Cisco Duo vs Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy comparison

Cisco and Google are both solutions in the ZTNA as a Service category. Additionally, 96% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Google users who would recommend it.

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco Duo and Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two ZTNA as a Service solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Duo vs. Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Duo vs. Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy

December 2025

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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

iboss

Featured Reviews

reviewer2701851

Managing Director

Enhances web security with a single pane of glass and flexible deployment

I don't see any need for improvement; one of the really good things about iboss as a company is that they listen to customer feedback. I have suggested enhancements, and they are responsive, making changes for the better, and they do a lot of testing. To improve iboss, although we haven't used it, we considered the VPN solution that comes with the highest tier licensing, which includes DLP and various other add-ons. We prefer using another product which automatically logs you back onto your network when turning on your PC. With iboss, the connection is manual, which doesn't meet our needs. Additionally, sizing can be tricky because, although the initial recommendations may seem adequate, actual usage may require more gateways than anticipated.

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Charles Slaustas

Information Technology Contractor at Insight global

Supports seamless authentication for users across multiple organizations and personal portals

The features I use in Cisco Duo include Duo Pushes to confirm my identity to the device, and eventually as MFA security was increased, I actually had to use exchange passcodes. Sometimes, I have to go into the site and get into Cisco Duo to retrieve the passcode, and many of them have been two-factor, where the sites send a passcode that I have to enter into Cisco Duo. It has been more of the latter. I have not seen issues with lagging or crashing on Cisco Duo's end; it was usually on the client end, often because someone set up a bad upgrade or there were connection issues with the Cisco Duo cloud through the administrative site.

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Nobuaki Kitamura

managing director of IT Department at Nara OA System Inc

Google Cloud Platform works better with Google Workspace, stable product but a bit complicated, especially the networking

We used Google Workspace, so all my employees have Google Workspace accounts. I initially wanted to use Google Cloud Platform for subscription compatibility. Google Cloud Platform works better with Google Workspace, but unfortunately, it's a bit complicated, especially the networking. Oracle Cloud's virtual network system is much easier and more flexible. Also, Oracle was cheaper. That's the main reason we chose Oracle Cloud.

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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

"Because of iboss, I did not have to assign web filtering tasks to my techs on a daily basis."

"We were impressed by the solution's mental health function, which can detect if someone needs help. It scans what users are browsing and flags warning signs so we can check to see if they are okay. We've had to use it a couple of times."

"The iboss system is highly reliable. The false positive rates are small compared to some other systems we've experienced through other partner agencies who use competing solutions."

"Our primary use case for this product is DLP,"

"Valuable features: Within the filter: Controls (Web categories, applications, and Allow/Block list) and Network (local Subnets). Within the reporter: Logs (Event Log) and Reports."

"The solution has massively improved our security posture, giving us full visibility into what our staff does online."

"We chose iboss for both zero trust and proxy (SWG) because their SWG was superior."

"Granular setup, which was able to set different levels of filters using the OUs in the AD."

More iboss pros

"The integration with Azure Active Directory and the AWS cloud is amazing, as most products nowadays require the creation of a customized integration. With Duo Security, it was more like native integration, and it took me five minutes to register."

"The most valuable features of Duo Security are visibility and OTP authentication. The OTP is very important because it is a self-enrollment feature, you are able to enroll users very quickly with a shorter time period."

"It was a simple way of providing two-factor authentication for remote access when we hit the COVID pandemic. It was very easy and quick to get it going."

"The feature of Cisco Duo that I appreciate most is the push notifications."

"All features of the solution are effective, particularly those involved in identifying vulnerabilities and updates."

"It's pretty easy for users to figure it out."

"Clients I implemented Cisco Duo at immediately feel more confident in their security environment, and we can see a lot of illegal attempts to get in, giving me faith in the product."

"The most valuable feature of Duo Security is the ability for the user to easily approve access. The application prompts the user, and they can see the location and the IP address. This makes it easy for the user to approve it and go through the process of logging in to the VPN."

More Cisco Duo pros

"The platform’s most valuable features include storage, machine, and cloud functionality."

"The tool is really good, especially for ease of implementation and having many options. We can build complex data pipelines and AI models, like web-based AI assistants or chatbots."

"It is totally awesome in terms of scalability. Its scalability was the main reason for moving to Google Cloud. It also comes with a lot of features. We are satisfied with the features it has."

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward."

"It is a stable platform."

"Scalability-wise, it is a great product."

"Google Cloud Platform has the best feature for real-time collaboration."

"The solution's speed, processing power, and user functionality are some of its most valuable features."

More Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy pros

Cons

"The dashboards for local use could be better."

"The solution could be stronger on the integration side and offer more cloud applications like G Suite or Oracle."

"Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern."

"For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company ExxonMobil."

"One thing I would like to see differently with their Zero Trust platform is that some of the AI aspects related to high-risk activities have more false positives."

"To scale up, a new iboss Node Blade Chassis must be purchased."

"File integrity monitoring would be very advantageous as an additional feature."

"The area I would like to see improvement in is the ability with in the reporter to navigate directly to the content the user is traversing. It is kind of there, but it's not perfect. Quite frequently, I receive links that lead me to pages with error messages."

More iboss cons

"We have a 24 hour timer for our Duo cookie and we would like to reduce this to a shorter time when using Duo."

"The product could be more intuitive on the app."

"There was an issue related to integration with third parties."

"Cisco Duo can be improved with better ways to set users up. Currently, we might not be doing it perfectly as we're having them email in phone numbers to get them set up with Duo Mobile."

"To improve Cisco Duo, the biggest consideration is the licensing standpoint; the most common issue I've found is customers not setting up the Active Directory sync properly, leading to inflated licensing usage when they try to delete inactive users that are still being charged."

"Regarding the stability and reliability of the Cisco Duo solution, we have experienced some outages over the last few years that are significant because people can't log in."

"Integration between Duo Security and FTDs needs improvement. Integrating Next Generation Firewall safety with Duo Security currently requires a proxy agent between Active Directory and the appliance. It's an additional factor that we need to think about. It would be great to have direct integration with FTD so that we don't have to worry about middleware products. For the rest of the Cisco Secure solutions, the APIs need improvement."

"The only challenge is finding the right person sometimes. From what I've seen, being a named account is a big deal."

More Cisco Duo cons

"The integration of the solution for patching, updating, and installing the updates could be better."

"As an individual developer, I would like Google Cloud IAP to offer more flexibility, especially for smaller-scale usage."

"Sometimes we face uncertainty when our internet connection gets disconnected. It becomes challenging to determine whether it's an issue with our internet or if the GCP has crashed."

"We encounter issues while setting up emails for the solution."

"The support can be more efficient. Google has different layers of support, like layer one, layer two, and layer three, but normally, the response from layer one is not very useful."

"Stability-wise, the service could be improved."

"Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy has certain limitations as a document or file management system, especially for non-workspace accounts. Manual management is required for most actions, and group management can be challenging. The process of managing permissions individually is time-consuming and not very efficient. For education purposes, the collaboration tools for working on files, assignments, and groups need improvement. The existing tools are inadequate and can be difficult to work with. Additionally, the grading books for teachers are not very useful and require improvement."

"Google is not well supported in France."

More Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"It has a fair pricing model. I know they have different tiers, but it would be nice to have different types of licenses for certain groups of users in our organization. That way, we wouldn't have to lump everybody into one group. That would be also one complaint."

"It is affordable for what's coming to the table with it, but in this day and age, the cost is looked at under a microscope, and companies need to very finely define what is needed versus what is critical. In some cases, it might not be cost-effective for a company to have it. In a lot of other cases, it is the cost of doing business."

"Overall, the pricing is fair. Customers can wrap it into their Enterprise Agreement, making it easier for them to solve their issues."

"Price-wise, the solution has been very, very reasonable...Licensing is the last thing I think about Duo Security because it's so easy, and I had no problems with it."

"From a reseller perspective, it's still challenging to explain the whole license strategy to a client, so we really have to be ahead of that for all the true forward conversations."

"I haven't seen it in a while, but it's at par with everything else licensing-wise."

"It was very reasonable."

"The pricing is pretty competitive. It's pretty cheap. Anybody can adopt it."

More Cisco Duo pricing and cost advice

"Compared to Oracle Cloud, especially with networking options (like VPN creation for free), Oracle Cloud offered better pricing."

"The price of the product falls on the cheaper side of the spectrum."

"We need to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs. It is an expensive and premium solution."

"The solution is inexpensive for personal use."

"The customer purchases an annually sponsored license."

"I think that the cost is metered based on the data, but I don't have the details."

"There is a need to make yearly payments toward the solution's licensing."

"Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy is quite an expensive solution."

More Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Manufacturing Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

13%

Performing Arts

10%

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	5

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	31
Midsize Enterprise	18
Large Enterprise	40

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	17
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	19

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company Exxon...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for iboss?

Previously when I used iboss, we did the POC for iboss for ExxonMobil. Four or five people wanted to move from our ol...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern. There are cheaper alte...

See all answers

How does Duo Security compare with Microsoft Authenticator?

We switched to Duo Security for identity verification. We’d been using a competitor but got the chance to evaluate Du...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Duo Security?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing reveals that one of the most powerful features is the licensing...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Duo Security?

One downside of Cisco Duo is the expense, as there are clients that can afford only the basic package, which does not...

See all answers

What do you like most about Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy?

I can access the information whenever I want. It's integration is easy. The tool's GUI is easy to use with an IT back...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy?

There are different pricing plans depending on data volumes and services, but it's comparable to other providers. The...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy?

Google Cloud Platform Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy should improve stability.

See all answers

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Compared 15% of the time

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Compared 11% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

January 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Cisco Duo

January 2026

Download Cisco Duo product report

Buyer's Guide

Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy

January 2026

Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy report

Download Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Duo Security

GCP Cloud IAP, Google Cloud Platform Cloud IAP, Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy

Overview

Iboss offers a comprehensive cloud-based security platform valued for its scalability and autonomous features, ensuring robust security with easy deployment and management capabilities.

Renowned for its robust security architecture, Iboss integrates seamlessly within diverse networks, delivering efficient granular filtering and advanced content categorization. Its single pane of glass console provides ease of management, allowing rapid scalability suitable for rapidly deploying environments. Operates in BYOD setups due to inline filtering without device installation. Integration with cloud-based applications enhances user control, and features like SASE, SSL inspection, and ChatGPT risk protection stand as highlights. Despite its strengths, users have pointed out areas for enhancement like direct navigation in reports, SSL decryption, and better cloud integration while having room to improve data loss prevention.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

Scalability: Supports rapid deployment across diverse networks.
SASE: A consolidated approach to secure access.
SSL Inspection: Ensures safe data transmission.
Granular Filtering: Detailed control over accessible content.
Single Pane Management: Unifies control through a centralized console.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing with robust features.
Autonomous Operation: Reduces management overhead.
Responsive Support: Provides assistance when needed.
Flexible Deployment: Available for both cloud and on-premises environments.

The usage of Iboss spans educational institutions, specifically K-12, to enforce internet policies, protect data, and support remote work environments. It provides web filtering and security frameworks to ensure safe browsing. Its platform-as-a-service model offers flexibility for both cloud-based and on-premises requirements, integrating seamlessly to deliver enhanced security features suitable for various deployment needs including zero trust, CASB, and network security for work-from-home setups.

iboss

Cisco Duo is a cloud-based identity security platform safeguarding critical resources for any user and device worldwide. Known for its ease of use, Duo offers seamless protection across multi-cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.

Cisco Duo is designed to secure access with identity-first protection and provides extensive visibility throughout an organization's identity ecosystem. Offering multi-factor authentication, Duo facilitates easy integration and management, allowing teams to protect data effectively on VPNs, applications, and networks. Its single-pane management improves security processes while enhancing trust, making it suitable for diverse IT infrastructures.

What are the key features of Cisco Duo?

Multi-factor Authentication: Strengthens user verification with multiple methods.
Push Notifications: Simplifies authentication with quick approvals.
Single Sign-On: Enhances convenience by allowing one set of credentials.
VPN Access: Secures remote connections with reliable authentication.
User Activity Visibility: Offers comprehensive insights into access patterns.

Which benefits and ROI should users consider?

Quick Deployment: Facilitates rapid integration within existing systems.
Effective Management: Streamlines IT operations with centralized control.
Regulatory Compliance: Aids in meeting industry standards for data protection.
Enhanced Trust: Strengthens security posture across networks.
User-friendly Approach: Simplifies authentication for non-technical users.

In industries like education and finance, Cisco Duo is widely employed to secure multi-factor authentication across platforms such as email, databases, and servers. Its integration capabilities with Microsoft 365, Active Directory, and VPNs like AnyConnect are instrumental in verifying user identities using mobile apps or OTPs, catering effectively to both remote and on-premise environments.

Cisco

Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy offers scalable, user-friendly identity management with efficient data processing and seamless integration, providing reliable access management and collaboration across platforms.

Identity-Aware Proxy by Google Cloud provides a secure and intuitive interface for managing user identities and controlling access to applications. It integrates with platforms like Amazon and Microsoft to facilitate real-time collaboration. With support for Kubernetes, CI/CD, and BigQuery, it enhances performance by enabling secure and efficient data processing. Users find the pricing appealing as it allows for flexible deployments. Despite its strengths, improvements are sought in user intuitiveness, enhanced security, and documentation. Challenges such as stability, regional availability, and data management persist, highlighting the need for more refined integration and storage options.

What are the key features of Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy?

Scalability: Adapts to varying demands efficiently
User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation across functionalities
Robust Data Processing: Ensures high-speed data operations
Efficient Security: Protects applications by verifying identities
Cloud Integration: Supports Amazon and Microsoft platforms
Flexible Deployment: Accommodates various use cases with Kubernetes and CI/CD

What benefits or ROI should users consider in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Attractive pricing plans for diverse needs
Stability and Reliability: Consistent performance with minimal disruptions
Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates online teamwork across devices
Seamless Application Security: Ensures secure access to tools and data

In industries leveraging Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy, companies manage identities to enhance security and streamline operations. Educational institutions apply its secure online teaching capabilities, while tech firms utilize its integration with CI/CD for deploying container platforms. Enterprises harness its potential for managing resources, automating processes, and hosting applications, ensuring seamless data access across devices for collaborative projects.

Google

Sample Customers

More than 4,000 global enterprises trust the iboss Cloud Platform to support their modern workforces, including a large number of Fortune 50 companies.

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Duo vs. Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy

December 2025

Free Report: Cisco Duo vs. Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Duo vs. Google Cloud Identity-Aware Proxy and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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