Cisco AnyConnect vs. Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco AnyConnect
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Cisco offers an SSL VPN solution via AnyConnect.N/A
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
GlobalProtect™ delivers the protection of next-generation security platform to the mobile workforce in order to stop targeted cyberattacks, evasive application traffic, phishing, malicious websites, command-and-control traffic, and known and unknown threats.N/A
Pricing
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Considered Both Products
Cisco AnyConnect
Chose Cisco AnyConnect
I have worked with Palo Alto GlobalProtect and Fortinet's FortiClient. While in use, GlobalProtect boasted of some merits, such as great security features that may be superior to those of Cisco AnyConnect; the interface was not quite smooth. I selected Cisco AnyConnect …
Chose Cisco AnyConnect
Cisco is easier to set up than GlobalProtect.
Chose Cisco AnyConnect
AnyConnect is easy to use. Moreover, our organization has Cisco ISE, router, and switches, using Viptela SDWAN as well as ASA and Firepower Threat Defense. AnyConnect works well with Cisco ISE for 802.1x and Posture. Moreover can be used via ISR and ASA. We also use Umbrella …
Chose Cisco AnyConnect
[Cisco] AnyConnect is much easier for the end user to use as there is not much to configure. I also consider that the support offered by Cisco is better than that of other vendors. Our entire installed base is Cisco and Meraki so [Cisco] AnyConnect is the tool we are working …
Chose Cisco AnyConnect
I'll [make] it short, Cisco AnyConnect [has] the [many] secure features. [...]

Chose Cisco AnyConnect
Palo Alto and Fortinet are good manufacturers but more than 5 years ago when the project was tendered, Cisco ASA was better for the cost, benefit, and approval apart from the fact that we have Cisco ISE, Cisco DUO and all those tools converge quite well when you have the …
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Chose Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
The management of connections is much more seamless with the Palo tool. AnyConnect was always a nightmare to get in and manage individual connections to what can and cannot be accessed based on IP addresses. We ended going with the newer methodology of remote access so that our …
Chose Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is better than all the choices we looked at. With our in-house knowledge, ease of use, and Palo track record for innovating and having excellent security, it was a no-brainer to go with Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access. That being said, watch …
Chose Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Overall the main features are similar but we liked the ease of creating different configurations and security groups within Palo Alto and thought the cost was better for the overall value.
Features
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Virtual Private Network
Comparison of Virtual Private Network features of Product A and Product B
Cisco AnyConnect
9.0
13 Ratings
0% above category average
Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
-
Ratings
AES 256-bit Encryption9.513 Ratings00 Ratings
Kill Switch8.89 Ratings00 Ratings
Multi-Platform Support9.313 Ratings00 Ratings
Split Tunneling9.511 Ratings00 Ratings
IP Address Masking9.012 Ratings00 Ratings
No-Logs Policy8.39 Ratings00 Ratings
Multiple Server Locations8.611 Ratings00 Ratings
Automatic Wi-Fi Protection9.210 Ratings00 Ratings
Simultaneous Connections9.010 Ratings00 Ratings
Customer Support Services8.512 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Small Businesses
Norton 360
Norton 360
Score 6.8 out of 10

No answers on this topic

Medium-sized Companies
Quantum Firewalls and Security Gateways
Quantum Firewalls and Security Gateways
Score 9.6 out of 10

No answers on this topic

Enterprises
Quantum Firewalls and Security Gateways
Quantum Firewalls and Security Gateways
Score 9.6 out of 10
Zscaler Internet Access
Zscaler Internet Access
Score 8.9 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(103 ratings)
10.0
(6 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.9
(12 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(81 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(9 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.3
(86 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.0
(7 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
10.0
(7 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.6
(3 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco AnyConnectPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
Cisco AnyConnect has allowed me to connect to the network when I am not at the office. For example, in an international digital campaign, it was possible to access readily important files and work on other collaborative working spaces without any violation of security measures. I noticed that there was a slight lag whenever several members of the team logged in at the same time during the weekend.
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Palo Alto Networks
I still think Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is the best SASE/SSE product out there. It just has such good granular controls and up to date security definitions that you can feel absolutely secure in your purchase. GlobalProtect was a lifesaver for me when COVID hit so yes I had to work my butt off to get it up and running quickly and as secure as I possibly could but it worked amazing and had excellent performance after we got it running and tied to MFA, certificates and security policies.
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Pros
Cisco
  • It provides you an exceptional hybrid work experience. It enables your employees to work seamlessly from home, office, and other branches.
  • It enables your employees to access corporate applications anytime, even after office hours.
  • It helps your team to maintain a healthy work-life balance and boosts your productivity.
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Palo Alto Networks
  • A secure end-to-end network with virtualization to be able to choose the port of our interest and an opening of the same.
  • Monthly updates that are sufficient, automatic updates that allow us not to have to do the manual implementation.
  • Prisma allows automatically opens an IPsec/SSL VPN connection to Prisma Access.
  • Is flexible and scalable
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Cons
Cisco
  • Cisco AnyConnect can use the system resources as long as the program is being run.
  • Account activation may be very difficult when connecting from areas requiring captive portal login, if certain settings are not allowed.
  • By default, it is possible to request the user to authenticate again at specific intervals.
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Palo Alto Networks
  • With all of it's unique features it does take some time to get folks up to speed in regards to supporting/managing the software.
  • Doesn't always play nice with non Palo Alto software.
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Likelihood to Renew
Cisco
It is perhaps the second most functional tool we have, it will definitely be renewed every year. Our network is stable, which ensures that there is less for our technicians to troubleshoot, which frees them up to ensure other parts of the company are maintained. This keeps our costs low and our downtime at a minimum.
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Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Usability
Cisco
It has many advantages and uses other than other common VPNs but it's very important to understand the problems and issues which till not solved yet. The major issue is there is no support system or no body is doing hypercare for clients or client organizations. Speed is good, but making a connection is worse, and nobody cares about it.
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Palo Alto Networks
I still say that Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is the best. I love their GUI, their policies are easy to manage, the sales team is VERY helpful (especially when support is not). I still recommend them to everyone I talk to.
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Reliability and Availability
Cisco
I have been using Cisco AnyConnect for past two years and thus I can say very firmly that I have never seen the outage from the Cisco AnyConnect services either It is VPN, System Scans or the Network Connectivity. Talking about the errors likewise major errors I have faced throughout my period of use.
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Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Performance
Cisco
Absolutely no speed issues, and I see no evidence of slowdowns across any of the multiple platforms I use daily. It's operation is completely invisible most of the time, except where there is a loss of connection due to server issues or a loss of power. Everything loads quickly and accurately.
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Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Cisco
Because whenever I log the case with Cisco support, yes they have come back with valid technical data. So this is what has happened and we could fix it in this way. That support will detail what happened and how to get it overcome very quickly. That's what I like. The support level we get is really good for the product
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Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Cisco
Our Managed Services vendor helped us with the implementation. When we initially setup our AnyConnect using MFA for remote connectivity, the setup was easy and straight forward and worked just fine. After a year, we decided to change to an "always on" feature and use machine and user based security certificates instead of MFA. We had to open a ticket with Cisco support and have their assistance getting this feature to work. Turned out they had a small bug in the code for that version of AnyConnect and it has since been corrected. We have had no issues with the upgrades since that time. The deployment of the software to the user machines was done with SCCM and was straight forward. The user machine upgrades are easy - when the user machine connects and sees a new version available, it upgrades itself! What could be easier?
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Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Cisco
Cisco is one of our core partners besides Microsoft and SAP. And so yes, we are utilizing very many projects from Cisco. I would mention the whole networking equipment, the routing equipment, the wireless LAN, and also when it comes to infrastructure to compute infrastructure, we are utilizing Cisco servers within our converged infrastructure Flex spot. So we have been running a flex bot from Cisco, NetApp, and VMware for 12 years, and we are still very satisfied with the product. We are looking forward to upgrading to the newest blades and fabric interconnect to continue this journey.
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Palo Alto Networks
The McAfee product really isn’t a great option. The configuration is a nightmare and requires a lot of time. The policy management has a high learning curve.
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Scalability
Cisco
Cisco AnyConnect has been a speedy, reliable, and efficient tool for the creation of your own VPN whatever location that you've brought your laptop. Customer support is consistently top-notch, coming up with quick fixes to whatever difficulties are thrown your way. I would not hesitate to reccommend Cisco AnyConnect to any business that needs connected employees throught the world.
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Palo Alto Networks
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Cisco
  • We are able to seamlessly work on multiple clients daily, and it allows us to quickly handle more projects at the same time.
  • Cisco AnyConnect has allowed our own company's coworkers to remotely connect back to the corporate network, easily assisting work schedules and processes, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being forced to work remotely, meant our processes still happened quickly and efficiently, by being able to leverage and use Cisco AnyConnect VPN.
  • Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have worked 100% remotely for a few years now. This was always due to the reliable connectivity and ease of use with Cisco AnyConnect VPN. I live 2+ hours from our nearest corporate office, and even further from some of my client locations, and I have always been able to connect to any of my multiple Cisco AnyConnect VPN connections, within seconds.
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Palo Alto Networks
  • It is extremely easy to manage who has remote access in our organization now.
  • It has allowed us to more fluidly get remote workers up and running.
  • Another tool to mange is never a good thing and the Panorama UI could use a little work.
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ScreenShots