Cisco Secure Access Reviews & Product Details

When we used Cisco Secure Access, we realized that using what we had in the best way was a total transformative solution for how our team thought about securing hybrid work. We moved from a basic network access to a Zero Trust approach, no matter who's using it or what they're using. The platform provides all the security you need. There were a few functions that were supposed to be brought together, and Secure Access mixed ZTNA, SWG and CASB into one cloud platform. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It's been about six months since we had to learn about the ecosystem and its special knowledge to integrate it. It wasn't the most intuitive at first, but I recently put some time in to get our staff up-skilled and we've had a lot more policy creation recently! It was a bit of a mess to be honest. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like that Cisco Secure Access brings different security tools together in one place, so I don’t have to manage them separately. It makes managing security and user access easier, and the centralized dashboard, access controls, and visibility into user activity are especially helpful. I can manage user access without too much effort, and it makes access more convenient while maintaining a good level of security. I also find it useful for supporting employees who work remotely or use cloud-based applications. It helps simplify daily security management, and the initial setup took just a few clicks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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The Product integrates well with our existing network stack and M365, providing a seamless connection and MFA authentication. The additional “connect before login” feature also helps prevent issues caused by cached credentials, failed login scripts, and expiring passwords. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are quite a number of product updates throughout the year, and it has to sit in a patching system to ensure it’s kept up to date. Downloading the latest client also has to be done manually. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Duo makes it easy for me to keep my school accounts safe and secure, and it isn’t hard for anyone to use. We usually don’t have any trouble with it at all, and it works smoothly when I need to sign in. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I haven’t come across any issues with Duo so far. It’s easy to use, and I like that you can download the app on your phone or tablet, just in case you don’t have one with you. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about Cisco Secure Access is its unified, cloud-native approach that consolidates ZTNA, SWG, and CASB into a single pane of glass, dramatically improving both the UI/UX for administrators and providing a frictionless experience for end-users. The platform delivers outstanding performance and low-latency access to cloud resources globally, successfully replacing the clunkiness of legacy VPNs. Setup and user onboarding are straightforward, and the system integrates cleanly with identity providers like Entra ID, though some third-party integrations (like external EDRs or firewalls) can occasionally feel less mature. While the premium pricing might be challenging for smaller teams, the ROI for enterprise environments is significant due to simplified licensing, reduced dependency on hardware, and massive operational time savings. Finally, Cisco's incorporation of AI and intelligent monitoring (such as ThousandEyes) provides advanced visibility and troubleshooting capabilities, significantly reducing resolution times and ensuring a seamless zero-trust architecture. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The platform can struggle with integrations outside of the Cisco ecosystem. Connecting third-party Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools or external firewalls often lacks maturity. Even within the Cisco family, setting up seamless integrations with solutions like Duo or ISE can occasionally feel clunky and require excessive manual tweaking. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like most about Cisco Secure Access is that it combines multiple security capabilities into a single cloud-delivered platform, while still keeping the user experience straightforward. I especially appreciate the zero-trust approach: access is determined by identity, device posture, and least-privilege principles, rather than automatically trusting someone just because they’re connected to the corporate network. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest challenge I’ve seen is the initial setup and policy tuning, especially in complex enterprise environments. There’s definitely a learning curve when it comes to integrating with existing systems and transitioning to a zero-trust model. That said, I still feel the long-term benefits outweigh the upfront complexity. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about Cisco Secure Access is that it brings secure access into one solution rather than requiring multiple separate security tools. I like the combination of Zero Trust security, secure remote access and protection for users working from different locations. It provides a good balance between strong security and a straightforward user experience, which makes it easier to protect access without creating unnecessary complexity for users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One area that could be improved is the initial setup and configuration. Because Cisco Secure Access provides a broad range of security capabilities, it can take some time to understand all the features and configure everything correctly, particularly for new users or smaller teams without dedicated security expertise. A simpler onboarding experience and clearer guidance would make it even easier to get started. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like that Cisco Secure Access provides browser-based ZTNA access for web apps, making it easier for third-party contractors and BYOD users to access applications directly through their browser without requiring the installation of a VPN agent. This clientless feature is a huge lifesaver, as it eliminates troubleshooting headaches with devices we don’t own. I also appreciate the browser isolation in a cloud container, which stops sketchy web traffic and potential malware from reaching our endpoints. This feature reduces the risk of infections and data leaks, saving our IT team from unnecessary challenges. I also found the initial setup quite easy, especially since we deployed it through Microsoft Intune after a request. Additionally, I use Cisco Secure Access with MDM, which enhances its utility. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Nothing much but need improvement in policy and console management complexity. Also need deeper out of the box, API connecter for non-Cisco security stack. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Cisco Secure Access has genuinely changed how we handle connectivity and security for a hybrid workforce. The zero trust access model means we are no longer relying on broad network-level permissions, and instead every user and device is verified based on identity and context before getting access to anything. That shift alone has tightened our security posture considerably.

The unified dashboard brings together DNS security, secure web gateway, firewall controls, and CASB into one place, which means our team is no longer jumping between separate tools to manage policies. Having everything visible and configurable from a single interface saves a meaningful amount of time each week that used to go into cross-referencing different platforms.

The integration with SD-WAN for branch and remote locations also works more smoothly than we expected. Traffic routing through Cisco's edge data centers keeps performance solid even for users working remotely, which was not something we anticipated would be as seamless as it turned out to be.

An unexpected benefit has been how much easier compliance reporting has become. The visibility into user activity, threat detections, and policy enforcement all feeds into one place, making audit prep far less painful than it used to be. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The initial setup has a steep learning curve, especially for teams without deep networking experience. Pricing is significantly higher than competing SSE solutions, which can be hard to justify for smaller organizations. Technical support has also become more complex to navigate over time, with longer resolution times than expected. The UI navigation could be more intuitive, as finding specific settings often requires more clicks than necessary. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

We use Cisco Secure Access to provide secure connectivity for employees working remotely and from branch locations. The platform combines Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), secure web gateway capabilities, and policy-based access controls in a single solution. What stands out most is the centralized management console, which allows our security team to define and enforce policies consistently across users, devices, and locations. The visibility into user activity and application access has helped us improve security monitoring while reducing the complexity of managing multiple standalone security tools. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The initial configuration and policy design can be complex, especially for organizations migrating from traditional VPN-based architectures. Licensing and feature entitlements are sometimes difficult to understand, and administrators may require additional training to fully utilize advanced capabilities. Reporting and troubleshooting workflows could also be more intuitive for teams that are new to Cisco's security ecosystem. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.