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

Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)
Ubiquiti Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Device Type: UniFi Network Appliance / Gateway
  • Processor: Quad-core ARM (MediaTek MT7986)
  • RAM: 2 GB DDR4
  • Storage: 32 GB eMMC + 1 TB HDD (for protect/video)
  • Network Interfaces: 1u00d7 WAN (2.5G), 3u00d7 LAN (GbE), 1u00d7 Console (USB)
  • Routing Throughput: 3.5 Gbps
  • Switching Capacity: 5 Gbps fabric
  • Max Concurrent Connections: 100,000+
  • VPN Support: IPsec, WireGuard, L2TP
  • Security Features: Built-in IPS/IDS, DPI, threat management
  • Form Factor: Compact Desktop (1U appliance)
  • Power Consumption: 35W typical
  • PoE Output: 1u00d7 802.3af (for optional AP)
  • Management: UniFi OS + Cloud integration
  • Redundancy: Dual WAN capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: All-in-one network appliance with built-in UniFi OS, video storage, and robust security; Excellent value for SMBs combining routing, switching, and threat protection; Includes 1TB HDD for UniFi Protect video surveillance; Silent fanless design or passive cooling; Seamless integration with UniFi ecosystem; Low power consumption (~35W)
  • ✘ Cons: Limited to 2.5G WAN uplink (not enterprise-grade 10G); Overkill for very small networks (branch offices with <50 users); Less granular control than dedicated enterprise firewalls (Cisco ASA, Fortinet FortiGate); Storage not user-upgradeable; Noise from HDD if used heavily for video recording; Requires UniFi Cloud account for optimal features
  • Est. Price: $299 - $349

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)