Cisco Secure Endpoint vs Zscaler Client Connector comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Cisco and Zscaler are both solutions in the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) category. Cisco is ranked #27 with an average rating of 9.0, while Zscaler is ranked #23 with an average rating of 8.8. Cisco holds a 1.4% mindshare in EDR, compared to Zscaler’s 0.7% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Zscaler users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Cisco Secure Endpoint and Zscaler Client Connector are key players in cybersecurity solutions. Cisco's offerings shine with favorable pricing and customer support, but Zscaler benefits from advanced features and innovative strategies.

Features: Cisco Secure Endpoint provides comprehensive endpoint protection with threat detection and response, layered integration with Cisco's security architecture, and advanced threat protection. Zscaler Client Connector enables seamless remote connectivity, zero-trust security models, and optimized cloud application access.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Secure Endpoint could better streamline its user interface, enhance reporting efficiency, and simplify initial deployment. Zscaler Client Connector would benefit from improved speed consistency, clearer documentation, and broader integration options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Secure Endpoint offers straightforward deployment with extensive support documentation and strong customer service, making it ideal for in-depth onboarding processes. Zscaler Client Connector boasts minimal setup due to its cloud-based design, ensuring faster implementations.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Secure Endpoint offers competitive setup costs promising long-term ROI with its robust features. Zscaler Client Connector requires higher initial investments but provides scalability and future-proofing, appealing to agile, remote-focused businesses.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Secure Endpoint vs. Zscaler Client Connector Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Endpoint vs. Zscaler Client Connector

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

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Net...

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) category, the mindshare of Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is 3.8%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Secure Endpoint is 1.4%, down from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zscaler Client Connector is 0.7%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks	3.8%
Zscaler Client Connector	0.7%
Cisco Secure Endpoint	1.4%
Other	94.1%

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Featured Reviews

ABHISHEK_SINGH

Senior Process Expert at A.P. Moller - Maersk

Gained full visibility and streamlined threat detection through behavior-based insights and AI integration

Initially, we got to have a lot of false positives when we onboarded, but nowadays it's quite smooth. We have fine-tuned our security policies and allowed different levels of policies to get rid of those false positives. Currently, we are getting a fairly good amount of incidents that are not false positives or benign, but actionable items. The process is streamlined. In the initial days, the operations used to get involved in a lot of benign and other activities, but now the process is streamlined. We are leveraging the auto-detection and remediation plans. The operations teams are now more involved in other business roles as well, not just looking into the logs and fetching out what's happening there. They have fixed a lot of things. Initially, they didn't have IAC code drift detection, cloud posture management, or security posture management, but they have those now. They purchased different vendors and did a merger with that. They have now Prisma Cloud that gets integrated and now they are working with Cortex Cloud. Everything that was negative has now been addressed, and the product altogether looks to be in a very better and mature shape now. Currently, it's more or less detecting the workloads with AI-based best practices. Since most organizations are consuming AI agents and other things, we are looking forward to seeing what other feature enhancements Palo Alto can support in that.

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JavedHashmi

Chief Technology Officer at Future Point Technologies

Reliable threat protection is achieved while integration and analysis capabilities need refinement

Cisco Secure Endpoint is very good in machine learning, which allows it to secure offline contents even if not connected to the internet. We haven't encountered a single breach after it's deployed. It controls USB devices and has a separate antivirus solution called Tetra, providing security even for real-time, day-zero attacks through its strong Talos threat intelligence platform.

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Dimitrios Arvanitakis

IT Support Admin at Kuehne & Nagel Inc.

Client activity has been monitored efficiently through in-depth log analysis and traffic filtering

I use the Zscaler speed test, and it is very nice. We use some logs from Zscaler Client Connector to collect data and see what is happening, such as if there is an interruption or something. There is a specific tunnel version that we have to use because, depending on the internet provider, some of them have lower speed, so we have some issues. This is because of the provider, not from Zscaler. We use Office 365 services and Office applications, and because some connections are slow and they do not have full coverage from the internet provider, we have some issues. If the speed is slow for Zscaler Client Connector connection, then we have issues because if the speed is not good, then Zscaler Client Connector goes down. This may be because they put some policy. Of course, if you use Office 365 services such as Outlook, the minimum bandwidth is 5 megabits and more, so this causes issues if the users do not have a good remote connection. This depends on the companies and the users, so they need to fix it. This is not from us or our company. It is very useful, and the logs are very helpful. When we go to logs, we understand what is happening.

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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

"Palo Alto is constantly adding new features."

"The solution allows us to make investigations. Other XDR solutions also provide similar capabilities but for investigation, Cortex XDR is better."

"My advice for anybody who is considering Cortex XDR is that it is a complete solution, and has very good features."

"The most valuable aspect of Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks for me is its integration with AI detection, where we get to know the behavioral detection based on users, traffic patterns, and different services that we consume."

"From a single pane of glass, you can easily manage all of your endpoints."

"Once you become familiar with it, Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is a more powerful tool and I would say that I prefer it over MDE because it is a stronger tool for me."

"After installing this solution, it identified, blocked, and provided the complete attack chain, which was very helpful."

"The initial setup is pretty easy."

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks pros

"Definitely, the best feature for Cisco Secure Endpoint is the integration with Talos. On the backend, Talos checks all the signatures, all the malware, and for any attacks going on around the world... Because Secure Endpoint has a connection to it, we get protected by it right then and there."

"Overall, I really liked the product; it was well done."

"We are estimating 5 to 10 percent staff productivity increases."

"The product's initial setup phase was very simple."

"The visibility and insight this solution gives you into threats is pretty granular. It has constant monitoring. You can get onto the device trajectory to look at a threat, but you can also see what happened prior to the threat. You can see what happened after the threat. You can see what other applications were incorporated into the execution of the threat. For example, you have the event, but you see that the event was launched by Google Chrome, which was launched by something else. Then, after the event, something else was launched by whatever the threat was. Therefore, it gives you great detail, a timeline, and continuity of events leading up to whatever the incident is, and then, after. This helps you understand and nail down what the threat is and how to fix it."

"Real-time threat prevention using sandboxing, file trajectory, and retrospective security."

"The integration with other Cisco products seemed to be really effective. We had Umbrella in place and we were using AnyConnect as well as Firepower. Once a threat was detected, being able to do the threat lookups and the live tracking was really useful."

"It is reasonably easy to remediate issues using Cisco Secure Endpoint, in part because I don't have to visit the physical machines to remediate them, and as such, the time it takes for remediation has been decreased."

More Cisco Secure Endpoint pros

"Zscaler Client Connector is quite scalable, and I would rate its scalability as nine or ten out of ten."

"The best features of Zscaler Client Connector are that it gives the client a much more transparent experience, as they don't have to worry about connecting to a VPN."

"Zscaler Client Connector has eliminated VPN bottlenecks and outages, improved user productivity with instant secure access, and reduced help desk tickets related to VPN issues, overcoming 60% of VPN-related problems while allowing faster onboarding of remote users and better enforcement of zero-trust security policies."

"I'd rate the solution nine out of ten."

"The solution operates in the background seamlessly without the user noticing."

"It is very useful, and the logs are very helpful; when we go to logs, we understand what is happening."

"It is very important to see what is happening between the user and the applications that we have, and to filter the traffic from outbound traffic and inside traffic."

"The real-time analytics feature in Zscaler Client Connector is another valuable feature called Digital Experience, or ZDX, which can easily identify the root cause of issues accessing public or internal resources and provide good analysis so relevant teams can quickly resolve them, making it a very good tool that helps customers."

Cons

"However, if you do not have Palo Alto in your environment, you are paying these additional services just for Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks, so it is not a cost-effective solution."

"Cortex XDR could improve its sales support team, including better commission structures and referral programs."

"The solution should add unwanted malicious hash values to a block list so that whenever the action is triggered, it will automatically prevent the malicious content."

"The solution could improve by providing better integration with their own products and others."

"The encryption is not up to the mark."

"There's room for improvement with Mac device installations, which can be challenging."

"There is also no recovery feature; if some endpoint is under attack there must be the possibility of recovering it or restoring it to a normal state."

"There are some limitations on the Traps agents."

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks cons

"The one challenge that I see is the use of multiple endpoint protection platforms. For instance, we have AMP, but we also have Microsoft Windows Defender, System Center Endpoint Protection, and Microsoft Malware Protection Engine deployed. So, we have a bunch of different things that do the same thing. What winds up happening is, e.g., if I get an alert for a potential incident or malware and want to pull the file, I'll go to fetch the file to analyze it. But, one of these other programs has already gotten it, so the file has already been quarantined by another endpoint protection system. AMP doesn't realize that and the file fetch fails, then you're left wondering what's going on."

"We don't have issues. We think that Cisco covers all of the security aspects on the market. They continue to innovate in the right way."

"We have had some problems with updates not playing nice with our environment. This is important, because if there is a new version, we need to test it thoroughly before it goes into production. We cannot just say, "There's a new version. It's not going to give us any problems." With the complexity of the solution using multiple engines for multiple tasks, it can sometimes cause performance issues on our endpoints. Therefore, we need to test it before we deploy. That takes one to three days before we can be certain that the new version plays nice with our environment."

"It is an expensive solution."

"On the firewall level, they were lagging a little bit behind, but they are running up again. I have full trust in the new 3000 series of firewalls where we would also be able to look more into the traffic that we're monitoring and get more security layers in our services. That would definitely be a big step."

"I would like more seamless integration."

"Logging could be better in terms of sending more logs to Cisco Firepower or Cisco ASA. That's an area where it could be made better."

"Integration and dashboard are areas with certain shortcomings in Cisco Secure Endpoint."

More Cisco Secure Endpoint cons

"There is room for improvement regarding the price of Zscaler Client Connector, as it is one of the most expensive solutions available."

"Zscaler Client Connector is not low in cost; it is definitely on the higher side."

"There is a hard learning curve for Zscaler Client Connector; their support isn't the greatest all the time."

"I rate this product nine out of ten because I have seen some minor instability issues after updates and some room for UI improvement for deeper analytics, with instances of major issues after updating the GCC that required rollbacks."

"If the speed is slow for Zscaler Client Connector connection, then we have issues because if the speed is not good, then Zscaler Client Connector goes down."

"The stability of Zscaler Client Connector needs improvement, as it often disconnects and reconnects."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I don't recall what the cost was, but it wasn't really that expensive."

"The return on investment is from the user side because we have seen the performance of it increase the delivery time of the product if we are using too many web-based and on-premise applications. In indirect ways, we saw the return of investment in terms of performance and user satisfaction increase."

"This is an expensive solution."

"The pricing seems fair, and I do like the licensing model. You use wherever they are, and it is elastic."

"The cost depends on your chosen license type, like Pro or other licenses."

"I am using the Community edition."

"Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is quite an expensive solution."

"This is an expensive solution."

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks pricing and cost advice

"It is quite cost-effective. I would rate it ten out of ten."

"The costs of 50 licenses of AMP for three years is around $9,360."

"The pricing and licensing of the security solutions of Cisco are very good in comparison with the competitors, but sometimes, it's difficult to see all the discounts and other kinds of things. So, you have to be careful, but the pricing is good."

"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis and I am happy with the pricing."

"The pricing and licensing are reasonable. The cost of AMP for Endpoints is inline with all the other software that has a monthly endpoint cost. It might be a little bit higher than other antivirus type products, but we're only talking about a dollar a month per user. I don't see that cost as being an issue if it's going to give us the confidence and security that we're looking for. We have had a lot of success and happiness with what we're using, so there's no point in changing."

"We can know if something bad is potentially happening instantaneously and prevent it from happening. We can go to a device and isolate it before it infects other devices. In our environment, that's millions of dollars saved in a matter of seconds."

"The solution is highly affordable; I believe we pay $2 or $3 per endpoint. It's significantly cheaper than the competitors on the market."

"The price is very good."

More Cisco Secure Endpoint pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

14%

Outsourcing Company

12%

Construction Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

17%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	50
Midsize Enterprise	21
Large Enterprise	57

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	15
Large Enterprise	21

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. Sentinel One

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. SentinelOne SentinelOne offers very detailed specifics with regard to risks or attacks. ...

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Comparing CrowdStrike Falcon to Cortex XDR (Palo Alto)

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. CrowdStrike Falcon Both Cortex XDR and Crowd Strike Falcon offer cloud-based solutions th...

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How is Cortex XDR compared with Microsoft Defender?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-delivered endpoint security solution. The tool reduces the attack surface,...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Secure Endpoint?

Cisco is aggressive in pricing, making it competitive and sometimes even cheaper than other good products like CrowdS...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco Secure Endpoint?

Cisco Secure Endpoint lacks features like DLP which other vendors offer. XDR is new, so integration capabilities with...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco Secure Endpoint?

We deployed Cisco Secure Endpoint for our customers two to three years back. The use case was to secure their endpoin...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zscaler Client Connector?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that the pricing is fair, though it is a bit costly. It oper...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Zscaler Client Connector?

For Zscaler Client Connector, I would appreciate more granular control over the client update rollout and slightly fa...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Zscaler Client Connector?

My main use case of Zscaler Client Connector is to provide secure, seamless access to the internet and internal appli...

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 16% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Symantec Endpoint Security vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 3% of the time

Cortex XSIAM vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 3% of the time

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks Competitors

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Cisco Secure Endpoint

Compared 5% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint vs Cisco Secure Endpoint

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft BitLocker vs Cisco Secure Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Cisco Secure Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiEDR vs Cisco Secure Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

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Huntress Managed EDR vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 9% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 9% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 6% of the time

Tanium vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 4% of the time

LevelBlue USM Anywhere vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 3% of the time

More Zscaler Client Connector Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

October 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Endpoint

October 2026

Download Cisco Secure Endpoint product report

Buyer's Guide

Zscaler Client Connector

October 2026

Download Zscaler Client Connector product report

Also Known As

Cyvera, Cortex XDR, Palo Alto Networks Traps

Cisco AMP for Endpoints

No data available

Overview

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks provides advanced threat detection with AI-driven endpoint protection and seamless integration, ensuring multi-layered security and automatic threat response.

Cortex XDR is designed to safeguard endpoints against malware and suspicious activities. It offers advanced threat detection and response capabilities using behavioral analysis, AI, and machine learning. It seamlessly integrates with security infrastructures, providing endpoint security, firewall integration, and enhanced visibility in both cloud-based and on-premises environments.

What are the key features of Cortex XDR?

Advanced Threat Detection: Uses AI and machine learning for proactive threat identification.
Multi-layered Security: Combines various security measures for comprehensive protection.
Endpoint Protection: Safeguards against malware and exploits.
Behavioral Analysis: Monitors suspicious activity for early detection.
Automatic Threat Response: Automates responses to neutralize threats.

What benefits should users expect?

Ease of Use: Simplifies security management with intuitive design.
Resource Efficiency: Minimizes impact on system resources.
Integration Capabilities: Works well with existing security setups.
Reduced Analyst Workload: Automates processes to decrease manual intervention.

Organizations in diverse sectors deploy Cortex XDR to protect against malware, leveraging its advanced threat detection capabilities. Its integration with existing security infrastructures appeals to those seeking comprehensive protection in both cloud and on-premises environments, providing enhanced visibility and threat intelligence.

Palo Alto Networks

Cisco Secure Endpoint offers robust endpoint security with real-time threat prevention and cloud-based management. It is designed for seamless integration with Cisco products, delivering comprehensive protection and ease of use.

Cisco Secure Endpoint provides real-time threat detection, analytics, and rapid response capabilities. Its ease of use, integrated features like sandboxing and Device and File Trajectory, and its incorporation with Talos make it effective for threat hunting and endpoint protection. With strong machine learning and seamless integration with other tools, it addresses threat prevention and network visibility. However, there is room for improvement in AI features, SIEM API integration, user interface simplification, and cost reduction. Enhanced dashboards, reporting, and support are also areas for potential enhancement.

What are the primary features of Cisco Secure Endpoint?

Integration with Cisco Products: Seamlessly connects with Cisco's offerings like Umbrella and Firepower, providing extended security measures.
Real-Time Threat Prevention: Delivers live threat detection and rapid response, ensuring immediate protection against threats.
Cloud-Based Management: Offers ease of deployment and management through cloud infrastructure, enhancing accessibility and efficiency.
Sandboxing: Provides an isolated environment to safely execute and monitor untrusted applications, preventing potential threats.
Device and File Trajectory: Tracks the actions of devices and files over time, offering valuable insight into their behavior and impact.
Talos Integration: Leverages intelligence from Cisco Talos for enhanced threat intelligence and response capabilities.

What benefits are highlighted in reviews of Cisco Secure Endpoint?

Improved Threat Detection: Users highlight its powerful analytics for identifying and neutralizing threats promptly.
Enhanced Network Visibility: Allows for comprehensive monitoring of network activities, benefiting security operations.
User-Friendly Interface: Valued for its intuitive navigation and ease of use, streamlining security management.
Scalable Integration: Reviews emphasize the ease of integrating with existing tools and platforms, providing flexibility.
Rapid Threat Response: Known for its quick reaction to threats, minimizing potential damage and downtime.

In industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, Cisco Secure Endpoint is vital for maintaining endpoint security and malware protection. Organizations use it within managed security services, integrating with tools like Umbrella for DNS security. It provides visibility into malware activities and supports threat hunting for devices beyond corporate networks. Deployed on workstations, servers, and laptops, it efficiently logs and blocks malicious actions, ensuring a secure environment.

Cisco

Zscaler Client Connector enhances network security by providing seamless access to applications, ensuring a safe and efficient digital experience. It is designed for businesses needing comprehensive protection and optimized resource access within a unified platform.

Organizations deploy Zscaler Client Connector to securely connect users to applications while maintaining robust data protection standards. It eliminates the need for traditional gateways by offering direct-to-cloud security, which enhances performance and reduces complexity. This solution is ideal for remote work environments where secure and efficient application access is required. It simplifies IT infrastructures, allowing businesses to scale without compromising security.

What are the key features of Zscaler Client Connector?

Zero Trust Access: Provides secure connectivity by validating user identities and context.
Cloud Firewall: Ensures robust protection by inspecting all traffic for potential threats.
Bandwidth Control: Manages network resources to optimize application performance.
Seamless User Experience: Integrates smoothly into existing environments with minimal disruption.
Comprehensive Visibility: Offers detailed analytics and reporting for informed decision-making.

What are the benefits users should expect?

Improved Security Posture: Strengthens defenses against cyber threats with advanced protocols.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces operational costs by streamlining IT management and reducing hardware dependencies.
Scalability: Easily adapts to organizational growth or changes in IT requirements.
Enhanced Productivity: Increases workflow efficiency by ensuring secure and rapid access to necessary applications.
Reduced Latency: Direct-to-cloud connectivity minimizes lag and improves user experience.

Zscaler Client Connector is widely adopted across industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail, where secure data transmission and compliance are critical. In finance, it supports secure transactions and data protection. For healthcare, it ensures HIPAA compliance, and in retail, it simplifies secure customer-facing services. Each industry benefits from tailored implementations that address specific security and connectivity challenges.

Zscaler

Sample Customers

CBI Health Group, University Honda, VakifBank

Heritage Bank, Mobile County Schools, NHL University, Thunder Bay Regional, Yokogawa Electric, Sam Houston State University, First Financial Bank

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Endpoint vs. Zscaler Client Connector

September 2026

Free Report: Cisco Secure Endpoint vs. Zscaler Client Connector

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure Endpoint vs. Zscaler Client Connector and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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