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Cisco Duo

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Cisco Duo description

Cisco Duo is a cloud-based security system that protects access to your company's applications. It ensures that only authorized users on trusted devices can access sensitive information. Duo simplifies logins with various verification methods, including push notifications, codes, and biometrics. It also allows you to tailor access permissions based on user roles and device security status. This layered approach strengthens your defenses against unauthorized access and supports a zero-trust security model, which is becoming increasingly important in today's business environment.


Who is Cisco Duo best for

Cisco Duo is a user-friendly, cloud-based security platform that protects access to your company's applications. Users love its easy login process with push notifications. However, some find the pricing expensive and experience occasional notification delays. It's ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking enhanced security measures.

  • Best for small, medium, and large businesses.

  • Ideal for IT, software, telecommunications, and other industries.


Cisco Duo features

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need
Supported

Cisco Duo fully satisfies the requirement for multi-factor authentication.

Supported

Cisco Duo supports Single Sign-On (SSO) through its cloud-hosted SAML 2.0 identity provider (IdP) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) provider functionalities, allowing users to access various cloud applications using their existing credentials and adding an extra layer of security via two-factor authentication.

Supported

Cisco Duo complies with WCAG 2.1, Section 508, and likely EN 301 549.

Supported

Cisco Duo offers health scans and checkups via the Duo Device Health application.

Supported

Duo allows device access control based on security posture and compliance.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Rather negative
-0.6

Customer Service

Rather positive
+0.5

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.86

Reliability and Performance

Rather positive
+0.33

Ease of Implementation

Strongly positive
+0.75

Cisco Duo reviews

Pros of Cisco Duo
  • Fast and easy to use.
  • The push notification feature makes it easy to approve logins.
  • Wide variety of authentication methods are available.
  • Reliable and effective.
Cons of Cisco Duo
  • Time desync can cause major issues.
  • The app can be slow to provide notifications for login approval.
  • Limited offline functionality.
  • Expensive for a large number of users.

Cisco Duo pricing

The commentary is based on 16 reviews from Cisco Duo G2 reviews.

While Cisco Duo is praised for its ease of use and robust security features, some reviewers express concern over its cost, particularly for larger organizations. Several reviews mention the price as a drawback, while others find it reasonable or "worth the investment" for the security benefits provided.

Users sentiment

Rather negative
-0.6

See the Cisco Duo pricing page.

  • Cisco Duo has a free plan.

  • Cisco Duo has a free trial.

Free

Free

Add up to 10 users, Strong MFA, Seamless Integrations, Free authenticator app.

Essentials

$3/User/Month

Includes everything in Duo Free plus: Single Sign-On, Verified Duo Push, Passwordless authentication, Trusted Endpoints, User group policies.

Advantage

$6/User/Month

Includes everything in Duo Essentials plus: Cisco Identity Intelligence, Duo Passport, Risk-Based Authentication, Adaptive access policies, Complete device visibility, Device health checks, Threat detection.

Premier

$9/User/Month

Includes everything in Duo Advantage plus: A comprehensive package for complete zero trust access, VPN-less remote access to private resources, Complete device trust with endpoint protection check.


Cisco Duo alternatives

  • Logo of Google Authenticator
    Google Authenticator
    Free and open-source, offering offline access, unlike Cisco Duo's paid plans. Simpler, focusing on 2FA with time-based codes, while Cisco Duo offers broader MFA and device security features. Better for individual users or smaller organizations seeking basic account protection. A Cisco Duo competitor and alternative for straightforward 2FA.
    Read more
  • Logo of 1Password
    1Password
    Better for password management and sharing. Has broader industry coverage. Growing faster.
    Read more
  • Logo of Supportbench
    Supportbench
    Better for managing customer support interactions. More affordable for smaller teams. Focuses on streamlining support operations and improving customer satisfaction. A good Cisco Duo competitor for SMBs focused on e-commerce. Has less momentum.
    Read more
  • Logo of Okta Workforce Identity
    Okta Workforce Identity
    Better fit for Finance, Banking & Insurance, Retail, Consumer Goods, Real Estate & Construction, Media & Entertainment, Non-profit & Government, Energy & Utilities. Has more momentum currently. Single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and social login are favored by users. However, some users find implementation difficult and pricing confusing.
    Read more
  • Logo of WatchGuard AuthPoint
    WatchGuard AuthPoint
    Better for SMBs with on-site IT. Offers password management, dark web credential monitoring, and SSO. Easier implementation and better performance, but push notifications can be unreliable.
    Read more
  • Logo of Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
    Druva Data Resiliency Cloud
    Better for data backup and recovery, ransomware protection, and compliance. Focuses on automated backups and cloud-native architecture. More suitable for users prioritizing ease of use and reliability.
    Read more

Cisco Duo FAQ

  • What is Cisco Duo and what does Cisco Duo do?

    Cisco Duo is a cloud-based access security platform that verifies user identities and device trustworthiness before granting access to applications. It offers various authentication methods like push notifications, biometrics, and passcodes, strengthening security and supporting a zero-trust model. This helps protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access.

  • How does Cisco Duo integrate with other tools?

    Cisco Duo integrates with a wide range of applications and services using various methods, including cloud-hosted SAML 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC). This allows for secure single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) across your existing infrastructure.

  • What the main competitors of Cisco Duo?

    Top alternatives to Cisco Duo include Okta Workforce Identity, WatchGuard AuthPoint, and Google Authenticator. These competitors offer similar multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions, focusing on enhanced login security and access management. They cater to various business sizes and security needs.

  • Is Cisco Duo legit?

    Yes, Cisco Duo is a legitimate and safe multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution. It's trusted by many organizations for its strong security and user-friendly features like push notifications for easy login approvals. While some users experience occasional slowdowns, it remains a reliable choice for enhanced access security.

  • How much does Cisco Duo cost?

    Cisco Duo's pricing includes a Free plan for up to 10 users, Essentials at $3/user/month, Advantage at $6/user/month, and Premier at $9/user/month. A free 30-day trial is available to help determine if the product is worth the cost for your needs.

  • Is Cisco Duo customer service good?

    Cisco Duo's customer support receives mixed reviews. While some users praise the knowledgeable and responsive support team, others find it lacking, especially regarding price and support for more complex issues. Setting up a new device can also be challenging, sometimes requiring admin intervention.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.