Item: Cisco Firepower 1000 Series
Rating: 10
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We currently use a Cisco FirePower 1140 to segment networks to keep critical components safe. It is used by our plant and managed by IT. It provides protection from any unwanted traffic going from our business network to our manufacturing network. I chose the firepower for its ease of use and configuration.

Pros and Cons

Low learning curve--I was able to jump in and learn the interface in no time.
Easy to set up--it was racked and running with rules within an hour.

Only shows some traffic, but that may be my limited knowledge.
Doesn't make coffee.

Return on Investment

It has been positive. The cost of us being down because of an attack or infection far outweighs the price of the unit. It was a good purchase for the peace of mind of knowing we are protected.

Simplified Administration

Again, by knowing if an attack happens to our business network our manufacturing network will still be safe.

Support Rating

The few times I have reached out to Cisco they have been very responsive and helpful, even with little issues such as navigating the management site. I have not had to call them for any major issues, but I am sure they would be addressed quickly as well.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco Firepower 2100 Series and Fortinet FortiGate

The Cisco Firepower 1140 hit the sweet spot between performance and price. Also, I am more familiar with Cisco products so I wanted to stay on that side. We looked at the Firepower 2110, but thought the 1140 was a better fit for our needs.

Key Insights

Do you think Cisco Firepower 1000 Series delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cisco Firepower 1000 Series's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco Firepower 1000 Series live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco Firepower 1000 Series go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco Firepower 1000 Series again?

Yes

Usability

I don't have to babysit the Cisco Firepower 1140. When I need to make a change or do an update it goes very smoothly. It didn't take me long to get used to the interface. If something is blocked the connection events tab breaks down what is being blocked very nicely. It works very well with my limited network experience.

Likelihood to Recommend

The Cisco Firepower 1140 is well suited for a small to medium network like we are running. It can handle what we throw at it and more. I'm sure it can handle larger workloads, but our network doesn't call for it. I chose the Cisco Firepower 1140 because it solved our needs and allows growth, but was not too much or too little firewall for our needs.

Cisco Firepower 1140

Software Version

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Firepower 1000 Series