


Cisco Web Security Appliance and Fortinet FortiProxy compete in the web security domain. Cisco appears to have an edge due to its robust feature integration within the Cisco ecosystem.
Features: Cisco Web Security Appliance's notable features include integration with Cisco products, robust anti-malware capabilities, and comprehensive URL filtering. It offers detailed user and group-based controls suitable for corporate environments. Fortinet FortiProxy excels in simplicity, high performance, and offers proactive alarms and efficient application control, with particular strength in granular web access control.
Room for Improvement: Cisco can improve in management automation, feature consolidation, and reporting enhancements. Users also call for reduced pricing and better support options. Fortinet FortiProxy could benefit from better policy management, improved documentation, more flexible policies, and enhanced language and integration support.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Web Security Appliance provides various deployment options, including on-premises, hybrid, and cloud, reflecting its versatility. Although customer service is generally strong, some users report support delays. Fortinet FortiProxy also supports hybrid and on-premises deployments. Its customer service is regarded as helpful, but similar to Cisco, some regional support discrepancies are noted.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Web Security Appliance is considered expensive, with licensing costs potentially prohibitive for smaller businesses, but its features and support are viewed as a worthy investment. Fortinet FortiProxy is more moderately priced, providing good value and serving as a cost-effective alternative. Despite Cisco’s higher cost, users justify the investment with its comprehensive functionality and security.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| iboss | 2.4% |
| Fortinet FortiProxy | 3.5% |
| Cisco Web Security Appliance | 1.9% |
| Other | 92.2% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 6 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 5 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 11 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 11 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 7 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 3 |
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?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.
Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) is a web security solution provided by Cisco Systems. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats, enforce acceptable use policies, and provide secure access to the internet for users within the organization.
Cisco Web Security Appliance Benefits:
Cisco Web Security Appliance Features:
Cisco Web Security Appliance is typically deployed as a physical or virtual appliance within an organization's network infrastructure. It can be integrated with other Cisco security products and solutions to provide a layered approach to web security and network protection.
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Cisco Web Security Appliance users.
Md Manirul Islam, Deputy General Manager Pre-Sales at Beximcocomputers, states that "The most valuable feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is the provided anti-malware functionality and URL categorization. I can block access to malicious websites. 99 percent of the cases are related to a malicious website. If I cannot browse those malicious websites, then we are 99 percent protected."
Surendar Ganesan, Technical Lead, writes that "The best feature of Cisco Web Security Appliance is its policy framing. It also has a good UI and it can handle traffic well. Cisco Web Security Appliance is a good product."
Atdhe Zyhranaj, Network Security Consultant at NSCON Network Services & Consulting GmbH, says that Cisco Web Security Appliance is "Easy to set up with scalable virtual machines and good reliability."
Fortinet FortiProxy is a secure web gateway that provides advanced web filtering, malware protection, and SSL inspection capabilities. It is designed to protect organizations from web-based threats and prevent data loss by enforcing granular policies for web access. FortiProxy is available as a physical or virtual appliance and can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. FortiProxy uses a combination of signature-based and behavior-based detection techniques to identify and block known and unknown threats. It also includes advanced features such as sandboxing and machine learning to detect and prevent zero-day attacks. FortiProxy can inspect SSL traffic to detect and block threats hidden in encrypted traffic. FortiProxy provides granular control over web access by allowing administrators to create policies based on user identity, device type, time of day, and other factors. It also includes pre-defined categories for web filtering, such as social media, gambling, and adult content. FortiProxy can also enforce compliance with regulatory requirements such as GDPR and HIPAA. FortiProxy integrates with Fortinet's Security Fabric, allowing it to share threat intelligence with other Fortinet products and provide a coordinated response to threats. It also includes a web-based management console that provides real-time visibility into web traffic and allows administrators to quickly respond to security incidents.
Fortinet FortiProxy is a comprehensive web security solution that provides advanced protection against web-based threats and allows organizations to enforce granular policies for web access.
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