Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Palo Alto Networks and Broadcom are both solutions in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category. Palo Alto Networks is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while Broadcom is ranked #29. Palo Alto Networks holds a 6.7% mindshare in WSG, compared to Broadcom’s 0.9% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Palo Alto Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 4, 2024

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks and Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway are competing in the secure web access and data protection category. Prisma Access has an advantage in pricing and support, while Symantec is often favored for its comprehensive feature set.

Features:Prisma Access includes advanced threat protection, integration with cloud environments, and scalable cloud design. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway offers robust web filtering, seamless integration with on-premise systems, and extensive web control features.

Room for Improvement:Prisma Access could enhance features related to on-premise system integration, customization options, and comprehensive web control functionalities. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway may benefit from improved cloud integrations, streamlined deployment efficiency, and user interface enhancements for better usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service:Prisma Access offers streamlined cloud deployment and strong customer support, appealing for businesses transitioning to cloud solutions. Symantec provides flexible deployment with extensive customization, catering to organizations needing adaptable service offerings.

Pricing and ROI:Prisma Access is known for favorable setup costs and a strong ROI due to its scalable cloud design. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway, while having a higher initial investment, is perceived to deliver significant long-term value through its robust features. Prisma's cost-effectiveness in cloud solutions is highlighted compared to Symantec's comprehensive web security value.

To learn more, read our detailed Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

September 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Secure Web Gateways (SWG) category, the mindshare of iboss is 3.2%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is 6.7%, down from 11.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway is 0.9%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Secure Web Gateways (SWG) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks	6.7%
iboss	3.2%
Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway	0.9%
Other	89.2%

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

Featured Reviews

Ashok Ananthula

Senior Consultant Proxy Engineering at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Cloud gateway has strengthened remote web security and now needs better Mac and ISP support

The problem our organization had is that iboss failed for the Mac devices. It is not able to give a successful agent for the Mac agents. That is where in 2025, we had to migrate to the Palo Alto-based platform. If your use case is for just Windows laptops,you can consider this platform as an option One issue is the data center resiliency part. In India especially, they are not tied up with the Tier 1 ISPs like Tata or Airtel; they were having Tier 2 ISPs and encountered many issues reaching few major sites that my organization depends on, and they were having problems that they could not fix quickly. They also lack a mechanism to route that traffic within their data center; rather, they ask customers to make a pac file change to route it to Singapore explicitly. It would be better if they route from their backend , i mean even if I send it to India DC, they should be able to route it internally to make that work; however, they fail to do that and ask the customer to route it in the pac file. Another suggestion is that in China, they do not have the proper setup; they used to have numerous problems with slowness and lack of premium circuits in China as well. That leads to multiple sites working slowly with latency-related issues. So the main issue is the ISP-related problems that need to be solved.

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IgorPinter

Director at PULSEC

Zero-trust access has improved remote security and now simplifies cloud-based firewall management

Regarding the integration part for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, the integration with identity providers is pretty much good. It is basically firewall as a service, so it performs well. I completed the integration without any issues. What Palo Alto Networks can do better for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is probably to have the point of presence available in more locations. The point of presence from the Serbia region has the nearest POP in Frankfurt, which is an issue since it is your gateway—when you start browsing the internet, you go through a commercial connection in Germany. They definitely need to spread the service in other countries.

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reviewer2296710

Security Specialist at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Efficiently blocks unwanted web content and malicious websites and very stable solution

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway can be improved by giving customers more ability to provide feedback on the categorization of websites and the site review portal. Customers should be able to submit more feedback on the reports from malicious web content and malicious websites. The solution could be more effective at identifying and classifying malicious websites.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The students were always protected, and the content filtering worked very well, seeming to work better than other products we had tried previously."

"I would definitely recommend iboss for web filtering purposes to other organizations or individuals."

"I would say iboss is a very good product; its scalability is very good, and it's seamless for the user."

"Because of iboss, I did not have to assign web filtering tasks to my techs on a daily basis."

"Deploying iboss leads to good return on investment, estimated around 70% to 80%."

"Its initial setup was straightforward."

"The console is cloud-based, which is something I really appreciate."

"Technical support is pretty sharp and very responsive."

More iboss pros

"Its hands-off security and the fact that we don't have to maintain it are the most valuable features."

"Prisma Access provides better app performance, allows all the traffic that's really needed for applications and internal resources without any impact on the hardware, and can be continuously scaled in case more resources are needed."

"Prisma Access is very stable, and I am very much satisfied with its stability, rating it nine to ten out of ten."

"It is geographically dispersed, and it sits on top of Google and AWS platforms. Therefore, you don't face the standard issues, such as latency or bandwidth issues, that you usually face in the case of on-prem data centers."

"The valuable features are that it is easy to use, easy to integrate, and is stable; it's scalable as well."

"Prisma integrates well with Cortex XDR and Cortex Data Lake. My company has been also using Prisma Access in-house for nearly a year, and it integrates seamlessly."

"The always-on feature is fantastic for the users. They don't have to think about it. When they go to a coffee shop to do work, there's no need to remember to toggle the VPN on. We'll protect them. URL filtering is the same at home as it is in the office."

"Overall, I am very happy with the security provided by Prisma Access."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks pros

"This solution does not require much administration."

"I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy to set up. It was pretty straightforward."

"The product is easy to install and deploy on the cloud."

Cons

"Sometimes, obviously, there are bugs."

"I am currently doing a PoC of the zero trust aspect of it. Compared to other similar solutions, it is hard to get around each feature. It takes a while to get used to it."

"I have heard they are doing DDoS filtering, but I am not certain if they are implementing it correctly."

"I appreciate that iboss's single pane of glass console gives centralized visibility into web traffic, user activity, security policies, and alerts from one dashboard, allowing us to quickly investigate incidents and monitor policy violations without switching between multiple tools, improving operational efficiency; however, the dashboard customization and reporting could be more flexible."

"iboss can be improved because the integration could be better; you need to import all the sites that you access today, and there are a few problems whenever you import thousands of websites, making the integration process messy for the users."

"To scale up, a new iboss Node Blade Chassis must be purchased."

"The reporting feature needs improvement."

"I would like to see simpler dashboards, more detailed reporting, and faster performance in iboss."

More iboss cons

"In general, it is good, but everything could be a little bit better. For example, they are working on including more data to catch or trying to reduce the gaps between the matches."

"From any improvement perspective, the product's compatibility issues with Linux need to be resolved."

"It's not very easy to use. Sometimes it's buggy and there are problems when doing updates."

"Though the monitoring is fine, the solution should improve its application graphs and interface monitoring."

"When you sell a product by saying that it's cloud-native and that users can make all configuration changes on-the-fly, when those changes are made they should happen within a minute."

"There is some particular traffic that the security team wants to filter out and apply their own policies and they cannot."

"Palo Alto needs to improve the GlobalProtect agent to work as a secure web gateway agent, not only as a VPN agent because some companies would want only a secure gateway. They wouldn't want a full VPN. So, Palo Alto has to make the VPN agent work as a secure web gateway agent for those customers who want only the secure web gateway solution."

"I would like to see support for custom applications."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks cons

"Symantec support is not very good. It is now outsourcing a significant portion of its support desk functions to distributors, who are taking over some of the help desk responsibilities."

"WSS runs slowly sometimes, I would like for this to be looked into."

"Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway can be improved by giving customers more ability to provide feedback on the categorization of websites and the site review portal."

"The product is cost-effective, considering its features, technology, and support services."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"Prisma Access is a little bit expensive."

"As compared to other solutions, Prisma Access is much cheaper. It is probably 30% to 40% cheaper than other solutions, but I do not know the exact cost."

"The pricing for this solution is on the higher end."

"I would advise choosing your options according to your company's needs. Just go for what you want and do not pay for anything extra in terms of licensing. You need to determine how much bandwidth is required in your company network, and according to that, you should pay for the license. The mobile user license is based on the number of users who are going to use the VPN solution. You need to determine how many mobile users you are going to have in your network, and you should pay according to that. There are no other costs in addition to licensing, but if you go for the consultant services of Palo Alto networks to deliver the solution for you, then you need to pay something extra. That is not a part of licensing."

"We have to pay additional costs for maintenance and support services."

"They price their products using credit modules."

"The licensing cost is about 18,000 euros."

"Palo Alto is the Cadillac solution, so their products are pretty expensive. That's just the way it is. Their solution surpasses anything else. Cisco AnyConnect, Zscaler, and all of the other products don't compare. Palo Alto is the market leader with the most features. It saves you work, and you don't have to worry about it."

More Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks pricing and cost advice

"The price is fixed and affordable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

17%

Construction Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	14

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	26
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	27

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

I think iboss could be improved by emphasizing the modular function even more during sales presentations and demonstr...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for iboss?

iboss is primarily used for content filtering within school districts and public K-12 school districts, and it can al...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

My experience with iboss's pricing structure, setup cost, and licensing model has been positive, straightforward, and...

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What is the better solution - Prisma Access or Zscaler Private Access?

We looked into Prisma Access before choosing Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). Palo Alto’s Prisma Access is a secure ac...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks?

From my experience, Palo Alto is more expensive compared to solutions like Netskope and Triscale.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks?

Regarding the integration part for Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks, the integration with identity providers is pr...

See all answers

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Comparisons

Netskope vs iboss

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 6% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs iboss

Compared 5% of the time

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Netskope vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 12% of the time

FortiSASE vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 5% of the time

Check Point Harmony SASE (formerly Perimeter 81) vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Cato SASE Cloud Platform vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 2% of the time

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Cisco Umbrella vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 22% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Web Security Appliance vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 11% of the time

Fortinet FortiProxy vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 11% of the time

Skyhigh Security vs Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

Compared 6% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

October 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks

October 2026

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks report

Download Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks product report

Buyer's Guide

Secure Web Gateways (SWG)

September 2026

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway report

Download Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access, Prisma Access, GlobalProtect, Palo Alto GlobalProtect Mobile Security Manager, Prisma SaaS by Palo Alto Networks, Prisma Access

Symantec Web Security Service

Overview

iboss is the Zero Trust SASE platform that gives organizations complete visibility and governance over their AI, data, and applications through one unified platform, one console, one policy engine, and one data lake.

Your endpoints may already stop malware. Your data and application activity can still be invisible. iboss decrypts and understands every connection, then turns that signal into answers security leaders can act on.

The platform leads with three capabilities in this order: AI Security and Visibility, Data Security and Visibility, and App Visibility and Control. Zero Trust Network Access, VPN replacement, and SD-WAN sit underneath as the access fabric that carries those three. Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

- AI Security and Visibility: conversation capture, shadow-AI discovery, AI DLP, and agent governance across Claude, Co-Work, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, and emerging services.

- Data Security and Visibility: full SSL/TLS decryption, deep content inspection, MIP label compliance, and one-click compliance reporting.

- App Visibility and Control: signatureless CASB, dual risk scoring, in-app controls, and SSPM for major SaaS.

- Containerized Zero Trust SASE: dedicated containers, isolated SSL keys, one console, one policy engine, one data lake.

- Access fabric: ZTNA, VPN replacement, and SD-WAN under the same platform.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

- Complete visibility over AI, data, and applications from one platform instead of separate point tools.

- Encrypted traffic is inspected by default so data decisions use content and context together.

- Shadow SaaS and new web tools appear as they are used, with enforceable controls in one console.

- Native data sovereignty through dedicated containers, in-region inspection, and per-customer SSL key custody.

- Scale proven in published materials: 10M+ users, 100+ countries, 150B+ transactions, 2.5B+ threats blocked.

Economic buyers are CISOs, CIOs, and VPs of Security. Champions include security architects, network and infrastructure leaders, SecOps, and GRC. Primary segments: enterprise and business, financial services, government (including FedRAMP Gov Cloud), healthcare, manufacturing, legal and professional services, retail and hospitality, and MSP/MSSP partners. Education, including K-12, is one vertical among these.

iboss

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks delivers robust security features including secure remote access across apps and traffic monitoring. It integrates smoothly with cloud environments to provide advanced threat protection and visibility into network traffic.

Prisma Access offers a comprehensive suite of security tools designed to protect cloud environments and remote workforces. With its focus on real-time risk identification and threat prevention, Prisma Access provides encrypted tunnels and centralized management for seamless connectivity and enhanced data security. Designed to scale across platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP, it optimizes traffic and connectivity while offering extensive visibility into vulnerabilities. However, integration with third-party products, usability, and support services are areas for development, as users report interface challenges and desire improved scalability and geographic coverage, especially in regions like China and South America.

What are the key features of Prisma Access?

Real-Time Risk Identification: Detects and manages potential threats instantly.
Secure Remote Access: Ensures secure connectivity to applications from anywhere.
Traffic Monitoring: Provides comprehensive oversight of network traffic.
Seamless Integration: Works well with platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Firewall Capabilities: Blocks unauthorized access and threats.
Scalability: Adapts to various cloud environments to meet growing demands.

What benefits should users expect when evaluating Prisma Access?

Reduced Data Breach Risk: Protects sensitive information through encrypted connections.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies management and configuration tasks.
Centralized Management: Offers a single view for managing all security policies.
Advanced Threat Protection: Regular updates guard against new threats.

Prisma Access is effectively used in industries requiring secure remote access and stringent data protection, such as finance and healthcare. Organizations leverage it to enforce Zero Trust policies, optimize network performance with SD-WAN, and ensure security compliance across multiple platforms.

Palo Alto Networks

Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway provides effective web security solutions designed to protect against internet threats while ensuring secure access to web applications.

Designed for companies seeking reliable web security, Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway offers a resilient platform to defend against threats and control web access. It leverages advanced technologies to filter undesirable content and protect sensitive data. It enables secure browsing and delivers robust policy enforcement to keep enterprise networks safe, helping businesses stay compliant and safeguard their data against modern cyber threats.

What are the key features of Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway?

Advanced Threat Protection: Safeguards against sophisticated malware and cyber threats.
Content Filtering: Blocks unwanted web content and enforces safe browsing policies.
Data Loss Prevention: Protects sensitive data from being exposed or stolen.
HTTPS Inspection: Monitors encrypted traffic to prevent threats and ensure compliance.
Access Control: Enables granular control over user and device web access.

What are the benefits when evaluating Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway?

Enhanced Security: Provides comprehensive protection against web-based threats.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces risks and potential data breach costs with advanced protection.
Compliance Assurance: Helps maintain compliance with industry regulations.
Scalability: Easily adapts to growing organizational demands without compromising performance.
User Productivity: Encourages secure access to necessary resources improving productivity.

In industries like finance and healthcare, Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway is crucial for protecting confidential data and ensuring secure communications. Its ability to implement strict compliance measures makes it a preferred choice for sectors with high regulatory standards. By preventing data breaches and unauthorized access, it supports enterprises in maintaining their business integrity and reputation.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

Trusted by global enterprises and government agencies.

Concord Hospital, State of Colorado, Essilor International, RheinLand Versicherungsgruppe, University of Westminster, Universidade Nove de Julho, SPAR Austria, CAME Group, ZipRealty, Greenhill & Co., IKT Agder, Aviva Stadium, Animal Logic, Management & Training Corporation, Brigham Young University Hawaii, School District of Chilliwack

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

September 2026

Free Report: Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs. Symantec Cloud Secure Web Gateway

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