Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller Reviews & Insights

Score6.7 out of 10

80 Reviews and Ratings

Community insights

TrustRadius Insights for Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, third party data sources.

Pros

Ease of Management: Users have praised the web management interface for its user-friendly design, making it effortless to navigate and configure settings. They appreciate the ability to have full control over access points in different locations, allowing for efficient management of a large number of APs.

Security Features: Users appreciate the authentication portal for guest users, enhancing security measures within the network. This feature provides a secure way to manage access for visitors, ensuring data protection.

Performance Optimization: Reviewers acknowledge the radio control frequency feature for optimizing signal quality and reducing interference. By prioritizing network traffic for VoIP communication, users ensure smooth connections essential for business operations.

Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller Reviews

15 Reviews

Good Wireless Controller but in the meantime EOL

Rating: 1 out of 10

Incentivized

October 7, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We don't use the Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller anymore because it is end of Vulnerability/Security Support since January 2025. The replacement product is the Cisco Catalyst 9800 family.
In the past we used the Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller to manage and configure our 500 Access points worldwide. Also for monitoring and troubleshooting purpose the controller was used.

Pros

good performance (supports up to 1500 Access points)
easy to setup and install
high availability feature works great

Cons

end of sale and end of vulnerability / security support
GUI is very outdated
FlexConnect limitations

Likelihood to Recommend

As already mentioned the controller is end of vulnerability and security support. This means it shouldn't be used anymore.

Besides that the device is well suited for enterprises with up to 1500 access points and 20000 connected clients. The central management plattform for all APs is great.

It's less appropriate for all new technologies like Wi-Fi 6E and WPA3 because the software is outdated and there will be no future updates available.

Verified User

Strategist in Information Technology (5001-10,000 employees)

Vetted Review

8 years of experience

End of life wireless controllers that were rock solid workhorses

Rating: 3 out of 10

Incentivized

October 6, 2025

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We are just finally migrating off the Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller after over a decade of using it as our main controller for all of our wireless access points at our main campus and remote locations as well.

Pros

Lots of configuration options
Performance is reliable

Cons

Could have used a better interface
Too many menus can make it hard to find what you're looking for

Likelihood to Recommend

At this point the Cisco 5520 Wireless Controllers are end of life as a Cisco product, so I would not recommend them to anyone looking to purchase a wireless controller for an enterprise. However, many people are still using these, and they do work reliably, even if they are a bit long in the tooth now.

Verified User

Technician in Information Technology (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

10 years of experience

Good product but with old stable software

Rating: 7 out of 10

Incentivized

May 11, 2023

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

This WLC has good software stability even in industrial environment and it's able to handle a lot of APs with good bandwidth: several features are available and high-availability works fine. The ugly thing is the AIR-OS that is now replaced with IOS-XE software used on new WLC9800 so I don't think it's still a good point selling this type of WLC.

Pros

High Availability
RADIUS authentication
Managing a lot of APs
FlexConnect

Cons

Stable GUI interface
API interface
CLI configuration

Likelihood to Recommend

I think this WLC is well suited in almost enterprise environment where a lot of APs and a lot of bandwidth is required. This WLC has also good compatibility with almost all APs; I would suggest this WLC if it's required to keep the compatibility of older APs but I would prefer using the new 9800 solutions.

Verified User

Consultant in Information Technology (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

Reseller

3 years of experience

Simplified and effective wireless network management.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

June 24, 2022

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

The main scope of this WLC in the topology of our data network is to centralize the management and control of a set of access points spread across some sites. With the Cisco WLC 5520, we have absolute control to replicate the WLAN, VLAN, and security settings for all devices and control the access of our users with 802.1x authentication and content filtering on the wifi network. This hardware is efficient and we decided to use two appliances to create a high availability environment to avoid failures.

Pros

Full control of access points installed in different locations.
Web management.
Authentication portal for guest users.
Priority network for voip traffic.
High availability.

Cons

It was possible to check some installabilities in the management interface.
It remains to create more customization possibilities in the captive portal.

Likelihood to Recommend

With the Cisco WLC 5520, access point control routines are reduced by 99% because these devices automatically manage access points from anywhere, as long as they are on the same network. The WLC creates the possibility of roaming L2 and configures power levels, radio frequency channels, and avoids interference from Bluetooth and in 2.4Ghz. This Cisco WLC is recommended for large scenarios with multiple access points installed from anywhere. The layer 7 traffic preview functionality is great for creating an extra layer of protection and preventing users from accessing inappropriate URLs and saving bandwidth.

Verified User

Analyst in Information Technology (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

Cisco 5520 WLC Review

Rating: 8 out of 10

May 9, 2022

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We implemented this family of controllers in medium-capacity stadiums with approximately 15,000 clients, since it allows up to 20,000 and allows working with high availability and groups of controllers, expanding the number of users.the stability of the driver in these environments is quite good along with the performance and performance of the equipment. In addition, the support you have with the brand has no competition.

Pros

interface groups
ap groups
web authentications

Cons

information search filters are complicated tu use
using multiple captive portals natively on the controller
It does not have a packet capture option to natively allow an over-the-air review of a problem.

Likelihood to Recommend

This model of controller has been on the market for a couple of years now and although its performance has been good, it does not have the advantages of working with the new family of catalysts.It has had some hardware problems that, although it is immediately replaced by the manufacturer, may have momentary loss of service.

Miguel Sanchez

Ingeniero de soporte a redes in Professional Services at MONARCH MEXICO (51-200 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

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The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller [is] an excellent wireless solution!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

September 6, 2021

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our main wireless solution controller is model [Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller], recently purchased for 1 year by the company. Its main goal and main problem to solve is to create unified administration management of more than 150 Cisco Aironet access points installed in central and remote locations [as well as] bring mobility to internal users. In addition to managing everything, it has reporting and monitoring capabilities, equipment status, network traffic, throughput, number of users connected to the 2.4GHz, and 5GHz radio. It is a reliable Cisco 1ru hardware and is connected to the computer switch of the computer's network.

Pros

Visibility and control of applications with Feature AVC
Radio control frequency
Remote and automatic access points configuration from WLC 5520
High availability with WLC 5520 AH
User access control
WiFi 6 Support

Cons

The stroke display panel can still be improved.
Cisco needs to improve multi-language documentation.

Likelihood to Recommend

I would recommend the [Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller] to IT colleagues who [are looking] for a way to manage, control, [and] update Cisco access points automatically without facing hard-hearted headaches. It is easy to schedule a time for updates and access to [the] WiFi network. It has extra features that add more value to the product, [such] as a firewall, access control lists, QoS, authentication portal, and others.

Carlos Santos

RPA Developer in Information Technology at Grupo Boticário (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

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A Robust Wireless Controller Ready for Wifi 6

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

May 28, 2021

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Our Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller is positioned in the main switch and with it, we manage the entire park of access points with internal and external antennas installed in various locations. The scenario used in the WLC 5520 is in high availability with two units to supply in case of hardware problems. With our WLC + Prime, we have control, management, and absolute monitoring of the WLAN network quite easily. We receive alerts via e-mail and SMS in case of access point failures and security problems.

Pros

It has the ability to manage all Cisco access points that we have, regardless of the model. The limit is 1500 pieces of equipment.
The WLC enables roaming functionality in the localities, this helps with collections, wireless IP phones, and access with notebooks.
The WLC manages the quality of the "air" and "signal" of the 2.4ghz frequency, avoiding noise and interference.
The WLC has an interesting feature of visibility of the traffic of the internal network.

Cons

SMARTnet support is expensive.
I haven't seen any technical problems so far.

Likelihood to Recommend

Cisco brings a lot of reliability to its products and durability. With the WLAN line, it is no different. We have a lot of equipment from different areas. We recommend the [Cisco] 5520 [Wireless Controller] in large scenarios and with a high density of connected users because the limit of this hardware is 1500 access points and 20,000 simultaneous clients. The [Cisco] 5520 [Wireless Controller] allows you to manage everything very easily, quickly and remotely instead of configuring one by one. Regardless of where the access points are installed, we are able to monitor and control them. This controller model is already compatible with the recent new standard of the high-speed wifi 6 market, 802.11ax.

Gabriel Silva

Analista de sistema in Information Technology at Natura (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

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WLAN Network Optimized with Cisco [5520] Wireless Controller

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

May 12, 2021

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

The Cisco 5520 [Wireless] Controller controls and manages the access points of some branches. The controllers are deployed in the High Availability topology where the second activates in case the other has a technical problem. We created a Captive portal on this WLC to authenticate users, guests, and employees. Each network is on a different VLAN and with different rules for accessing the internal wireless network. Cisco is a brand of high reliability and brings us security.

Pros

[It] promotes and expands mobility.
[It provides a] portal with authentication for guests and collaborators.
[It] enables roaming.
[It] automatically controls all access points in our network.

Cons

I cannot export the information about the APs to pdf.
[It has a] high-cost value.

Likelihood to Recommend

The [Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller] is essential for the WLAN network and is recommended for any scenario with more than 5 Access points to manage. The radio frequency and range [are] delicate and difficult to dimension in the location and the WLC contributes by calculating and propagating the signal automatically to avoid interference and external noise from other APs with overlapping channels. The equipment is 1U and can be installed in any rack in the data center and connected to the Core switch.

João Mauricio

IT-Support in Information Technology at Grupo Boticário (5001-10,000 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

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Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller - Simple WiFi Deployment

Rating: 9 out of 10

Incentivized

February 14, 2020

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use the Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller to manage all of our wireless access points throughout all of our buildings. They are both indoor and outdoor setup access points. The system is used throughout the entire organization. It addressed both managing access points independently as well as creating a guest WiFi that does not interfere with our business data flowing over the Wifi for our business applications.

Pros

Ease of setup for each new access point
Managing updates for existing access points

Cons

Ability out of the box to handle over 100 AP's would be great
A full featured dashboard

Likelihood to Recommend

[I] would give it a rating of 9 out of 10. Overall, it checks all the boxes when it came to an enterprise central management of AP's solution. The platform is Cisco, so we know it will be supported and any issues will be able to be addressed by their skilled support team.

Verified User

Administrator in Information Technology (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

5 years of experience

Expensive, but it makes management easy once you learn the ins and outs!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

January 10, 2020

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

The Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller is used by the whole organization to centralize [the] administration of all of our access points. We have multiple SSIDs and add them on the fly at times. The Cisco 5520 [Wireless Controller] makes this so much easier to manage.

Pros

Hand-off between access points
Centralized management

Cons

GUI is a little confusing and could be simplified.
[It is] very expensive [in my opinion].

Likelihood to Recommend

If you can afford it, [the] Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller is the only way to manage your access points. Cisco provides ease of mind in reporting and security.

Verified User

Professional in Information Technology (1001-5000 employees)

Vetted Review

4 years of experience

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A Robust Wireless Controller Ready for Wifi 6

Rating: 10 out of 10

Incentivized

May 28, 2021

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

It has the ability to manage all Cisco access points that we have, regardless of the model. The limit is 1500 pieces of equipment.
The WLC enables roaming functionality in the localities, this helps with collections, wireless IP phones, and access with notebooks.
The WLC manages the quality of the "air" and "signal" of the 2.4ghz frequency, avoiding noise and interference.
The WLC has an interesting feature of visibility of the traffic of the internal network.

Cons

SMARTnet support is expensive.
I haven't seen any technical problems so far.

Likelihood to Recommend

Gabriel Silva

Analista de sistema in Information Technology at Natura (201-500 employees)

Vetted Review

2 years of experience

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