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Cisco Secure Access
Cisco Secure Access is a cloud-delivered Security Service Edge (SSE) solution that provides secure and seamless access to the internet, cloud services, and private applications, helping users securely access whatever they need to do their best work from anywhere. It protects access to AWS applications while ensuring a seamless user access experience. Cisco Secure Access consolidates industry-leading Cisco Secure SaaS solutions (Zero Trust Access, Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Access Security Broker, data leakage prevention, FWaaS, DNS security, remote browser isolation, Digital Experience Monitoring, and more) to mitigate security threats at all levels while ensuring seamless and secure user access.
Reviews (100)
Eric Biederbeck
Unified access control has strengthened zero trust while integration and automation still need work
Reviewed on Sep 28, 2026
Review provided by PeerSpot
What is our primary use case?
We use Cisco SD-WAN in our own company for our own needs, and we are also selling this to our customers while performing operations for customer networks. My personal customer scope is the large enterprise customer. We have integrated Cisco Identity Intelligence with Cisco Secure Access using Cisco ISE.
How has it helped my organization?
This integration has influenced our identity management and security measures significantly, as we use Cisco ISE to harmonize the access control, leading us towards a zero-trust network environment.
What is most valuable?
The advantages I see in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN compared to their competitors is the seamless service scope, where I can have from Cisco the LAN, Wi-Fi environment, the SD-WAN environment, and the security environment, and as now announced from Cisco, all the management is combined in one orchestrator, which is the most beneficial aspect for me, not looking for the best of breed but more looking for the best fit.
I have used the policy verification to help reduce policy misconfigurations.
The multi-organization management capability of Cisco Secure Access in terms of usability and efficiency is quite good, as there is an RBAC system, allowing me to granularly define the access roles. I would rate this an eight.
What needs improvement?
For SD-WAN, I do not see any room for improvement, but for Cisco Secure Access, I think there is a lot to do for Cisco to integrate that in the Telco enterprise environment for seamless operation.
I am not talking about the integration with third-party solutions; you need to control the SD-WAN security policies in the same hand with the cloud security, and currently, both are managed by two different management systems, so you need to integrate that seamlessly.
It could be better from Cisco. The API interfaces, for example, Terraform integration, could be quite useful because there are some customers looking for full automation, and therefore it would be good to have a Terraform integration.
Some other companies are better on the market currently when it comes to the AI Access feature of Cisco Secure Access for providing deep visibility and control over AI applications, tools, and LLMs. If you compare it with the AI capability of Juniper Mist, Cisco needs to do a little bit more.
IPsec is a very old protocol, and sometimes it is good to see if there are some alternatives for VPNs in Cisco Secure Access.
I would like to see flexible access to the cloud in the next release to make it better. Currently, you set up one IPsec tunnel and that is all, which I think is not sufficient. There could be a better way, and what is missing are some virtualization services and security services in Cisco Secure Access cloud environment, especially for dedicated customers, such as governance and so on.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been dealing with Cisco SD-WAN for ten to fifteen years.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support is perfect, and I find it fine. I would rate their support an eight out of ten.
There is still room for improvement when it comes to response time, especially if you need some response from the US. If you need support from the US side, you can see the different countries, and sometimes it takes very long to get an approval from the US side, which is something that could be better.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Cisco Secure Access was not straightforward. There were a lot of discussions, especially with our customer about what the benefits are, particularly regarding the cost and the cost-benefits ratio, with discussions being more governance-driven or management-driven rather than technical, which meant it took a lot of time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
In my experience with the Experience Insights feature or Digital Experience Monitoring of Cisco Secure Access, ThousandEyes is a fine tool, but currently, my experience with our customer is that it is too expensive just to have it. It is nice to have, but it is not business-critical, and therefore it is too expensive.
The overall pricing of Cisco Secure Access has changed dramatically in the last half year, and I would say it is too high.
I think Cisco should consider their licensing model, as anything could be improved.
What other advice do I have?
Currently, AI Supply Chain Risk Management is not really an issue for us today. I would rate Cisco Secure Access a seven out of ten overall.
reviewer2902620
Unified cloud security has simplified zero trust access and protected hybrid users
Reviewed on Sep 24, 2026
Review provided by PeerSpot
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Cisco Secure Access is for one client, where I deployed DNS security. Previously, Cisco DNS security was part of Umbrella; now, it has been moved to Cisco Secure Access. I implemented DNS security, which provided the client with cloud-based DNS security and intelligent proxy features, so they are protected from day-zero attacks with policy management in place. That was one use case for Cisco Secure Access, and for another client, I have recently deployed ZTNA using Cisco Duo MFA.
For a specific example of how I used Cisco Secure Access for one of these clients, I will provide the example of one client where I deployed ZTNA through MFA. The client has around 1500 users working in a hybrid environment, so connecting every user on the VPN, whether hardware-hosted, VM-hosted, or anywhere else, causes unnecessary burden. SASE is the best use case of Cisco Secure Access in the hybrid environment, where if users want to access any of their private applications, they connect to Cisco Secure Cloud. From the cloud, the traffic is tunneled, providing zero-trust access and requiring MFA to access any internal application. This way, since it is cloud-based security, the routing and everything is taken care of in the cloud, avoiding dependency on hardware infrastructure or overusing the link in the data center itself.
What is most valuable?
The best feature that Cisco Secure Access offers is a single platform where DNS security, ZTNA, and everything are in one place, all managed through a single cloud dashboard.
Having everything in a single platform and dashboard has made things easier for me and my clients because everything is available for checking or troubleshooting.
Cisco Secure Access has positively impacted my organization because we are Cisco preferred partners. We deploy everything for our clients, so it is not just about deploying it in our organization. Since we are a preferred partner, many clients requiring Cisco Secure Access are routed to us from Cisco.
After deploying Cisco Secure Access, I received specific positive outcomes and feedback from my clients. For the use case concerning DNS security over the last three months, their AD integration with Cisco Secure Access allows them to create user-based policies for DNS security based on identity and username. They also receive a dashboard to monitor reports on threats and everything online in the cloud. The customer is very happy that they are able to overview their organization, seeing the number of users utilizing maximum applications, the top talkers, and everything.
Cisco Secure Access has greatly impacted protecting my organization and clients from threats such as phishing and ransomware. Because it has ZTNA and is cloud-based with VMs deployed inside the network, it creates best practice tunnels required for accessing applications from day one. Thus, we can deploy with peace of mind without juggling best practices or opening only specific ports.
What needs improvement?
Cisco Secure Access can be improved by providing information about the location of the PoPs where users are connected. The guidelines in KSA say it is mandatory for the PoPs to be regional, similar to how Fortinet SASE discloses its PoP locations.
In terms of needed improvements around documentation and support, the documentation has been good for me. Since I deployed for the first time, I went through Cisco documents, which helped me a lot, and their program on the T-Cloud labs also provided great support. Completing the lab gave me the confidence to deploy for the customer. The documentation and the labs provided by Cisco are very good.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Secure Access for the last six months.
What other advice do I have?
For others looking into using Cisco Secure Access, my advice is that it is a good solution and they should experience it.
I chose eight out of ten primarily due to only the PoP presence. I would rate the ease of managing Cisco Secure Access through its single cloud-managed console an eight.
In my experience, it is easy to navigate and manage everything from the console, but compared to the FortiGate SASE platform, FortiGate has a unified platform for all their products, while Cisco has each platform operating differently.
I use the Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) feature of Cisco Secure Access, and it is a great feature. We do not need to worry about the security of accessing applications from outside the environment. With ZTNA, each application access requires authentication, which is a truly great feature.
This ZTNA approach has positively changed my client's security posture, and there are no significant challenges or surprises. I rate this product eight out of ten.
Saumik M.
Modern SSE-Based Secure Access That Speeds Up Work
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
Alternative for vpn.. makes work faster ..Secure Access provides a more modern SSE-based approach, where users get access to the specific resources they are authorized to use rather than broad access to the entire network.
What do you dislike about the product?
Initial setup and configuration can be complex. Some times security checks can impact connection speed or access time.... very expensive hence we dont prefer
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Alternative for vpn..Secure Access provides a more modern SSE-based approach, where users get access to the specific resources they are authorized to use rather than broad access to the entire network.
Lateefah B.
User-Friendly with Strong Security but Session Timeout Frustrates
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I like that Cisco Secure Access is user friendly and the customer service is on point. I can get in contact with support quickly if anything goes wrong. I also love that the blockers we set up really work, which means our personal and confidential information stays secure. It helps us work in an orderly fashion without issues, knowing that Cisco Secure Access limits fraud or scams that could happen in other organizations.
What do you dislike about the product?
Sometimes, when we're logged in for maybe five minutes, it logs us out. This is something that could be changed, like allowing us to be logged in a little bit longer. If we step away from our desk for five minutes, we come back and we're logged out. That's something that could be fixed as well. It becomes very useless to keep doing the single sign-on, especially when we're in meetings.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Cisco Secure Access simplifies login processes by eliminating continuous password entry, securing confidential information, and minimizing fraud. It keeps my team's data protected and allows smooth access through phone codes, enhancing security and independence.
Shrinkhala S.
Dependable Security with Cost-Effective Flexibility
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I find Cisco Secure Access to be one of the most reliable native security solutions I've used. It's very cost-affordable, which is great for our organization. Their IT team is incredibly agile and knowledgeable, resolving our issues swiftly through email and chat, usually within twenty-four hours. I appreciate their dependability as a vendor, as we've consistently received a lot of positive feedback. The pricing has been stable with no increases over the past two years, which I really value. The zero trust security access feature is crucial for securing our servers and allowing remote teams to manage work efficiently. The compatibility is impressive, especially given the challenges of integrating with government systems. Cisco's team managed to convince and work seamlessly with government clients, which speaks volumes about their capabilities. The software's performance is dependable, with no downtime even on weekends. Their proactive R&D team anticipates security threats and provides advanced security solutions at competitive prices, which feels like a major advantage for us. Overall, their team is a strong pillar behind the consistent quality and reliability we experience.
What do you dislike about the product?
I really wish Cisco Secure Access would offer a longer trial period. They currently provide only a 30-day trial with limited features, and I feel that's just not enough time to truly explore and understand their complete security offerings. Because sometimes it just takes more time to see how everything works and ensure that the security measures cover the entire system properly. I'd suggest they extend the trial to 60 days and maybe even offer some solutions free of cost initially, especially for smaller and medium-sized organizations that can't invest everything upfront at once. Also, we've occasionally faced integration hiccups where systems just don't seem to communicate the way they should. It'd be awesome if Cisco engaged more with government clients to understand their need for flexibility. That would really help streamline things because these clients can be quite resistant to changing how they do things. Lastly, while their chat support is great and all, having 24/7 phone support for instant resolution would be a big win. Sometimes you just need that immediate help that chat or email can't always provide. So these areas could use a little boost to make the whole experience even better.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Cisco Secure Access to automate and secure our hybrid workforce. It provides a secure, encrypted data transfer solution across servers, preventing data leaks and ensuring confidentiality, which is crucial for our government and private projects.
Ted B.
Ensures Compliance, Easy Setup, Needs Front-End Improvement
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I like how Cisco Secure Access embeds smoothly into our workflow. The remote access feature is particularly valuable since our staff often work from home or at hotel sites for clinical trials, which allows us to maintain the commitments we make in our RFPs. The central log for incidents or threat logs is also handy—it simplifies the process of investigating incidents within our workflow. Additionally, the initial setup was straightforward, which is essential for us when defining user functionalities and access into our AWS environment.
What do you dislike about the product?
I think there might be a better front end for setting up DNS security and malware inspection. I'm not an expert, so maybe it makes more sense to the experts, but it's confusing to me. It's an important part to stop phishing and malicious downloads, so it should be easier. I also feel that there could be an improvement in creating awareness about how people could potentially bypass the system, which would help us show additional compliance to our sponsors and improve our chances to win more bids.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I rely on Cisco Secure Access to meet compliance requirements with confidence, particularly HIPAA and PHI compliance for pharmaceutical companies. It ensures secure remote access and provides a clear incident log, helping manage clinical trial information safely.
Primary/Secondary Education
Consistent Secure Access Beyond VPN with Cisco Secure Access
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
We were looking for more than just a traditional VPN solution. Our main goal was to improve secure access for users, applications, and resources while making things easier to manage for our IT team. Cisco Secure Access stood out because it provides a broader approach to secure access and allows us to apply security controls consistently, regardless of where users are working from.
What do you dislike about the product?
While we’ve had a positive experience with Cisco Secure Access overall, there are a few areas that could be improved. The solution offers a lot of functionality, but that can also make the initial setup and configuration feel fairly complex. It takes some time to understand all the available policies, settings, and integrations, especially when moving from a more traditional VPN-based approach.
The administration could also be more intuitive in some areas, and troubleshooting certain access issues can require digging through different settings and logs. For users, the experience is generally good, but there can occasionally be some confusion when access policies or security controls affect how they connect to specific resources. These are not major issues, but simplifying the management experience and making troubleshooting more straightforward would make the product even better.
The administration could also be more intuitive in some areas, and troubleshooting certain access issues can require digging through different settings and logs. For users, the experience is generally good, but there can occasionally be some confusion when access policies or security controls affect how they connect to specific resources. These are not major issues, but simplifying the management experience and making troubleshooting more straightforward would make the product even better.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Compared with other solutions we considered, we liked the combination of security, flexibility, and centralized management. It also fits well with the broader Cisco security ecosystem, which was an important consideration for us. The solution gives us better visibility into access and helps us move toward a more modern, Zero Trust-oriented approach without making the user experience unnecessarily complicated. Overall, Cisco Secure Access felt like a good fit for our long-term security strategy.
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
Silent, Background Security That Just Works
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
It runs in the background and keeps our internet traffic and data secure. I think there is little the daily user needs to accommodate and the vast majority of the benefit is gained in the background use of the app.
What do you dislike about the product?
no real issues with the software from my perspective as a user. generally have little to no interaction with the system making it a silent use software for everyday use on work computers.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Securing computer work and digital data on work computing machines is the biggest need and use of the software in conjunction with the single sign on rules and dual factor authentication the system has a lot of security and few major weaknesses for doing business globally.
Wen G.
Good Security, But a Bit of a Learning Curve
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I like that Cisco Secure Access can filter malicious websites and phishing websites, which helps me maintain a secure environment when using school resources.
What do you dislike about the product?
Cisco Secure Access has a little bit of a learning curve. It would be helpful to have more guidance, like cartoon videos, to make it easier to understand.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Cisco Secure Access for security in our school system, ensuring access to school resources while filtering out malicious and phishing websites.
Silas M.
Seamless Integration, Yet Complex Pricing
Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I like its integration with the rest of our Cisco network stack, especially how it offers a single pane of glass for local and remote users. The setup was very easy to install.
What do you dislike about the product?
The pricing model of Cisco Secure Access is complex and could be simplified. It would be better with a dynamic concurrent user option.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use Cisco Secure Access to connect remote workers to corporate assets and services securely. It integrates with our Cisco network stack, providing a single pane of glass for managing users locally and remotely.