Cisco Secure Access vs Skyhigh Security -- SASE & Zero Trust Compared
Cisco Secure Access vs Skyhigh Security
Cisco Secure Access and Skyhigh Security are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cisco Secure Access cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security, while Skyhigh Security data-aware SSE platform with pioneering CASB technology and deep cloud data protection. 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 Skyhigh Security if industry-pioneering CASB with the deepest cloud service risk assessment database matters most and data-centric organizations in regulated industries that prioritize cloud data protection, CASB depth, and DLP over networking features.
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Skyhigh Security | Cisco Secure Access |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Custom pricing / Per-user subscription with feature tiers | Custom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription |
| Pricing Model | Per-user annual subscription | Per-user annual subscription with bundled tiers |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Best For | Data-centric organizations in regulated industries that prioritize cloud data protection, CASB depth, and DLP over networking features | Large enterprises with existing Cisco networking infrastructure wanting to consolidate security into a unified SASE platform |
| Umbrella DNS security and SWG | Not available | Supported |
| Duo zero trust access and MFA | Not available | Supported |
| Meraki SD-WAN integration | Not available | Supported |
When to Choose Each Tool
Choose Skyhigh Security when:
- +You value industry-pioneering CASB with the deepest cloud service risk assessment database
- +You value advanced DLP with OCR, exact data match, and ML-based classification
- +You value strong in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare) with compliance-focused features
- +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 Cisco Secure Access 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 brand identity and product roadmap still stabilizing after McAfee separation
- +You want to avoid sWG and ZTNA capabilities are less mature than pure-play SASE vendors
Other Cisco Secure Access Alternatives
Cloud-native SASE and zero trust platform for secure internet and private application access
Cloud-native SASE platform with industry-leading CASB and granular SaaS visibility
Developer-friendly zero trust platform built on Cloudflare's global Anycast network
Enterprise SASE platform extending Palo Alto's next-gen firewall to cloud-delivered security
Converged SASE platform powered by FortiOS with competitive pricing and integrated SD-WAN
Single-vendor cloud-native SASE platform with private global backbone and converged architecture
Cloud-native zero trust platform with FedRAMP authorization and competitive mid-market pricing
Pros & Cons Comparison
Skyhigh Security
Pros
- +Industry-pioneering CASB with the deepest cloud service risk assessment database
- +Advanced DLP with OCR, exact data match, and ML-based classification
- +Strong in regulated industries (financial services, healthcare) with compliance-focused features
- +Extensive API integrations with major SaaS platforms for out-of-band security
- +Cloud Registry provides unmatched visibility into Shadow IT risk
Cons
- –Brand identity and product roadmap still stabilizing after McAfee separation
- –SWG and ZTNA capabilities are less mature than pure-play SASE vendors
- –Smaller global network footprint than Zscaler, Cloudflare, and Netskope
- –No native SD-WAN capability — SSE focused rather than full SASE
- –Management experience can feel disjointed from McAfee-era product integration
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
Sources & References
- Cisco Secure Access — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Skyhigh Security — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Cisco Secure Access Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Skyhigh Security Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Cisco Secure Access Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Skyhigh Security Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Cisco Secure Access Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Skyhigh Security Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Gartner Magic Quadrant for Single-Vendor SASE 2024[Analyst Report]
- Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge 2024[Analyst Report]
- Forrester Wave: Zero Trust Network Access, Q3 2023[Analyst Report]
- IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SASE 2024[Analyst Report]
- CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model[Government Standard]
- Gartner Peer Insights: SSE[Peer Reviews]
Cisco Secure Access vs Skyhigh Security FAQ
Common questions about choosing between Cisco Secure Access and Skyhigh Security.
What is the main difference between Cisco Secure Access and Skyhigh Security?
Cisco Secure Access and Skyhigh Security are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cisco Secure Access cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security, while Skyhigh Security data-aware SSE platform with pioneering CASB technology and deep cloud data protection. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
Is Skyhigh Security better than Cisco Secure Access?
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 Skyhigh Security if industry-pioneering CASB with the deepest cloud service risk assessment database matters most and data-centric organizations in regulated industries that prioritize cloud data protection, CASB depth, and DLP over networking features.
How much does Skyhigh Security cost compared to Cisco Secure Access?
Skyhigh Security pricing: Custom pricing / Per-user subscription with feature tiers. Cisco Secure Access pricing: Custom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription. Skyhigh Security's pricing model is per-user annual subscription, while Cisco Secure Access uses per-user annual subscription with bundled tiers pricing.
Can I migrate from Cisco Secure Access to Skyhigh Security?
Yes, you can migrate from Cisco Secure Access to Skyhigh Security. 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.
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