When comparing different Cisco Firepower models, several factors come into play, including performance, scalability, features, and intended use cases. Below is a comparison between the primary series within the Cisco Firepower family: the 1000 Series, 2100 Series, 4100 Series, and 9300 Series.
Cisco Firepower Series Comparison
| Feature / Model | 1000 Series | 2100 Series | 4100 Series | 9300 Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Environment | Small offices, branch offices | Medium-sized businesses, distributed enterprise networks | Large enterprises, data centers | Large data centers, service providers |
| Models | 1010, 1120, 1140, 1150 | 2110, 2120, 2130, 2140 | 4110, 4120, 4140, 4150 | 9300 (Modular Chassis) |
| Firewall Throughput (FW) | 650 Mbps – 3 Gbps | 3 Gbps – 8.5 Gbps | 10 Gbps – 20 Gbps | Up to 1 Tbps (with modules) |
| Threat Defense Throughput | 650 Mbps – 2.3 Gbps | 2.0 Gbps – 8.5 Gbps | 5 Gbps – 18 Gbps | Up to 1 Tbps (depending on configuration) |
| Concurrent Sessions | Up to 1.5M | Up to 5M | Up to 10M | 100M+ |
| Max VPN Peers | 50-500 | 750-5000 | 10000-20000 | 50000+ (modular) |
| Ports | 8x1G, 4x1G SFP, 2x10G | Up to 12x1G/10G SFP+ | Up to 12x40G/10G | Modular – depends on configuration |
| High Availability | Yes (Active/Standby) | Yes (Active/Standby) | Yes (Active/Active and Active/Standby) | Yes (Active/Active, Active/Standby, and Multi-Instance) |
| Clustering Support | No | No | Yes | Yes (multi-instance and multi-tenant) |
| SSL Decryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IPS/IDS | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated |
| Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Management | FMC or On-Box | FMC | FMC | FMC |
| Virtual Option | FTDv available | FTDv available | FTDv available | FTDv available |
| Use Cases | Small offices, remote branches | Medium enterprises, campuses | Large enterprises, data centers | Very large data centers, service providers |
Detailed Comparisons
- Performance and Scalability:
- 1000 Series: Suitable for small offices with moderate throughput requirements. Limited in terms of session handling and VPN support compared to higher series.
- 2100 Series: Offers higher throughput and more features for medium-sized businesses. Suitable for environments with moderate to high security needs.
- 4100 Series: Designed for large enterprises and data centers with high throughput requirements. Offers advanced clustering and high availability features.
- 9300 Series: The most powerful and scalable option, intended for large data centers and service providers. The modular design allows customization based on specific needs.
- Deployment Flexibility:
- 1000 Series: Best for simple, small deployments where ease of use and cost are critical.
- 2100 Series: Provides a good balance between performance and cost, with more advanced features than the 1000 Series.
- 4100 Series: Offers flexibility with high availability and clustering options, ideal for mission-critical environments.
- 9300 Series: Highly flexible with modular components, supporting very large, complex deployments with extreme scalability requirements.
- Clustering and High Availability:
- 4100 and 9300 Series: Both support advanced clustering and high availability options, making them suitable for environments where uptime and redundancy are crucial.
- 1000 and 2100 Series: Offer basic high availability (active/standby) but do not support clustering.
- Management:
- All series can be managed via Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC), providing centralized control over policies, events, and updates. The 1000 Series can also be managed on-box for simpler deployments.
- Virtual Options:
- All series have corresponding virtual appliance versions (FTDv) that offer similar features in a virtualized environment, suitable for cloud deployments or environments where physical appliances are not feasible.
Key Takeaways
- 1000 Series: Best for small businesses and branch offices, providing essential security with lower throughput and fewer advanced features.
- 2100 Series: Suited for medium-sized businesses that need more robust security features and higher throughput than the 1000 Series.
- 4100 Series: Ideal for large enterprises and data centers, offering high performance, advanced features, and scalability through clustering.
- 9300 Series: Designed for the most demanding environments, including large data centers and service providers, with extreme scalability and performance.
Use Case Examples
- 1000 Series: Best for small branch offices where cost and ease of use are critical. Example: A small law firm protecting its network and remote access.
- 2100 Series: Suitable for a mid-sized enterprise with a need for higher performance and more robust security features. Example: A regional retail chain securing multiple store locations.
- 4100 Series: Ideal for large enterprises with data centers that require high throughput and advanced security features. Example: A financial institution with a central data center and several branch locations.
- 9300 Series: Perfect for service providers or very large enterprises that need extreme performance and scalability. Example: A large cloud service provider offering secure multi-tenant services.