Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs Cisco IOS Security comparison

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs. Cisco IOS Security

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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:

ROI

Sentiment score

5.8

Fortinet FortiGate offers a good ROI with enhanced security, cost savings, and efficient policy-deployment, valued by clients.

Sentiment score

7.0

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) boosts productivity, efficiency, and savings, integrating features for enhanced security, management, and user experience.

Sentiment score

7.4

Cisco IOS Security delivered significant ROI through improved routing, security, stability, and cost-efficiency, despite competitive vendor pressures.

Clients are now comfortable and not wasting productive hours on IT support.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The automation part is giving us a cost benefit and speed; we can react faster.

Bart Homblé

BDM Fortinet & BDM Teamlead at Exclusive Networks

It's a very useful tool to mitigate and protect your enterprise.

Bernard Samontanes

Staff Infrastructure & Security Engineer at Mozn Systems

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

This is a time-saving measure because we don't need to deploy a cluster or a firewall each time; we just create a virtual system on the management server using the same appliance.

reviewer2678856

Security Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

Incident response time has reduced significantly, and downtime due to network issues has been minimized, leading to an improved return on investment.

Durgesh K.

Ot Security Network Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

The fact that we've not had any breach toward the data center side is plenty enough.

reviewer2701569

Enterprise Network Engineer at a outsourcing company with 201-500 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

The return on investment is satisfactory with Cisco products as they have long lifespans, and our customers are satisfied with them.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.6

Fortinet FortiGate support is mixed, praised for knowledge but criticized for delays, language issues, and varying regional experiences.

Sentiment score

6.1

Check Point Quantum Force support offers fast, knowledgeable assistance, but users report varying satisfaction and occasional slow resolutions.

Sentiment score

6.7

Cisco IOS Security support is generally praised for speed and skill, though some report delays and complexity in access.

The quick resolution of issues with Fortinet FortiGate is due to the support of the company and the fact that the equipment is easy to work with.

Alexandre Menezes

IT Manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees

I would rate the technical support for Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.

AnishKumar

NAC Support at Rah Infotech Pvt Ltd

As a solution provider, when I encounter problems, I connect directly with Fortinet support, and they provide solutions within a very short time.

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

The support team we engaged was knowledgeable and well-versed with the application.

Thomas Gadson

Sr. Cyber Security and Solutions Architect at a consultancy with 201-500 employees

We have escalated issues to Check Point technical support multiple times and have received timely and very good responses.

Asif Ash-Hal

Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution

Even challenging issues like those with VPNs have been resolved efficiently with their help.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

My impression is that the support quality has deteriorated over time.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.1

Fortinet FortiGate is scalable and adaptable, with virtual machines offering flexibility and seamless performance praised across industries.

Sentiment score

7.9

Check Point Quantum Force scales effectively, accommodating growth with R82 ElasticXL and Maestro, supporting seamless distributed deployments.

Sentiment score

7.4

Cisco IOS Security offers scalable, enterprise-level solutions but may increase costs and limit universality due to required hardware.

They scale up really well from smaller models like the FortiGate 40 and 50 to bigger sites with the FortiGate 100 for more throughput - up to enterprise datacenters.

Ian Manton

IT Manager at Daltons Limited

The variation comes in terms of the interfaces and throughputs, but from a security perspective, you get the same benefit, irrespective of whether you have an entry-level unit or an enterprise.

reviewer2667480

Cewa Solutions Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

We determine sizing based on multiple factors: number of users, available links, traffic types, server count, services in use, and whether services will be published.

FatmaSamy

General Surgery Specialist at Helwan University Cairo

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

If specified correctly, even the smaller boxes offer high session and bandwidth rates, making the solution highly scalable, even up to telco-level requirements.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

It is easy to scale up by adding capacity through clustering or upgrading the license, and it effectively handles spikes in remote user connections or increased east-west traffic without noticeable bottlenecks.

reviewer2751468

Assistant Manager at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

Scalability must be carefully planned for, considering future growth and user base increases.

Manikandan Kannan

Head of Technology at Techfruits

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.7

Fortinet FortiGate is generally stable, though firmware updates can cause issues; proper configuration is crucial for performance.

Sentiment score

8.1

Check Point Quantum Force users report mixed stability, with praise for uptime but concerns about VPN issues and stability enhancements.

Sentiment score

7.6

Cisco IOS Security is generally reliable with occasional issues, frequently updated for stability, scoring 7-10 in satisfaction.

We're experiencing 99.999% availability consistently.

Ricardo Biggs

Manager, Information Technology at a consumer goods company with 11-50 employees

I would rate the stability of Fortinet FortiGate a ten out of ten.

AnishKumar

NAC Support at Rah Infotech Pvt Ltd

Currently, we are experiencing a general outage of one of the main internet service providers of the Dominican Republic, and we have not been impacted in our operations because with SD-WAN, we have another internet service provider and we are working with the second WAN connection without any disruption.

Juan Frias

CISO at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

While the solution is generally stable, there are complications, such as requiring SmartConsole for deployment and upgrades, which can be time-consuming.

Manikandan Kannan

Head of Technology at Techfruits

I have worked with Check Point products for 15 years and haven't found any stability or performance issues.

Asif Ash-Hal

Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution

The use of Check Point firewalls has helped improve our security posture without any downtime.

Durgesh K.

Ot Security Network Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

We find Cisco products stable and thoroughly tested before new software or firmware versions are released.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

I find Cisco IOS Security to be a very stable product.

Binoob John

Partner/Owner and Director of Human Resources at Up arrow Systems

Room For Improvement

Fortinet FortiGate faces high costs, technical and usability issues, complex licensing, and requires improved support, stability, and AI integration.

Check Point Quantum Force users face stability issues, desire better integration, support, training, and improvements in dashboard and VPN configurations.

Cisco IOS Security struggles with integration, usability, cost, lacking features, complex licensing, performance, and requires enhancement and support.

These sessions should be around five to ten minutes long, allowing users and partners to quickly grasp the information without disrupting their daily tasks.

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

The solution should be able to implement machine learning and analytics of all the logs for threat detection and protection.

Elvis Mahadeo

Senior Systems Engineer at Caribbean Development Company

It would be better for customers to get immediate replacements even with a standard subscription.

Pravin Mandlik

Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

AI-driven features would be highly valuable—particularly those that enable bulk operations and efficient handling of large numbers of objects or object groups.

Mayur Wadekar

Technical Specialist at Softcell Technologies Limited

One thing that would help in improving Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is having more flexible dashboards that I can tailor without relying on templates.

Ricardosilva Silva

system administrator at Orbcom,Lda.

Other products, like FortiGate, are perceived as more intuitive because they are easier to configure from the start.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

Cisco changes their licensing policy quite frequently, which is becoming confusing and complicated.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

Setup Cost

Fortinet FortiGate offers competitive pricing with good value, but users highlight concerns about renewal costs and feature expenses.

Check Point Quantum Force is costly but valuable for its strong security, with a complex licensing model requiring negotiation.

Cisco IOS Security is costly, favoring medium to large enterprises with longer-term savings over SMB challenges.

Last year, I renewed the support for three years, which can sometimes be expensive but depends on the security benefits and how it helps us.

AiméKouchade

Network & System Admin at Invoke Studios

It offers cost savings as it is generally cheaper than the competition.

NilsPaley

IT Infrastructure Architect at Apotek 1

It is about 20% cheaper.

MithatBulut

Network Security Engineer at TD SYNNEX

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

In comparison to Fortinet and other products, the pricing may be considered high.

Manikandan Kannan

Head of Technology at Techfruits

licensing is very pricey

San Naing Htun

Network Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Compared to other solutions, the pricing of Check Point NGFW is high.

Asif Ash-Hal

Solution Architect at Techbridge Distribution

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

The cost of Cisco IOS Security for customers is on the higher end of pricing compared to the competition, depending on the targeted customers.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate excels in easy deployment, advanced security features, integration, scalability, user-friendly interface, and cost-effectiveness for robust network protection.

Check Point Quantum Force excels in VPN, threat prevention, centralized management, and scalability with user-friendly security features.

Cisco IOS Security offers scalable, stable solutions with VPN, AAA, firewall integration, and user-friendly management for high-demand environments.

We got a firewall and gave an SSL VPN to my client to connect to their servers, after which, such kind of activities involving ransomware attacks stopped.

VINAY GUJARATHI

Owner at Mindware Computer Solutions

They put in a thing called the FortiCookbook, which is very easy to read with real-life scenarios that make networking tasks like joining networks very straightforward.

Ian Manton

IT Manager at Daltons Limited

The firewall and VPN features are the most valuable in protecting our customers' networks.

reviewer890418

Sales & Support at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Fortinet FortiGate report

The firewall's default behavior of blocking all traffic, including a cleanup rule that blocks everything from external to internal sources, is highly valuable for protecting our network.

SUNNY-KUMAR

Technical engineer (SOC Analyst) at Hitachi Systems, Ltd.

The most valuable features in my experience include perimeter firewalling, cloud and mobile security, application control, URL filtering, DLP, threat prevention, intrusion protection, and safeguarding against malware, botnets, and zero-day attacks.

For more quotes and insights, download the Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) report

Solutions Architect at NTT DATA

Since implementing it, we have noticed a lot less getting through that maybe other antivirus within firewalls had failed to catch.

Devon Bingham

Network Administrator at POET, LLC

This solution, called Network Access Controller, handles authentication, authorization, and accounting for devices accessing the network.

Binoob John

Partner/Owner and Director of Human Resources at Up arrow Systems

The best features of Cisco IOS Security are its integration with software management tools such as Cisco DNA Center and Cisco ICE, which provide centralized policy and network access control.

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco IOS Security report

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 18.3%, down from 21.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) is 3.1%, up from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 0.4%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Fortinet FortiGate	18.3%
Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)	3.1%
Cisco IOS Security	0.4%
Other	78.2%

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

Vasu Gala

Manager, Information Technology Operation/Presales at TechMonarch

A stable solution with an intuitive interface and quick customer service

I have been working with Fortinet FortiGate, WatchGuard, Sophos, and SonicWall. I'm not as comfortable with SonicWall because of their UI and limitations. I prefer Fortinet above all other options. When it comes to configuration, I am confident in my ability to handle various tasks, including creating policies such as firewall rules, web policies, and application policies. Additionally, I can configure VPNs and implement load balancing, among other tasks. Overall, I feel much more comfortable working with Fortinet. Fortinet has made significant improvements by integrating AI with firewalls for threat analysis and prevention. In the past 2-3 years, they have launched FortiSASE and SIEM, and they also provide SOC services. Both Palo Alto and Fortinet FortiGate are excellent. While Fortinet FortiGate comes at higher prices, the functionality and support justify the cost. They promptly resolve firmware issues and inform all support providers about configuration changes.

Read full review

San Naing Htun

Network Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Has improved threat prevention and protection but presents deployment and licensing challenges

The best features Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) offers are AI-powered threat prevention, zero-day protection, unified management, and scalability. These features have helped me in my daily work or my organization by allowing us, as a SAAS company operating across AWS, Azure, and handling external partner access or a multi-tenant model, to preemptively stop unknown attacks, which is critical. Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) has positively impacted my organization as it is a high-end enterprise grade firewall. I have noticed that it is very good if your SAAS business has high traffic volume, serious threat prevention requirements, and you are ready for the investment.

Read full review

Have faced challenges in keeping licensing clear and consistent while ensuring reliable network protection

Head of Cyber Defense Department and Network Technologies Department at Verso Altima

We are a Gold Partner with Cisco. Our customers come from various industries, including service providers, and we target service providers and enterprise customers.We do not extensively use Zone-Based Firewalls in Cisco IOS Security, instead typically deploying standalone firewalls such as Cisco FTDs or Cisco ASA devices. For threat analytics and vulnerability scanning, we utilize third-party vendors with dedicated devices and software. We use products such as Tenable from Nessus for this type of analysis. We have implemented Secure Access Control Server in Cisco IOS Security, which combines multiple security mechanisms including AAA, 802.1X for network access control with Cisco ICE, TrustSec for identity-based segmentation, and Cisco DNA Center. Cisco IOS Security's VPN support is comprehensive and increasingly important in daily communication, from basic site-to-site tunnels to remote access VPNs and SD-WAN secure VPNs. Protecting and encrypting communication is essential in modern networks. The challenges with Cisco IOS Security are more operational than product-related. There is an understaffing issue, making automation and orchestration capabilities particularly valuable. For the products themselves, we only encounter routine operational matters such as addressing new vulnerabilities and patching. For those considering Cisco IOS Security, it is important to understand that Cisco offers a complete ecosystem. When embracing the Cisco ecosystem fully, customers receive excellent products and comprehensive solutions. On a scale of 1-10, I rate Cisco IOS Security a 9.

Read full review

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884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

12%

Outsourcing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

Marketing Services Firm

Computer Software Company

21%

Manufacturing Company

Outsourcing Company

Marketing Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	360
Midsize Enterprise	135
Large Enterprise	190

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	161
Midsize Enterprise	95
Large Enterprise	198

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	20
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	18

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...

What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...

What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...

How does Check Point NGFW compare with Fortinet Fortigate?

I have experience on both from Disti and channel experience. Please find below my comments (nothing new as such). -Ch...

Which would you recommend - Azure Firewall or Check Point NGFW?

Azure Firewall is easy to use and provides excellent support. Valuable features include integration into the overall ...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Check Point NGFW?

The pricing and licensing for Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) are fair, but they can feel complex initially. The val...

What do you like most about Cisco IOS Security?

Cisco IOS Security is a mature product with extensive capabilities, serving as the base for the defense layer. It off...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS Security?

The cost of Cisco IOS Security for customers is on the higher end of pricing compared to the competition, depending o...

What needs improvement with Cisco IOS Security?

Regarding improvements in Cisco IOS Security, what consistently confuses me is the inability of Cisco to maintain a c...

Sophos Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Comparisons

Compared 19% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 13% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 4% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 4% of the time

SonicWall TZ vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 13% of the time

Sophos Firewall vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 6% of the time

OPNsense vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 4% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Compared 4% of the time

More Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) Competitors

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 13% of the time

Cato SASE Cloud Platform vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 10% of the time

OPNsense vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Meraki MX vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 7% of the time

Fortra's Tripwire Enterprise vs Cisco IOS Security

Compared 6% of the time

More Cisco IOS Security Competitors

Product Reports

Fortinet FortiGate

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW)

Download Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) product report

Cisco IOS Security

Download Cisco IOS Security product report

Also Known As

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

Check Point NG Firewall, Check Point Next Generation Firewall

IOS Security

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate is a versatile network security tool offering features like VPN, firewall, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and scalability. It is known for its performance and integration with other Fortinet products, making it a preferred choice for robust cybersecurity.

Fortinet FortiGate stands out as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with strong performance and ease of configuration. It delivers unified threat management, integrating features such as dynamic routing, SD-WAN support, and centralized management. Despite its strengths, improvements in the web interface's stability, pricing structures, and reporting capabilities are needed. Users seek better integration with third-party tools and automation advancements to enhance the experience further. These enhancements, alongside improvements in bandwidth management and the reduction of licensing costs, are points of interest for users looking to capitalize on FortiGate's extensive capabilities.

What are Fortinet FortiGate's key features?

VPN: Ensures secure remote connections.
Firewall: Protects against unauthorized access.
Web Filtering: Blocks malicious sites and content.
Application Control: Manages and controls applications.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and prevents vulnerabilities.
SSL Inspection: Enhances security by inspecting encrypted traffic.

What benefits should be considered when evaluating Fortinet FortiGate?

Affordability: Offers cost-effective security solutions.
Reliability: Known for consistent and stable performance.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Fortinet products.
Comprehensive Protection: Provides broad threat protection capabilities.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries as a primary firewall system for securing internet gateways and safeguarding data centers. It supports businesses in achieving SD-WAN integration and enhances cybersecurity by providing essential features like antivirus, web filtering, and application control. Enterprises utilize FortiGate for securing remote connections and ensuring compliance with security standards, making it adaptable for different network sizes and industries.

Fortinet

Check Point Quantum Force NGFW provides centralized management with scalable security for network perimeters. As a reliable firewall, it ensures advanced threat prevention and offers seamless integration, making it suitable for various network environments.

Offering comprehensive security, Check Point Quantum Force NGFW helps control ingress and egress traffic, secures data center firewalls, and integrates seamlessly with cloud and on-premises setups. Users appreciate its application control, deep packet inspection, and identity awareness features for enhanced protection against cyber threats. Despite pricing issues and interface complexity, its IPsec VPN and robust logging provide valuable insights into network activities.

What are the key features of Check Point Quantum Force NGFW?

Centralized Management: Simplifies administrative tasks across different environments.
Advanced Threat Prevention: Shields against evolving cyber threats with real-time protection.
Deep Packet Inspection: Analyzes traffic to prevent intrusions without impacting performance.
Application Control: Manages access to applications, enhancing security policies.
IPsec VPN: Secures remote connections with encrypted tunnels.

What benefits should users consider for Check Point Quantum Force NGFW?

Scalability: Adapts to the changing needs of organizations of different sizes.
Integration Capabilities: Works alongside existing systems for a comprehensive defense strategy.
Logging and Reporting: Offers detailed insights into network activity and threats.
User-Friendly Interface: Streamlines management with intuitive controls despite initial complexity.

Check Point Quantum Force NGFW is deployed across industries for securing network boundaries, supporting critical data center operations, and enabling secure VPN connections. In finance, it helps meet stringent compliance standards, while in healthcare, it's crucial for protecting sensitive patient data through robust security protocols.

Check Point Software Technologies

Cisco IOS Software delivers a sophisticated set of security capabilities for a comprehensive, layered security approach throughout your network infrastructure. Cisco IOS security technologies help to defend critical business processes against attack and disruption, protect privacy, and support policy and regulatory compliance controls.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

Control Southern, Optimal Media

Arup Group, Brunel University London, City of Biel, Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, K&L Gates , New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Offshore Northern Seas, Transplace

Check Point Quantum Force (NGFW) vs. Cisco IOS Security