PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Secure Firewall 3120
Cisco Secure Firewall 3120
★ 3.2 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 2 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 750 Mbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 1.5 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: 2,000,000
  • New Sessions/sec: 400,000
  • Interfaces: 6x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)
  • Form Factor: 1U Rack-mount

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Robust integrated threat prevention with IPS; High VPN throughput (1.5 Gbps) for site-to-site and remote access; Excellent enterprise support and Cisco ecosystem integration; Compact 1U form factor suitable for most data center deployments; Strong encryption standards and compliance certifications (FIPS 140-2); Proven reliability with millions of deployments
  • ✘ Cons: Limited interface count (6 ports) restricts large-scale deployments; High operational expenses with mandatory licensing for advanced features; Relatively modest new sessions/sec (400k) compared to modern competitors; Power consumption higher than comparable competitors; Aging architecture becoming less competitive against next-gen firewalls; Limited east-west visibility for multi-tier environments
  • Est. Price: $3,200 - $5,500

Compare Against

Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H-C5G-WW
Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H-C5G-WW
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Device Type: 5G Cellular Gateway / SD-WAN Branch
  • Cellular Connectivity: 5G NR (FR1), LTE, 3G fallback
  • Broadband Interfaces: 2u00d7 Gigabit Ethernet (WAN)
  • LAN Interfaces: 4u00d7 Gigabit Ethernet
  • Management Port: 1u00d7 10/100 Ethernet
  • Throughput (5G): Up to 1 Gbps (5G downlink dependent on carrier)
  • Max Concurrent Sessions: 250,000+
  • Form Factor: Desktop/Rack-mountable
  • Dimensions: 430 u00d7 258 u00d7 44 mm
  • Weight: ~2.3 kg
  • Power Consumption: 90-150W
  • PoE Support: No
  • SD-WAN Features: Multi-WAN load balancing, failover, dynamic path selection

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Dual WAN with 5G cellular provides automatic failover; Native SD-WAN simplifies branch connectivity; Compact form factor suitable for small offices; Supports multiple carriers with fallback; Enterprise-class security and DPI capabilities
  • ✘ Cons: Higher initial capital cost compared to traditional broadband-only gateways; 5G coverage varies by region and carrier; Requires separate cellular contract/SIM; Limited to Gigabit Ethernet speeds on wired interfaces; May require professional installation and configuration
  • Est. Price: $4,500 - $6,500

Popular Comparisons

Cisco Secure Firewall 3120 vs Fortinet FortiGate 400G Cisco Secure Firewall 3120 vs Aruba (HPE) Aruba 9106 Gateway Cisco Secure Firewall 3120 vs Palo Alto Networks ION 3200 Cisco Secure Firewall 3120 vs Palo Alto Networks ION 3200H-C5G-WW Cisco Secure Firewall 3120 vs Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)