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Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs. Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

    Score8.8 out of 10
    N/ACisco Catalyst SD-WAN is a software-defined wide area network solution designed to simplify and optimize enterprise network connectivity in complex digital landscapes. It enables organizations to connect any user to any application, whether on-premises, in data centers, or across multiple clouds, with integrated capabilities for multicloud support, security, predictive automation, and enhanced network visibility—all built on a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)-enabled…N/A

    Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access

    Score8.9 out of 10
    N/AGlobalProtect™ delivers the protection of next-generation security platform to the mobile workforce in order to stop targeted cyberattacks, evasive application traffic, phishing, malicious websites, command-and-control traffic, and known and unknown threats.N/A
    Pricing
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WANPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WANPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WANPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
    Considered Both Products
    Cisco
    No answer on this topic
    Palo Alto Networks
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    95%
    Would buy again
    98 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    94%
    Delivers good value for the price
    87 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    97%
    Happy with the feature set
    100 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    91%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    72 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    86%
    Implementation went as expected
    81 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Best Alternatives
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WANPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Cisco Meraki SD-WAN
    Score8.9 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Enterprises
    Cisco Meraki SD-WAN
    Score8.9 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WANPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.9
    (105 ratings)
    10.0
    (6 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    8.7
    (22 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Availability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.3
    (15 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Configurability
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WANPalo Alto Networks Prisma Access
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cisco
    The best case, what I recommend to others and to clients to use is Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN one for is the case when you have a huge number of branches or small offices or remote offices, you name it. Even home offices, you have a large number and you want this whole infrastructure to be extremely easy to set up and also to have everything almost the same, not to have deviations from the standard configuration. This is the sweet spot for introducing Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    I still think Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is the best SASE/SSE product out there. It just has such good granular controls and up to date security definitions that you can feel absolutely secure in your purchase. GlobalProtect was a lifesaver for me when COVID hit so yes I had to work my butt off to get it up and running quickly and as secure as I possibly could but it worked amazing and had excellent performance after we got it running and tied to MFA, certificates and security policies.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Cisco
    • We are able to use a multiple different circuits to go into the cloud, so we are not relying on just one particular private wireless. We're relying on wine circuits, ethernet, ethernet out. So it provides us that flexibility where we didn't have that before. Provides security that is very robust and flexible and scalable and it provides us with, the biggest thing is redundancy, where we have backup. For example, we have a Starlink for nuclear power plants. If our main circuits go down, we have that. And without Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN it would be very hard to actually achieve, to accomplish true redundancy. So we're happy with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN in that regard.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    • A secure end-to-end network with virtualization to be able to choose the port of our interest and an opening of the same.
    • Monthly updates that are sufficient, automatic updates that allow us not to have to do the manual implementation.
    • Prisma allows automatically opens an IPsec/SSL VPN connection to Prisma Access.
    • Is flexible and scalable
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    Cisco
    • I will say the way we use it now, and I think what happened was the way it was deployed, it was fine, but unfortunately over the course of the years we've gotten a little out of hand with our device templates and feature templates. I think if there's any form of feedback that I would give to Cisco is how do we find ways to improve the environment as it stands so we get to a certain point with the environment and then we don't know how to undo it or fix it or optimize the environment. Because right now we're in a position where we're playing a lot of catch up and clean up and if there was a way or some tool or feature that we can take advantage of that would allow us to optimize that environment where we will kind of corner ourselves into a lot of problems in the future. There's some feature or something that we could take advantage of that will allow us to optimize that environment and not let it get out of control pretty easily. That would be my suggestion.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    • With all of it's unique features it does take some time to get folks up to speed in regards to supporting/managing the software.
    • Doesn't always play nice with non Palo Alto software.
    Incentivized
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    Likelihood to Renew
    Cisco
    I would rate SD-WAN highly because it has significantly improved network performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency for my organization. Its ability to optimize traffic dynamically, enhance security, and simplify management across multiple locations has been invaluable. With SD-WAN, we’ve reduced dependency on costly MPLS, improved cloud application performance, and gained greater control over our network infrastructure.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Cisco
    The niche configurations are given equal focus as the standard use cases, which can make onboarding difficult in the beginning (ie why am I not using an entire tab of the portal), but aside from that part, the dashboard is relatively easy to navigate and apply the configuration. The metrics and analytics available are also nice to have in a single pane.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    I still say that Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access is the best. I love their GUI, their policies are easy to manage, the sales team is VERY helpful (especially when support is not). I still recommend them to everyone I talk to.
    Incentivized
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    Reliability and Availability
    Cisco
    I think if we could afford, we could have HA inplace but we planned out outage and workaround to avoid any outages.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    Cisco
    It does slow down over the period but it's same with other product. you need to clear/reboot services.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Cisco
    Al ser soluciones integradas del portafolio de soluciones de Cisco, el soporte es transversal a cada uno de los componentes implementados, teniendo el cliente la capacidad de resolver sus inconvenientes bajo una misma infraestructura que está totalmente homologada, satisfacciendo de esta manera, las necesidades del cliente asi como permitiendo, que este se concentre en su negocio. Since the Cisco SD-WAN tools are a part of Cisco’s broader portfolio of solutions, support cross-cuts to each of our deployed components, with our company as the customer having the ability to solve our problems through the same, approved infrastructure. Their support team easily satisfies the customer’s needs so that they continue to focus on business functions.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Cisco
    I was late to participate but my team was very happy with the outcome.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Cisco
    We've used the old Cisco SD-WAN, which no longer exists. It was a lot more complex to configure what is now called Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN. So they've definitely come a long way in that it is a lot less complicated to set up and template based.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    The McAfee product really isn’t a great option. The configuration is a nightmare and requires a lot of time. The policy management has a high learning curve.
    Incentivized
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    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    Cisco
    I didn't take part of this decision but it always multiyear contract get best discount.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Scalability
    Cisco
    Really strength in scalability. Only thigs it's depends on some prototype Cisco product which you can't work with other Cisco products.
    Incentivized
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    Palo Alto Networks
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    Cisco
    • Our branch offices can connect to our enterprise network and the internet quickly and securely, which has helped to increase productivity and reduce downtime.
    • We have been able to reduce our dependence on expensive MPLS connections, and instead utilize a combination of broadband and LTE connections, which are more cost-effective
    • The centralized location improves network visibility and troubleshooting process
    Read full review
    Palo Alto Networks
    • It is extremely easy to manage who has remote access in our organization now.
    • It has allowed us to more fluidly get remote workers up and running.
    • Another tool to mange is never a good thing and the Panorama UI could use a little work.
    Incentivized
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    ScreenShots