Cisco Routers vs. Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco Routers
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Cisco routers support secure, reliable enterprise connections. These enterprise routers help users implement an intent-based, future-ready WAN that is constantly learning, adapting, and protecting. Deploy routers for the branch, cloud, co-location, or the data center with any type of connectivity, including MPLS, Internet, and 4G LTE. With over 30 years of experience and an end-to-end portfolio, Cisco routing solutions can deliver for today’s networking needs. The vendor promises to help…N/A
Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Score 9.3 out of 10
N/A
Palo Alto next-generation firewalls classify all traffic, including encrypted and internal traffic, based on application, application function, user and content. Users can create security policies to enable only authorized users to run sanctioned applications.N/A
Pricing
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details—Palo Alto Networks offers two pricing models: one based on usage hour in each available zone and another based on total traffic secured. Pricing for use with AWS is as follows: $1.50 /hr for up to 3 Available Zones $.50/ hr for each additional AZ OR $.065/GB for the first 15 TB $.045/GB for the next 15 TB $.03/GB for above 30 TB
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Considered Both Products
Cisco Routers
Chose Cisco Routers
The Cisco routers cannot compare to a dedicated firewall, especially an NGFW, though a firewall could certainly have performed the routing functions. Primarily chosen to maximize interoperability with Cisco IOS switches inside the firewall.
Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Chose Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
I've been really happy with our Palo Alto [solutions] and we're replacing a good chunk of our ASAs with Palo Alto. As far as firewalls go the Palo Alto firewalls are significantly better in my opinion, but we still use ASAs as VPN devices in a few scenarios and they work just …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Firewall
Comparison of Firewall features of Product A and Product B
Cisco Routers
-
Ratings
Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
8.7
23 Ratings
1% above category average
Identification Technologies00 Ratings9.523 Ratings
Visualization Tools00 Ratings7.523 Ratings
Content Inspection00 Ratings10.023 Ratings
Policy-based Controls00 Ratings10.023 Ratings
Active Directory and LDAP00 Ratings9.522 Ratings
Firewall Management Console00 Ratings9.023 Ratings
Reporting and Logging00 Ratings8.023 Ratings
VPN00 Ratings9.023 Ratings
High Availability00 Ratings9.522 Ratings
Stateful Inspection00 Ratings9.022 Ratings
Proxy Server00 Ratings5.011 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Small Businesses

No answers on this topic

pfSense
pfSense
Score 9.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies

No answers on this topic

pfSense
pfSense
Score 9.4 out of 10
Enterprises

No answers on this topic

Cisco Meraki MX
Cisco Meraki MX
Score 9.1 out of 10
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User Ratings
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(29 ratings)
9.5
(39 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(2 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(1 ratings)
9.0
(4 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.4
(9 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco RoutersPalo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
We will recommend theCisco Routers if there is requirement of high availability and more reliability. Also it is best for implementing and achieving state of the art technologies in both enterprise and service provider environment. The integrated management and monitoring solutions it comes with makes the routers attractive for all network operations. We don't recommend the Cisco Routers if cost is a concern since all these next generation features are very expensive.
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Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series are extremely versatile. Whether it be a one office location or multiple sites, the Panorama interface allows centralized management. I've found Palo Alto does a great job with their updates and supporting customers. As a cybersecurity professional, I like that Palo Alto's products offer a wide range of controls to support defense in depth. It is easy for security and network infrastructure teams to use the same consoles to deliver performance with security built in.
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Pros
Cisco
  • Helps to separate routing information for different networks for different customers.
  • Helps peers with service providers and Customer Networks and starts the exchange of information between them.
  • Helps facilitate internet connectivity for enterprise networks.
  • Helps transferring Internet or Private Data from one place to another.
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Palo Alto Networks
  • The PA handles VPN connectivity without missing a beat. We have multiple VPN tunnels in use for redundancy to cloud-based services.
  • The PA has great functionality in supporting failover internet connections, again with the ability to have multiple paths out to our cloud-based services.
  • The PA is updated on the regular with various security updates, we are not concerned with the firewall's ability to see what packets are really flowing across the network. Being able to see beyond just IP and port requests lets you know things are locked down better than traditional firewalls.
  • It is a great overall kit, with URL filtering and other services that fill in the gaps between other solutions without breaking the bank.
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Cons
Cisco
  • Software-defined radios could be used so that both the radios could be converted into 5 GHz model to provide enhanced connectivity in network congestion scenarios.
  • Support for low power IoT devices.
  • Should provide more details about devices connected to the access points such as the risk score of the devices.
  • Enhanced encryption algorithms and quick firmware upgrades.
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Palo Alto Networks
  • Our specific model is a bit slow and outdated and takes up to 10 minutes to commit a configuration change.
  • Nested security rules would be helpful instead of a linear approach. But rule creation in general is very simple.
  • Documentation gives a very straight forward answer to some items but is very vague in others.
  • Support could be a little better. An issue we had a tech was insistent it was the "other guy" and it ended up being the very latest PAN OS upgrade.
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Likelihood to Renew
Cisco
We are extremely likely to renew, as we have been very happy with our Cisco Routers for over 10 years. Their uptime as well as stable nature makes them ideal for us, as we are an industry that cannot afford downtime. We trust our partner to recommend our next model Cisco, when the time comes.
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Palo Alto Networks
The PA5220s have far exceeded what we have expected out of them. It was a bit of a learning curve coming from another vendor, but everything falls into place now with ease. The capabilities of the solution still surprise us, allowing us to remove other costly hardware and providing a single point of management needed
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Usability
Cisco
The best thing about Cisco products is their presence in community. When you have a problem you can do quick search and find whoever else had the same question and expert answer for that question. Other thing is there are Cisco certified people we can find very easily if want some help with comissioning these products
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Palo Alto Networks
The few aspects of the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series that could use improvement - such as slow commit times, which I hear they have improved on in the newest models - are vastly outshined by everything else these appliances provide. We have been using the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series appliances for more than 10 years and plan to continue using them for the foreseeable future.
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Support Rating
Cisco
TAC has always been great for us. Once we enter a ticket, we escalate it to get someone on the phone. The issues is normally resolved within that first call.
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Palo Alto Networks
We've run into a couple undocumented bugs, but that seems to happen with every brand and technology. Any time we've had to engage Palo Alto support they've always been professional, knowledgeable and prompt. In almost all cases we've been able to resolve our issues without having to escalate our tickets.
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Alternatives Considered
Cisco
Other vendors definitely bring some great features. We've gone from Fortinet to HPE, to Ruckus. Each product has benefits to consider. For us, Cisco is a trusted brand that's used about thousands of customers and many fortune companies. While some of the newer or smaller players have great features, Cisco has most of the same plus time in the trenches.
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Palo Alto Networks
We are using Cisco ASA before in our environment but when it comes to deep scanning & layer 7 security it doesn't have that capability. After using Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall we are using sandboxing & advance malware protection that provides high-level end-user security. Also after implementing it we can easily monitor user-level traffic.
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Return on Investment
Cisco
  • Experience tells us that using Cisco products is always positive since the quality/price is very well distributed.
  • They reduce energy costs and the consumption of resources, optimizing efficiency to the maximum
  • The equipment is prepared so that all kinds of people can use them.
  • They have higher levels of access and service. Its functionality is one of the best on the market, its unmatched response. Cisco routers provide fast access and hassle-free connectivity and are renowned for their performance.
  • TAC's service is by far the best
  • accessible configuration manuals
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Palo Alto Networks
  • Overall, even though the device is very expensive (both hardware and licensing), the product does produce a decent ROI, given that one (or HA pair) of devices can do so many things, such as anti-virus, anti-malware, URL filtering, SSL decryption, SSL VPN, routing, etc.
  • There will definitely be sticker shock when you're renewal comes up annually (or after 3 years), so be sure to look very carefully at the recurring costs of this product, with respect to licensing and hardware/software maintenance.
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