Provides secure remote access with detailed user insights and seamless two-factor authentication integration
What is our primary use case?
One year ago, I deployed Cisco Duo for one of my clients at my previous company because we are a Cisco Gold Partner company. My client wanted to deploy Cisco Duo on their remote access VPN. They have a Cisco FTD firewall, and mostly users join on weekends through Cisco AnyConnect. My client requested 2FA for these users, so I deployed the solution.
A few months ago, I worked on Upwork where one of my clients approached me and asked if I could install Cisco Duo for their small cybersecurity company. This presented a good opportunity for me because I am in Pakistan, and my client is in the USA.
What is most valuable?
Cisco Duo is a simple and effective tool that gives detailed information about users who connect to your domain. You can review the logs, including the public IP that the user uses, which country the user is in, and the city where the user is located. Everything is perfect in the logs. One tab shows that a user, for example Hasnain, is connected through remote access VPN and is using a specific public IP from a particular city in a specific country.
Cisco Duo offers a great logging solution in a Cisco environment. Additionally, Cisco Duo integrates easily with single sign-on apps, and I have used it on the Cisco ISE side because you can add the Cisco Duo address to your ISE and create the same user in both Cisco Duo and Cisco ISE. This makes it easy to manage, as Cisco ISE directly sends requests to Cisco Duo to verify, and the user logs in with a push notification or SMS code.
I am using many features in Cisco Duo, including logging in to Cisco ISE, sending requests when I log in to Cisco FTD through Cisco Duo, and checking 2FA on Cisco AnyConnect. Additionally, I have installed Cisco Duo app on my Windows-based machine, which checks for 2FA notifications every time I reboot the system or press Windows + L. This sends notifications to the cloud to check the username, and it also provides features that ensure the Windows Firewall is always enabled and verify that sensitive data partitions are encrypted. Moreover, it checks that antivirus is properly installed on the system. I also integrate my app within my company and have implemented single sign-on services through Cisco Duo, which is outstanding.
What needs improvement?
Cisco Duo could improve by considering feedback on features or requests for future releases.
When I worked on Cisco Duo, I encountered a limitation that I want to discuss. When a user logs in on a Windows machine using a Microsoft account, it is easy because you install the installer on your system and generate a code to enroll in Cisco Duo app. However, when I installed the package on the system, the user who was already added on Cisco Duo mobile app faced an issue. When I restarted the system, the screen turned black, and the user got stuck because we could not enter the username and password. After reading Cisco documentation, I learned that they do not support Hotmail addresses. This caused a problem since the user was using a Hotmail account. My client was very understanding about it, but I felt I failed to deploy Cisco Duo effectively. There are limitations because Cisco Duo does not support Hotmail accounts, which many people use to log in to their systems.
The two main limitations on Cisco Duo are first, the requirement to install the installer on my server, and second, that Cisco does not support Hotmail accounts. I regret this limitation due to Cisco not supporting Microsoft accounts.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Duo in my career for one year.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Duo provides scalability and smooth integration with some applications.
How are customer service and support?
I have contacted Cisco customer support, which is highly remarkable. I open cases with Cisco regularly, and they provide prompt support for any case. Although I did not open any cases on Cisco Duo specifically, I have worked with many Cisco devices in my current network. Cisco support is notably above average; few companies match Cisco's technical and customer support capabilities when you are stuck on technical or pricing issues.
How would you rate customer service and support?
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding the pricing for Cisco Duo, I find that Cisco is always costly. In my current network, I work in a financial institute where we use 2FA for Fortinet, which is easy to deploy but not scalable. Implementing Cisco Duo is more complicated, but when you integrate the solution fully, Cisco provides a very comfortable experience. The pricing comparison shows a great margin as Cisco is costly, while Fortinet is less expensive.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I use Fortinet, which you can ask me about as an alternative two-factor authentication solution.
What other advice do I have?
If you have any questions, you can ask me. I give this review a rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Strengthened secure remote access through reliable multi-factor authentication
What is our primary use case?
I use Cisco Duo for multi-factor authentication, remote access, and remote access authentication. I use Cisco Duo primarily for the multi-factor authenticator for remote access.
What is most valuable?
Cisco Duo is beneficial for me in terms of security.
What needs improvement?
I don't have much detail about the integration of comprehensive identity security into the Duo IAM solution, but my complaint is that it's not as seamless as a product like Zscaler for remote access. It's not as seamless.
It's difficult for me to summarize the room for improvement as I'm on the enterprise network side, not really security. My response will be based on user experience, not detailed technical aspects of the network with respect to security. I use ZIA and Zscaler for remote access connection, and Zscaler is seamless. I don't need to do anything; it does the identification of my system. As far as my system is issued by the company, I don't need to do any multi-layer authentication. It authenticates seamlessly. With Cisco Duo, you have to do that, and customers complain about that process. At some point, you need to be technically savvy to understand how to use Cisco Duo.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Duo for two or three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I've heard customers complain about latency in network usage.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Duo is very scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I would rate the technical support of the product as a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
The deployment and installation process for Cisco Duo is quite straightforward, which is an advantage.
What was our ROI?
I do not track any ROI or return on investment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I think Cisco Duo is quite affordable; it's not really so expensive.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The major difference between Zscaler and Cisco is that for Zscaler, there's a component called ZIA that has a Zero Trust aspect. The identity comes with the system issued, so you don't need any multi-factor authenticator per se. Your identity is matched back end to know that you are the one, and you don't need to do another level of multi-factor authentication, which users complain of being cumbersome.
I use ZIA and Zscaler for remote access connection, and Zscaler is seamless.
What other advice do I have?
I am still working with Cisco products, and I still have the same portfolio. I don't work with the Cisco Secure Access product as I'm more focused on the enterprise infrastructure of routers, switches, SD-WAN, and data center. However, it's part of what I do, though not much of a call with respect to security, but it's something I'm interested in. I need to know what it does and if I can propose it to my clients.
I know Cisco Duo and have used it. It's not really a feature I handle regarding Cisco Duo's unified identity intelligence facilitating the understanding of user behavior. The security team handles that, and I don't have much visibility; it's purely transparent to me. However, I've heard them talk about it, and it really helps them to understand user behavior, mobility, and what they do on the network.
I would rate this review an overall eight out of ten.
Accessing work devices securely through phone notifications has improved login processes
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
What I appreciate the most is that you can push a notification with your phone and log in to your computer. I use it to log in to my IT department. All the employees of the IT department can use it and another 2FA authenticated before they go in to log into a computer.
What needs improvement?
It needs to be made more comfortable for the customer and for the system administrator. The GUI environment could be improved. There is another issue with removing the application from your computer. It is difficult to remove the application on Windows. Additionally, if you don't have internet access, you can't access your computer, only local access is available. This is problematic.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There are no stability issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I am not familiar with any scalability issues.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used VIP OTP by Symantec.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is easy. It consists of clicking next several times and then finish.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Cisco Duo is more comfortable because it is very user-friendly for the customer and it is very easy to set up and use.
What other advice do I have?
The solution can be used by private customers. I would rate this solution as nine out of ten.
The industry standard for RDP protection
What do you like best about the product?
It's ability to protect RDP logins is unrivaled, with easy to use policy management, and comprehensive user sync options.
What do you dislike about the product?
Can be buggy at times, but overall very stable
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Protecting RDP and RDGateway with 2FA
Excellent Multifactor Authentication
What do you like best about the product?
It is easy to use, flexible UI/UX, can easily manage devices especially for Cisco eco system services. It can also run cross platform.
What do you dislike about the product?
I don't have much about Cisco Duo because sometimes it takes some Time for login prompt.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Mostly I used Cisco Duo for Multi Factor Authentication and Single Sign On. It is very useful and benefiting for me. It solves my security MFA concerns.
Effortless and secure multi-factor authentication with Cisco Duo
What do you like best about the product?
I like Cisco Duo’s ease of use and seamless integration with our existing systems, making multi-factor authentication hassle-free
What do you dislike about the product?
The initial implementation of Cisco Duo was a bit complex, and customer support can be slow at times
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Cisco Duo is solving the problem of securing remote access with multi-factor authentication greatly reducing the risk of unauthorized logins and enhancing our overall security
User-friendly multi-factor authentication experience from Cisco
What do you like best about the product?
Ease of use and seamless integration, reliability, fast response.
What do you dislike about the product?
Just as most Cisco products, Cisco Duo is a bit expensive.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Cisco Duo solves my problems with remembering password by using MFA, it provides additional security by reducing potential security risks. It provides better control for administrators and it is essential part of our Zero Trust security model implementation.
Secure you login with Cisco Duo
What do you like best about the product?
Cisco Duo was a great way to secure and authenticate access for your end-users to login to the company enterprise network and access the resources. Cisco Duo provide Varity of way to authenticate your access using your mobile devices or your hope computers.
Implementation Cisco Duo to our network was smooth and easy while we the customer support were amazing and helpful.
We were able to integrate Cisco Duo with our Meraki switches to secure access from anywhere.
What do you dislike about the product?
Cisco Duo downsides were sometimes you need to reinstall it on devices and reauthenticate the users which causing some issues to communicate to your end users.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Cisco duo solved the problem of securing our enterprise network and having secure login to each user. We were able to ask our users to install Cisco Duo to their mobiles and authenticate single access to the network resources securely and safely.
Cisco Duo- An MFA app
What do you like best about the product?
Duo is an good mfa tool as you can push notifications on app or text code on mobile while login into apps or laptop. It added an extra layer of security to your data. It is very easy to implement and integrate on third party apps also.
What do you dislike about the product?
Internet will be require while login into device. If you don't have internet you can't push notification to duo app or text message codes, it will not work in offline mode.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Data security is most concern thing now a days and it help us to secure data using mfa and also in cases of lost and stolen of device. Also Duo is an great tool which easily integrates with other apps and works perfectly.
Duo Review
What do you like best about the product?
It help us to secure the data by adding an addition authentication process where user need to approve the authentication by accepting notification or need to enter the passcode. It also supports multiple ways to provide authentication like SMS, Phone calls, biometrics. It is very fast, reliable and user-friendly. It verifies the user device heather and security posture of device like OS version, encryption and notify user if any of the condition not match. Best part of the duo is easy to integration with different environments and we can also use this as SSO platforms like OKTA and user can authenticate themselves even in SSO login. It protect against phishing, stolen passwords and unauthorized access and help organisations and user to protect the data. As it is ease of implementation to any device and it provides supports for iOS and android. As i frequently using this for authenticaton to login my corporate office device and access the resources.
What do you dislike about the product?
As of my knowledge, I don't feel like Duo has any cons but sometime we face the application is down and authentication notification is delayed and due to this we need to manually enter the passcodes. Some users may feel privacy issue if they are using this application in their personal devices as it continuously checking the security constraints. And Maybe is more costlier than other MFA are available in market like Google authenticator, microsoft authenticator etc. as they are free to use.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We are mostly user for MFA to access any resources provided by our organisation to the users. It helps to protect data in cases of phishing because hackers need physical device access to bypass the 2 factor authentication.
