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

Cloudflare Zero Trust vs Cisco Secure Access

Cisco Secure Access and Cloudflare Zero Trust are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cisco Secure Access cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security, while Cloudflare Zero Trust developer-friendly zero trust platform built on Cloudflare's global Anycast network. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Last updated

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 Cloudflare Zero Trust if largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide matters most and developer-centric organizations and SMBs wanting enterprise-grade zero trust security at accessible pricing with API-first configuration.

Used Cloudflare Zero Trust or Cisco Secure Access? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureCisco Secure AccessCloudflare Zero Trust
PricingFree (up to 50 users) / Pay-as-you-go from $7/user/mo / Enterprise customCustom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription
Pricing ModelPer-user monthly or annual subscriptionPer-user annual subscription with bundled tiers
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud
Best ForDeveloper-centric organizations and SMBs wanting enterprise-grade zero trust security at accessible pricing with API-first configurationLarge 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 largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide
  • +You value generous free tier for up to 50 users makes it accessible to small teams
  • +You value developer-friendly with Terraform, API-first design, and infrastructure-as-code workflows
  • +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 Cloudflare Zero Trust 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 cASB and DLP capabilities are less mature than Zscaler and Netskope
  • +You want to avoid enterprise support and professional services less established than legacy 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

Cloudflare Zero Trust

Pros

  • +Largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide
  • +Generous free tier for up to 50 users makes it accessible to small teams
  • +Developer-friendly with Terraform, API-first design, and infrastructure-as-code workflows
  • +Aggressive pricing significantly undercuts Zscaler and Netskope
  • +Rapid innovation pace with frequent feature releases

Cons

  • CASB and DLP capabilities are less mature than Zscaler and Netskope
  • Enterprise support and professional services less established than legacy vendors
  • Fewer pre-built integrations with enterprise IT service management tools
  • Advanced reporting and analytics lag behind Zscaler's dashboard capabilities
  • SD-WAN (Magic WAN) is newer and less proven than established competitors

Sources & References

  1. Cisco Secure Access — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Cloudflare Zero Trust — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Cisco Secure Access Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Cloudflare Zero Trust Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Cisco Secure Access Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Cloudflare Zero Trust Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Cisco Secure Access Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  8. Cloudflare Zero Trust 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]

Cloudflare Zero Trust vs Cisco Secure Access FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Cloudflare Zero Trust and Cisco Secure Access.

What is the main difference between Cloudflare Zero Trust and Cisco Secure Access?

Cisco Secure Access and Cloudflare Zero Trust are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cisco Secure Access cisco's unified SASE platform converging Umbrella, Duo, and Meraki into cloud-delivered security, while Cloudflare Zero Trust developer-friendly zero trust platform built on Cloudflare's global Anycast network. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Is Cisco Secure Access better than Cloudflare Zero Trust?

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 Cloudflare Zero Trust if largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide matters most and developer-centric organizations and SMBs wanting enterprise-grade zero trust security at accessible pricing with API-first configuration.

How much does Cisco Secure Access cost compared to Cloudflare Zero Trust?

Cisco Secure Access pricing: Custom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription. Cloudflare Zero Trust pricing: Free (up to 50 users) / Pay-as-you-go from $7/user/mo / Enterprise custom. Cisco Secure Access's pricing model is per-user annual subscription with bundled tiers, while Cloudflare Zero Trust uses per-user monthly or annual subscription pricing.

Can I migrate from Cloudflare Zero Trust to Cisco Secure Access?

Yes, you can migrate from Cloudflare Zero Trust 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.