Cisco AnyConnect vs OpenVPN

Cisco AnyConnect — Cisco AnyConnect is a VPN client that provides secure VPN connections to Cisco VPN headends and cloud services. It enables remote users to securely access corporate resources and applications over the

OpenVPN — OpenVPN is an open-source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configuratio

Cisco AnyConnect offers Secure remote access VPN, Multiple VPN protocols (SSL, IPSec, IKEv2), Pre-deployment via Active Directory, SMS, etc, Centralized management via Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Integrated posture and compliance checks, while OpenVPN provides Encryption - Uses OpenSSL encryption to secure data, Authentication - Supports certificate-based authentication, Routing - Routes traffic through VPN tunnel, NAT Traversal - Can traverse NAT firewalls, Platform Support - Available on Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS.

Cisco AnyConnect stands out for Secure and flexible remote access, Broad platform and OS support, Integrates with other Cisco security products; OpenVPN is known for Open source, Highly secure encryption, Extensive platform support.

Feature	Cisco AnyConnect	OpenVPN
Overall Score	30	N/A
Primary Category	Network & Admin	Security & Privacy

Product Overview

Cisco AnyConnect

Description: Cisco AnyConnect is a VPN client that provides secure VPN connections to Cisco VPN headends and cloud services. It enables remote users to securely access corporate resources and applications over the internet.

OpenVPN

Description: OpenVPN is an open-source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities. It uses a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange. It is capable of traversing network address translation (NAT) and firewalls.

Key Features Comparison

Cisco AnyConnect Features

• Secure remote access VPN
• Multiple VPN protocols (SSL, IPSec, IKEv2)
• Pre-deployment via Active Directory, SMS, etc
• Centralized management via Cisco Prime Infrastructure
• Integrated posture and compliance checks
• Per-app VPN for secure access to specific resources
• Clientless VPN via web browser
• Network Access Manager for NAC

OpenVPN Features

• Encryption - Uses OpenSSL encryption to secure data
• Authentication - Supports certificate-based authentication
• Routing - Routes traffic through VPN tunnel
• NAT Traversal - Can traverse NAT firewalls
• Platform Support - Available on Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS
• Plugins - Extensible through plugins
• Protocols - Supports UDP and TCP protocols

Pros & Cons Analysis

Cisco AnyConnect

Pros

• Secure and flexible remote access
• Broad platform and OS support
• Integrates with other Cisco security products
• Granular access controls and compliance enforcement
• Centralized deployment and management
• Per-app VPN increases security

Cons

• Complex setup and management
• License costs can get expensive for large deployments
• Interoperability limited to Cisco products
• Requires supporting Cisco infrastructure

OpenVPN

Pros

• Open source
• Highly secure encryption
• Extensive platform support
• Flexible configuration
• NAT traversal capability
• Active development community

Cons

• Configuration can be complex
• Limited native user management
• No built-in web GUI
• Limited scalability without additional tools

Pricing Comparison

Cisco AnyConnect

• Subscription-Based
• Pay-As-You-Go

OpenVPN

• Open Source

User Ratings

Cisco AnyConnect

3.4/5

20 reviews

OpenVPN

No reviews yet