Skyhigh Security vs Cisco Secure Access -- SASE & Zero Trust Compared

Skyhigh Security vs Cisco Secure Access

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

FeatureCisco Secure AccessSkyhigh Security
PricingCustom pricing / Per-user subscription with feature tiersCustom enterprise pricing / Per-user bundled subscription
Pricing ModelPer-user annual subscriptionPer-user annual subscription with bundled tiers
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud
Best ForData-centric organizations in regulated industries that prioritize cloud data protection, CASB depth, and DLP over networking featuresLarge 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-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 Skyhigh Security 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

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

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

Sources & References

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

Skyhigh Security vs Cisco Secure Access FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Skyhigh Security and Cisco Secure Access.

What is the main difference between Skyhigh Security and Cisco Secure Access?

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 Cisco Secure Access better than Skyhigh Security?

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 Cisco Secure Access cost compared to Skyhigh Security?

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

Can I migrate from Skyhigh Security to Cisco Secure Access?

Yes, you can migrate from Skyhigh Security 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.