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Cisco IOS Security vs Fortra's Tripwire Enterprise comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

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

Cisco IOS Security
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
7th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
48
Ranking in other categories
Firewalls (20th)
Fortra's Tripwire Enterprise
Ranking in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
15th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
8
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) category, the mindshare of Cisco IOS Security is 1.0%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortra's Tripwire Enterprise is 1.5%, down from 1.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)
 

Featured Reviews

Karthik Venkataraman - PeerSpot reviewer
User-friendly and excels in documentation, making it easier to resolve issues
Cisco IOS Security is a mature product with extensive capabilities, serving as the base for the defense layer. It offers good network visibility, which helps in rapid response through the Rapid Threat Containment feature. Its deployment and configuration are straightforward. From a networking perspective, for instance, Cisco IOS incorporates time-tested security features. The zone-based firewall feature has significantly influenced our network security management. For instance, when managing multiple geolocations, it's essential to apply geographically appropriate policies. If a customer operates within the UK zone, I need to implement UK-specific policies. This approach is also applicable to customers in the Asia Pacific and UK regions. It enables me to tailor security policies based on the geographical location of my customers, such as adjusting policies for customers in China or Japan. This flexibility helps in creating a comprehensive zone list. Additionally, this feature allows for seamless service agreements between all zones from headquarters, providing access to all zones within the firewall we create. Essentially, it facilitates the creation of zones within the firewall.
reviewer2093205 - PeerSpot reviewer
It has excellent scalability and allows you to execute custom COCR rules, letting you fine-tune agent monitoring
I'm using Tripwire Enterprise version 9.0. In my company, thirty to forty people use Tripwire Enterprise, mainly different types of engineers, governance, risk, compliance, and cybersecurity personnel. I advise people planning to use Tripwire Enterprise to take the training because the solution has a fairly complex interface. You can do a lot of work with it, but it isn't very easy. Tripwire Enterprise is a sophisticated tool. I rate the tool an eight on a scale of one to ten because it does an excellent job of handling the unique challenges of maintaining NERC CIP compliance and monitoring industrial controls.

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 is endpoint protection."
"Cisco is head-and-shoulders above all of the competition when it comes to technical support."
"The VPN is the most valuable feature."
"Cisco IOS Security has many good features, but compared to other solutions, it has a more user-friendly interface with steps to apply and manage rules. Another good part of the solution is that it's more straightforward."
"This solution, called Network Access Controller, handles authentication, authorization, and accounting for devices accessing the network."
"Cisco IOS allows us to keep the same security features as our principal offices."
"The stability of this solution is excellent."
"I recommend Cisco IOS Security for other organizations."
"We use Tripwire Enterprise as a tool to test the vulnerability of a network. That is the most valuable feature of the product for us."
"File monitoring is the most valuable feature of the solution."
"The most valuable feature is integrity management. I had some discussions with service providers, and they also agreed."
"What's most valuable in Tripwire Enterprise is the ability to execute custom COCR rules that lets me fine-tune how I monitor Linux and Windows agents."
"Even if you change a single word in Notepad, it will let you know whether it was added, removed, or modified."
"The product supports different platforms."
"The most valuable feature is the integrity."
"Its reporting features are great. It gives you an in-depth report. Its customization is also great, and it is working fine."
 

Cons

"The solution is complex and can be more user-friendly."
"Cisco is an expensive firewall, so the pricing can be improved."
"While Cisco IOS Security is stable and scalable, I would like to see it improved to be even better."
"The routers, don't have like long-term tendency features, or higher availability features available for the IOS. It could also use a better user interface."
"We faced significant challenges related to licensing issues, particularly when licenses expire."
"We cannot directly upgrade the system. The tool's deployment is also very difficult in legacy environments. The tool needs to have bigger ports as well."
"I would like to see much more embedded security that works and that isn't a bolt-on."
"I would like upgrading iOS to be a bit easier."
"Cloud monitoring could be better. It would also be better if the company followed a pay-as-you-use model."
"It needs more local support from the OEM side. It would be great if this can be improved."
"The deployment with certain systems can be difficult and it needs to be simplified."
"The initial setup is complex."
"A lot of network devices need a custom integration."
"An area for improvement in Tripwire Enterprise is stability, as my company had stability issues with the last few versions of the solution. Tripwire Enterprise has been a bit buggy."
"The Windows online integration license needs to be improved."
"The main way that it can be improved is through better reporting."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate Cisco IOS Security's pricing a ten out of ten."
"The cost may be around $5,000 to $10,000 a year. If you want support you have to pay at least this price."
"Cisco IOS Security price could be reduced, it is more expensive than many of the other solutions, such as Sophos and Fortinet FortiGate."
"The licenses for this solution are expensive."
"The product is expensive."
"The price of the solution should be cheaper, and the license is purchase annually."
"The pricing for Cisco IOS Security is reasonable compared to other Cisco products."
"It is necessary to pay for a license in order to use the solution. It is on a yearly basis and the price is high."
"The licensing depends on the equipment, how many devices and the types of devices."
"Cloud monitoring could be better. It could also be cheaper. It would be better if the company followed a pay-as-you-use model."
"Tripwire is more expensive than Netwrix."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
27%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
14%
University
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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 offers good network visibility, which helps in rapid response through the Rapid Thr...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco IOS Security?
Pricing can be reduced. I rate the current price for the product a four out of ten.
What needs improvement with Cisco IOS Security?
While I do not have specific recommendations for improvement, pricing can be reduced.
What do you like most about Tripwire Enterprise?
The product supports different platforms.
What needs improvement with Tripwire Enterprise?
The solution has some limitations in OT, IoT, and AIX. The product must provide whitelisting services.
 

Also Known As

IOS Security
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
1. Aetna 2. Adobe 3. ADP 4. Airbus 5. Amazon 6. American Express 7. Aon 8. ATT 9. Bank of America 10. Barclays 11. Baxter International 12. Bechtel 13. Boeing 14. Cisco Systems 15. CocaCola 16. Comcast 17. Dell 18. ETRADE 19. ExxonMobil 20. Ford Motor Company 21. General Electric 22. General Motors 23. Google 24. JPMorgan Chase 25. Kraft Foods 26. Lockheed Martin 27. McDonald's 28. Merck 29. Microsoft 30. Morgan Stanley 31. Nike 32. Oracle
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco IOS Security vs. Fortra's Tripwire Enterprise and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.