PeerSpot user
Senior InfoSec Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Consultant
If you are looking for a mature and dynamic security appliance for your SMB or enterprise network, the Cisco ASA is it.

What is most valuable?

• Great encryption capabilities • Versatile Remote Access configuration down to user level settings • Customizable Web Portals Internet/Extranet Sites • Monitoring VPN activity and errors • CLI provides quick access to various states of the device • Troubleshooting Tools

What needs improvement?

• Troubleshooting error codes not always decipherable • Firewall rule configuration not as intuitive as Checkpoint. ASDM needs work

What other advice do I have?

Cisco ASA VPN device with the 8.4(5) image and ASDM 7.11. This device meets the requirements for FIPS 140-2 cryptographic requirements for federal agencies. The purpose of the device is that it ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information between networks. The device is best used between different locations offering secure communications for users, clients (DMZ), and partners (DMZ). Cisco has been in the business for creating borderless networks for some time. Overall performance and features of the device are great. It does take a little time to get used to the commands, as they are a little different from the Cisco IOS router but not as different as another vendor like 3com now, HP. Visibility and granular control of applications and micro-applications,
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Administrator at SOURTHERN WAVES Solution
MSP
Top 5Leaderboard
Offers security, high availability, and stability
Pros and Cons
  • "The product's most valuable features are security, stability, and troubleshooting capabilities."
  • "Cisco IOS SSL VPN should improve its pricing."

What is our primary use case?

The product can be used for remote workforce connectivity, especially for companies with many users who want to work from home.

What is most valuable?

The product's most valuable features are security, stability, and troubleshooting capabilities. 

What needs improvement?

Cisco IOS SSL VPN should improve its pricing. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability depends on the license and the product model we use on our premises. I rate it a ten out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

My company has 50 customers for the product. 

How are customer service and support?

The tool's technical support is good. 

How was the initial setup?

Cisco IOS SSL VPN's deployment is easy. Its deployment time can vary depending on the size of the company. It may take around one or two hours for a small company with just one or two users. However, larger enterprises with around fifty people could take one or two days. The deployment time is not excessively long, but it depends on how the servers are managed. You would need a ten-member team to handle it. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product a ten out of ten. It enables everyone to work remotely, adding value for the company and its users. Additionally, the tool offers security, high availability, and stability. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Buyer's Guide
Cisco IOS SSL VPN
May 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco IOS SSL VPN. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2024.
769,976 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Sales at ANZA Technology Network
Real User
Top 20
It's simple and user-friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "IOS is user-friendly and simple. You connect to a particular VPN, and that's it. You become seamless after that."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use IOS for VPN. I work overseas often, and sometimes, I can't access what I need without a VPN. Some countries like Indonesia are restrictive, so you need a VPN. We've got about 10,000 employees, and we're all using it. I'm working on a company-provided laptop. I can't connect to our systems without Cisco.

    What is most valuable?

    IOS is user-friendly and simple. You connect to a particular VPN, and that's it. You become seamless after that.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using Cisco IOS for about seven years. I've used it since before it was called IOS. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I've never had any issues with IOS. It's probably a little on the older side, but it does the job.

    How are customer service and support?

    Cisco customer support is excellent. I've never had issues at all.

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate Cisco IOS SSL VPN eight out of 10. My main advice is always: Does it work for you? If it works for you, use it.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user1133619 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Architect at Devoteam Belgium
    Real User
    The management portal is good but the graphical interface needs to improve
    Pros and Cons
    • "The feature I find most valuable, is the management portal."
    • "The graphical interface is old and needs to improve."

    What is most valuable?

    The feature I find most valuable is the management portal. The one we're currently using is much more simple and with the IOS version 9, there is quite an improvement on the stability and the configuration of the solution itself.

    What needs improvement?

    I think the management of the design of the console or portal needs to improve because when you compare it to other vendors, you find that the graphical interface is old. I do, however, believe that the newer version has an improved graphical interface.

    An improvement in the scalability of the solution will also be great.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been working on Cisco SSL VPN for more than ten years on cloud and on premises.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The newer version is much more stable than the versions we used a few years ago.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I think the scalability could be improved in the next version but it's fine for now.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    The documentation that comes with the program is pretty clear and everything is explained well. So we haven't used the customer service yet.

    How was the initial setup?

    The difficulty of the initial setup depends on the security or policy configuration one needs to implement. But for us, it was quite straightforward and not difficult at all. We did the installation and deployment ourselves. 

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice to others would be that, if they are going in the cloud, they can use other products from the cloud too. In the next version, I would like to see central management, because sometimes you have more than two or three devices. If we can have a solution that can manage all these devices, that will be great. For example, if you need to update one device, you can just do it from one place without having to update all of them separately. On a scale from one to ten, I rate this solution a seven. 

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Project Manager at a security firm with 11-50 employees
    Reseller
    Facilitates remote access and working from home, but the token software will no longer be supported
    Pros and Cons
    • "It's a stable solution."
    • "The system needs to be upgraded to replace the Token Authentication software, which will no longer be supported."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are solution providers. We provide remote access solutions, internet access, and Voice over IP for our customers, as well as IT operational support.

    We use this solution to access their on-premises server from outside locations for situations such as working from home.

    What needs improvement?

    The system needs to be upgraded to replace the Token Authentication software, which will no longer be supported.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Cisco IOS SSL VPN for two years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It's a stable solution. We are using the latest version.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    I believe that this solution is scalable.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    Some of the solutions that our customers are using are Microsoft 365, Cisco VPN Access, and Cisco AnyConnect with the physical USB Token to input the password.

    The Token support will expire soon. Currently, we are researching similar solutions.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We are always researching new products to provide to our clients.

    What other advice do I have?

    I can't say that I would recommend this solution at this time because the support for the Token software is expiring soon and Cisco IOS SSL VPN would have to be upgraded to another solution similar to Token.

    I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    Hybrid Cloud
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user1143093 - PeerSpot reviewer
    IT Network Engineer at Brunnel
    Real User
    An easy to use solution with good configuration capabilities
    Pros and Cons
    • "The solution is very easy to work with. This is its most valuable feature. They also did a good job surrounding how you configure the devices."
    • "Cisco device management is quite difficult. They should work to simplify this."

    What is our primary use case?

    I primarily use the solution for remote access for my clients.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution is very easy to work with. This is its most valuable feature. They also did a good job surrounding how you configure the devices.

    What needs improvement?

    The solution needs to solve the issues they have with Java.

    Cisco device management is quite difficult. They should work to simplify this.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution for almost four years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    In terms of stability, I think it would be nice if Cisco could manage their Java problem. Sometimes it works and sometimes it requires troubleshooting or you need to take the time to update in order to fix the Java issue. 

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I have contacted technical support in the past, but nowadays our company is not allowed to contact Cisco directly because we don't have a contract with them. Intermediary companies can, however. In the past, I have been satisfied with the level of service I've received.

    How was the initial setup?

    If the person setting up the solution understands the underlying technology, they won't have trouble with the initial setup of the product. It's a bit complex. Besides following the steps of the setup, you have to understand what you are doing, otherwise, you can get lost in the process.

    What about the implementation team?

    I'm a Cisco engineer, so I was able to implement the solution myself.

    What other advice do I have?

    I use the on-premises deployment model. I've worked with Cisco products for 15-16 years.

    I would rate the solution eight out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Founder and CEO at Aerium Proyectos y Consultoría
    Real User
    The security is effective but the administration needs to improve
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is very effective and I am satisfied with how it works and with its performance."
    • "The administration should be improved."

    What is our primary use case?

    Our primary use case of this solution is security. It is very effective and I am satisfied with how it works and with its performance. 

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature about this solution is that the client can connect from his house to the office. It does, however, take some time to configure.

    What needs improvement?

    The administration should be improved.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using Cisco for many years now, on cloud and on premise, so I am an experienced user.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The last deployment we did, was for a customer about three months ago. The customer has three branches and we deployed Cisco SSL VPN and I think it is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Cisco has good products and the products have good scalability. Some of my clients have more than 60 users!

    How are customer service and technical support?

    The technical support department is very good.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is easy, but the complicated part is to configure out what the customer wants. Clients need assistance from integrators or consultants for the deployments, so the customer usually calls my company or calls me to deploy the Cisco solution for them.

    What other advice do I have?

    On a scale from one to 10, where 1 is the worst and 10 is the best, I would you rate Cisco SSL VPN a seven. 

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
    PeerSpot user
    System Administrator at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Top 5
    A stable solution allows users to remotely access restricted networks, using a secure and authenticated pathway
    Pros and Cons
    • "It helps us access networks from anywhere."
    • "The configuration is critical and complex."

    What is our primary use case?

    It is used as a VPN. Suppose you are working for any company and need to access something, but are unable to access it from outside, this solution is able to help. This solution helped a lot during the pandemic.

    What is most valuable?

    It helps us access networks from anywhere. 

    What needs improvement?

    The configuration is critical and complex. Also, the code should be updated from time to time. The speed should also be improved. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Cisco IOS SSL VPN for three years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is a stable solution. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is a scalable solution. Presently, forty-fifty users are using the solution. 

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support team is good. 

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I used Fortinet before using Cisco IOS SSL VPN. 

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is complex. However, Cisco provides a lot of documentation that is easy to understand. This makes the setup not feel complex. You can also receive guidance online.

    What other advice do I have?

    I recommend the solution. I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten. 

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco IOS SSL VPN Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: May 2024
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco IOS SSL VPN Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.