AI."

"The product's setup could be easier."

"It takes five to seven minutes to push one policy."

"I recommend they work on usability and ensure the solution is more user-friendly."

"Some duplicated values and security standards are not working in some high-application protocols with Cisco's next-generation firewalls."

"Areas for improvement include pricing points and the range of products available at any given time."

"We use the suggested standard policies that come with the equipment. We don't put much effort into customizing these policies, which we know is a risk. We're moving to a more advanced IT area that will change how we manage the firewall policies. Cisco offers many ways to manage the equipment, but our team lacks extensive knowledge. We're moving these responsibilities to a specialized security team."

"Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center's logging functionality could be improved."

More Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is certainly expensive in comparison with other cloud services."

"The price of the solution is reasonable but it is reasonable for the features."

"I use the free version of the product."

"Technical support is an additional annual cost and is not included with the license."

"As for pricing, the tool is expensive for us. I'd rate it eight out of ten on a scale where ten is the most expensive."

"The solution is expensive. We have a multi-license, and we pay extra for support."

"The platform is costly."

"The product pricing is reasonable and falls in the mid-range."

"One of the advantages of Cisco is its range of flexible licensing options."

"When you are using a Cisco solution you know it will be expensive. Cisco makes you pay for everything individually. We pay for the licenses that we need."

More Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

15%

Construction Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Firewall Manager?

The pricing for Azure Firewall Manager is expensive. In our project, we have used both Palo Alto Firewall and Azure Firewall. Azure charges for many aspects including scaling, automated scaling dep...

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What needs improvement with Azure Firewall Manager?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Azure Firewall Manager?

My customers are using Azure Firewall Manager, so I'm learning from both documentation and practical knowledge. I usually recommend Azure Firewall Manager for projects such as an animal hospital pr...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?

My experience with pricing and licensing for Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is that it is generally on the higher side compared to some alternatives. The initial setup cost can be signific...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?

One area where Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center can be improved is the user interface. At times, it can feel complex, especially for new users, and navigation between different sections coul...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center serves as my primary tool for centralized firewall policy management and monitoring security events across multiple devices. On a daily basis, I use it to ma...

See all answers

Comparisons

Azure Firewall vs Azure Firewall Manager

Compared 14% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Cloud vs Azure Firewall Manager

Compared 9% of the time

AlgoSec vs Azure Firewall Manager

Compared 9% of the time

FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall (FortiGate CNF) vs Azure Firewall Manager

Compared 9% of the time

Palo Alto Networks Panorama vs Azure Firewall Manager

Compared 7% of the time

More Azure Firewall Manager Competitors

Palo Alto Networks Panorama vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

Compared 25% of the time

AWS Firewall Manager vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

Compared 15% of the time

Tufin Orchestration Suite vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

Compared 15% of the time

AlgoSec vs Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

Compared 13% of the time

More Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Firewall Manager

October 2026

Download Azure Firewall Manager product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

October 2026

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center report

Download Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center product report

Overview

Azure Firewall Manager offers easy configuration, centralized management, and automatic scalability. Its integration with Azure Entra ID provides secure access, while Power BI facilitates centralized monitoring, contributing to its cloud-native benefits and reliable network management.

Azure Firewall Manager is recognized for its efficient security policy management and the ability to configure and test firewall settings across multiple locations. Its integration with Azure Kubernetes supports cloud environment security and the seamless migration of on-premise components to the cloud. With its hub-and-spoke architecture, users can detect threats and orchestrate policies more effectively, although integration with open-source tools and technical support responsiveness could be enhanced. Improvements in NAT capabilities and an AI-driven phishing prevention system would enhance its offering.

What are Azure Firewall Manager's key features?

Easy Configuration: Simplifies firewall setup without additional plugins.
Centralized Security Management: Streamlines policy management across locations.
Automatic Scalability: Adjusts resources to meet changing demands seamlessly.
Integration with Azure Entra ID: Provides secure user access control.
Hub and Spoke Architecture: Enables efficient threat detection and policy orchestration.

What benefits and ROI should users evaluate?

Cloud-Native Benefits: Offers stability and seamless integration with cloud environments.
Fair Pricing: Competitive cost structure, despite currency conversion challenges.
Simplified Monitoring: Uses Power BI for comprehensive security insights.
Enhanced Security: Protects against phishing and ransomware threats.

Azure Firewall Manager is widely implemented in industries like finance to secure applications and manage B2B interactions. This tool supports endpoint security, traffic management, and seamless orchestrations within cloud environments, ensuring robust protection against various threats.

Microsoft

Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is a robust platform with features like intrusion prevention and centralized management, enhancing security with compatibility across Cisco's ecosystem.

Designed for enterprises, Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center provides advanced features like application visibility and seamless policy deployment. Its user-friendly design and extensive monitoring capabilities enable effective network management. While it excels in threat intelligence and automation, challenges remain in interface complexity, pricing, and performance. Improved API integration and enhanced user support would bolster its functionality, especially in policy management and monitoring.

What are the key features?

Intrusion Prevention: Provides strong protection against threats.
Centralized Management: Simplifies policy management across networks.
Application Visibility: Offers detailed insights into network applications.
Advanced Threat Detection: Uses Talos intelligence to detect threats.
Seamless Policy Deployment: Facilitates efficient policy application.

What benefits should users expect?

Integration Ease: Compatible with Cisco tools for effective data center protection.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Supports extensive network oversight for better management.
Efficient Threat Response: Leverages threat intelligence for proactive defense.
Effective Network Segmentation: Ensures secure traffic management between zones.

In financial and healthcare industries, Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center optimizes security operations by managing firewalls and ensuring network protection. Its deployment aids in advanced malware detection, supporting compliance with industry regulations and securing sensitive data efficiently.

Cisco

Buyer's Guide

Azure Firewall Manager vs. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

September 2026

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