Netskope vs Cisco Secure Access -- SASE & Zero Trust Compared

Netskope vs Cisco Secure Access

Cisco Secure Access and Netskope are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cisco Secure Access cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security, while Netskope cloud-native SASE platform with industry-leading CASB and granular SaaS visibility. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

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The Verdict

Choose Cisco Secure Access if cisco Talos provides massive threat intelligence from the world's largest commercial security research team is your priority and large enterprises with existing Cisco networking infrastructure wanting to consolidate security into a unified SASE platform. Choose Netskope if industry-leading CASB with the deepest SaaS app visibility and activity-level controls matters most and organizations that need the deepest SaaS visibility and granular cloud application control alongside SASE capabilities.

Used Netskope or Cisco Secure Access? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureCisco Secure AccessNetskope
PricingCustom enterprise pricing / Per-user subscriptionCustom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription
Pricing ModelPer-user annual subscriptionPer-user annual subscription with bundled tiers
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud
Best ForOrganizations that need the deepest SaaS visibility and granular cloud application control alongside SASE capabilitiesLarge enterprises with existing Cisco networking infrastructure wanting to consolidate security into a unified SASE platform
Umbrella DNS security and SWGNot availableSupported
Duo zero trust access and MFANot availableSupported
Meraki SD-WAN integrationNot availableSupported

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Cisco Secure Access when:

  • +You value industry-leading CASB with the deepest SaaS app visibility and activity-level controls
  • +You value newEdge network provides fast, full-compute security in 70+ regions
  • +You value superior data protection with advanced DLP, exact data match, and fingerprinting
  • +You want to avoid platform still maturing — recently converged from separate Umbrella, Duo, and AnyConnect products
  • +You want to avoid integration between acquired components can be inconsistent

Choose Netskope when:

  • +You value cisco Talos provides massive threat intelligence from the world's largest commercial security research team
  • +You value unified platform for organizations already invested in Cisco networking and security
  • +You value duo provides the most established zero trust MFA and access solution in the market
  • +You want to avoid premium pricing comparable to Zscaler, difficult for mid-market budgets
  • +You want to avoid sD-WAN capabilities less mature than dedicated SD-WAN vendors

Pros & Cons Comparison

Cisco Secure Access

Pros

  • +Cisco Talos provides massive threat intelligence from the world's largest commercial security research team
  • +Unified platform for organizations already invested in Cisco networking and security
  • +Duo provides the most established zero trust MFA and access solution in the market
  • +Meraki SD-WAN integration for branch office connectivity
  • +ThousandEyes provides industry-leading digital experience monitoring

Cons

  • Platform still maturing — recently converged from separate Umbrella, Duo, and AnyConnect products
  • Integration between acquired components can be inconsistent
  • Cloud-native SASE capabilities lag behind Zscaler and Netskope
  • Complex licensing with multiple SKUs inherited from different product lines
  • Inline inspection and SSL decryption less performant than purpose-built cloud proxies

Netskope

Pros

  • +Strong CASB with the deepest SaaS app visibility and activity-level controls
  • +NewEdge network provides fast, full-compute security in 70+ regions
  • +Superior data protection with advanced DLP, exact data match, and fingerprinting
  • +Strong UEBA detects insider threats and compromised accounts
  • +Excellent API-based CASB for SaaS posture management and compliance

Cons

  • Premium pricing comparable to Zscaler, difficult for mid-market budgets
  • SD-WAN capabilities less mature than dedicated SD-WAN vendors
  • Smaller global PoP footprint than Zscaler (70+ vs 150+)
  • Complex licensing tiers make it hard to predict total cost
  • Private access (ZTNA) features are less proven than ZPA at large scale

Sources & References

  1. Cisco Secure Access — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Netskope — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Cisco Secure Access Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Netskope Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Cisco Secure Access Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Netskope Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Cisco Secure Access Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  8. Netskope Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  9. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Single-Vendor SASE 2024[Analyst Report]
  10. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge 2024[Analyst Report]
  11. Forrester Wave: Zero Trust Network Access, Q3 2023[Analyst Report]
  12. IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SASE 2024[Analyst Report]
  13. CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model[Government Standard]
  14. Gartner Peer Insights: SSE[Peer Reviews]

Netskope vs Cisco Secure Access FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Netskope and Cisco Secure Access.

What is the main difference between Netskope and Cisco Secure Access?

Cisco Secure Access and Netskope are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cisco Secure Access cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security, while Netskope cloud-native SASE platform with industry-leading CASB and granular SaaS visibility. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Is Cisco Secure Access better than Netskope?

Choose Cisco Secure Access if cisco Talos provides massive threat intelligence from the world's largest commercial security research team is your priority and large enterprises with existing Cisco networking infrastructure wanting to consolidate security into a unified SASE platform. Choose Netskope if industry-leading CASB with the deepest SaaS app visibility and activity-level controls matters most and organizations that need the deepest SaaS visibility and granular cloud application control alongside SASE capabilities.

How much does Cisco Secure Access cost compared to Netskope?

Cisco Secure Access pricing: Custom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription. Netskope pricing: Custom enterprise pricing / Per-user subscription. Cisco Secure Access's pricing model is per-user annual subscription with bundled tiers, while Netskope uses per-user annual subscription pricing.

Can I migrate from Netskope to Cisco Secure Access?

Yes, you can migrate from Netskope to Cisco Secure Access. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.