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Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs Palo Alto Networks Panorama comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 4, 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 Secure Firewall Manag...
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
6th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Palo Alto Networks Panorama
Ranking in Firewall Security Management
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
89
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Firewall Security Management category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is 0.9%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks Panorama is 8.1%, down from 10.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Firewall Security Management
 

Featured Reviews

Yonas Abebe - PeerSpot reviewer
Great dashboard with extensive visibility and good support
I expect more integration with AI. I expect Cisco to be easier for users in India, especially for junior users. For a junior one, it may somehow be complex, especially when configuring something. I remember version 6.4 had an integration with Eddie, allowing me to define a policy according to my users, however, the latest version, lacks this integration. The logging of FMC should be improved as it does not offer real-time solutions like DazaSodo.
Kim Ejby Lorentzen - PeerSpot reviewer
Unified firewall management streamlines operations across branches with prompt support services
The primary use case for this solution is the management of the entire firewall portfolio across various branches Palo Alto Networks Panorama has simplified management by providing a unified interface for firewall management and configuration. One of the key advantages of Palo Alto Networks…

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 features are the Virtual Private Network and the Electronic Control Lists."
"The solution is easy to use."
"The policy management capabilities streamline security tasks by facilitating policy configuration. This ensures the impactful implementation of security policies during product installation, enhancing overall security measures."
"Cisco's support and services are far superior to any other security product in Pakistan."
"The overall product rating is eight out of ten."
"It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"The solution is useful and powerful."
"Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is scalable."
"We use the solution for centralized monitoring."
"The reporting is great."
"Centralized firewall management and update management are the most valuable features."
"It provides a quicker response time to vulnerabilities and more visibility into traffic flows."
"Technical support is quite helpful."
"It has made our ROIs easier, but consolidating the correlation of data into one single point, which is pretty great."
"Especially for big, worldwide clients, one of the most valuable features is being able to create some rules to place on the security groups."
"It's easy to deploy any software or policies."
 

Cons

"It's not very user-friendly and can be somewhat disorganized."
"The initial setup is a bit complex."
"Some duplicated values and security standards are not working in some high-application protocols with Cisco's next-generation firewalls."
"The performance of the Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center could be improved."
"Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center needs to reduce its price."
"Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center could improve by being less expensive."
"Improving the product by incorporating SD-WAN functionality would be highly beneficial, especially for remote offices with limited server and Internet availability."
"The product could be improved by simplifying its user interface and reducing complexity."
"Storage in Palo Alto Networks Panorama needs improvement. My company also experienced deployment issues when the product was first installed, particularly when binding with the firewall. It's not as user-friendly because not everyone can deploy it without some knowledge."
"Its UI and usability could be improved. The way the UI looks could be improved to make it a little bit more intuitive. Other than that, it is a pretty simple product."
"We have experienced a few bugs which the team at Palo Alto don't have solutions for."
"There were a few bugs a couple of years into it. There was a big bug where it had trouble communicating with the two main boxes."
"The initial setup can be complex."
"The pricing is quite high."
"There is a need to improve the upgrade process. When we are upgrading the solution we are facing some issues with Elasticsearch services. Every time we upgrade it takes a long time to become stable."
"The initial setup requires expertise and can be a bit complex."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is expensive. We have a multi-license, and we pay extra for support."
"The solution’s pricing is reasonable."
"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."
"It could be considered relatively cheaper when compared to some other vendors in the market."
"My license offers all the protection, like malware protection, VPN protection, IDS, IPS, and endpoint protection."
"I rate Secure Firewall Management Center eight out of 10 for pricing."
"It is rather expensive."
"The product pricing is reasonable and falls in the mid-range."
"The solution is priced a bit higher than competitors."
"It is not a cheap solution."
"Palo Alto is costly compared to Fortinet and Sophos."
"Licensing fees are paid yearly."
"Palo Alto products are generally priced higher compared to their competitors."
"The price of Palo Alto Networks Panorama is high. There is a pay-per-use model."
"The solution is priced well and there is a license for this solution that we pay annually for."
"Its licensing is yearly and multi-yearly. It is not expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
21%
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Engineering Company
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Comms Service Provider
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?
The platform has significantly enhanced our organization's operations by providing secure communication channels between different office locations.
What needs improvement with Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center?
I expect more integration with AI. I expect Cisco to be easier for users in India, especially for junior users. For a junior one, it may somehow be complex, especially when configuring something. I...
What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks Panorama?
The most valuable aspect of Palo Alto Networks Panorama for me is the centralized management of multiple firewalls.
What needs improvement with Palo Alto Networks Panorama?
The solution requires more flexibility and quicker response times. High-speed replies are crucial. Additionally, the AI module should be on-premises, not in the cloud. It should support more flexib...
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
University of Arkansas, JBG SMITH, Temple University, Telkom Indonesia
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center vs. Palo Alto Networks Panorama and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.