Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cisco ASA VS TailScale

Compare Cisco ASA VS TailScale and see what are their differences

Cisco ASA logo Cisco ASA

Cisco ASA Software delivers enterprise-class security capabilities for the ASA security family in a variety of form factors.

TailScale logo TailScale

Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.
  • Cisco ASA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28
  • TailScale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

Cisco ASA

Website
cisco.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

TailScale

$ Details
Release Date
2019 January
Startup details
Country
Canada
State
Ontario
City
Toronto
Founder(s)
Avery Pennarun
Employees
10 - 19

Cisco ASA features and specs

  • Comprehensive Security
    Cisco ASA offers a wide range of security features, including firewall capabilities, VPN support, intrusion prevention, and advanced threat inspection, providing comprehensive protection for networks.
  • Scalability
    The Cisco ASA series is designed to scale with network demands, making it suitable for small to large enterprises seeking to expand their security infrastructure as their network grows.
  • High Performance
    Cisco ASA devices are known for their robust performance attributes, including high throughput and low latency, which ensure minimal impact on network speeds and efficiency.
  • Integration with Cisco Ecosystem
    Cisco ASA can seamlessly integrate with other Cisco products and solutions, providing unified management and enhanced security across the network through Cisco’s ecosystem.
  • Reputation and Support
    Backed by Cisco’s strong reputation and extensive support network, users benefit from reliable service, frequent updates, and a wealth of resources for troubleshooting and optimization.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco ASA

  • Complex Configuration
    Setting up and configuring Cisco ASA devices can be complex and may require a good understanding of Cisco systems, which could pose challenges for organizations lacking expertise.
  • Cost
    Cisco ASA solutions can be expensive compared to competitors, including both the initial hardware purchasing costs and ongoing maintenance and support contracts.
  • Limited User-Friendly Features
    The user interface and management features may not be as intuitive or user-friendly as some competing products, potentially leading to longer learning curves.
  • License Complexity
    Cisco ASA’s licensing structure can be complex, with multiple options and add-ons that may require careful consideration to match organizational needs precisely.
  • Third-Party Integration Limitations
    While Cisco ASA integrates well within the Cisco ecosystem, it may face limitations or require additional configurations to work effectively with third-party solutions.

TailScale features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    TailScale is easy to set up and configure. It provides a user-friendly interface and automates many complex networking tasks, making it accessible even for those with limited networking knowledge.
  • Security
    TailScale uses WireGuard for its underlying encryption, providing strong security for data transmitted across the network. End-to-end encryption ensures that your data remains safe from interception.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    TailScale supports a wide range of operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, allowing for seamless integration across various devices and platforms.
  • Scalability
    TailScale can easily scale from small to large networks, making it suitable for both individual use and enterprise-level deployments.
  • NAT Traversal
    TailScale provides automatic NAT traversal, which simplifies the process of connecting devices behind different routers and firewalls without requiring complex port forwarding rules.

Possible disadvantages of TailScale

  • Dependency on TailScale's Infrastructure
    Using TailScale requires reliance on their central coordination servers for initial connection setup and identity management. This could be a concern if the service experiences downtime or other issues.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Since TailScale routes initial connection metadata through their servers, some users may have privacy concerns, especially in highly sensitive environments.
  • Cost
    While TailScale offers a free tier, advanced features and larger-scale deployment options can be costly, potentially making it less suitable for budget-conscious users.
  • Limited Advanced Configuration
    TailScale's simplicity can be a downside for advanced users who require granular control and configuration options that go beyond what TailScale's interface offers.
  • Proprietary Software
    TailScale is a commercial product with proprietary elements, which might not appeal to open-source enthusiasts or organizations that prefer fully open-source solutions.

Cisco ASA videos

MicroNugget: What is Cisco ASA?

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to Cisco Firewalls - Lecture # 1 - Doctor Networks Series: "Cisco ASA Fundamentals"
  • Review - Product Review! - Cisco ASA 5510 Adaptive Security Appliance

TailScale videos

The Byte - Tailscale Private networks made easy

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cisco ASA and TailScale)
Security & Privacy
5 5%
95% 95
VPN
0 0%
100% 100
Office & Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Online Services
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cisco ASA and TailScale

Cisco ASA Reviews

We have no reviews of Cisco ASA yet.
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TailScale Reviews

  1. Raoul Steadman

    They make the already great wireguard even better! Installation and configuration is a breeze, can easily connect to machines behind firewall(s) without altering anything.

    Definitely made life easier.


7 Ngrok Alternatives & Competitors for App Tunneling, Free & Paid
Tailscale allows you to create a secure virtual private network between your servers, computers, and cloud instances using the WireGuard protocol from a binary executable.
Source: onboardbase.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TailScale seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 520 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cisco ASA mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Cisco ASA yet. Tracking of Cisco ASA recommendations started around Mar 2021.

TailScale mentions (520)

  • The Umbrel OS for home-lab, self-hosted tech solutions
    For example, the home networking, personal VPN, we may use Tailscale. https://tailscale.com/ which is also listed on the Umbrel App Store. - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • How I made my Home Server accessible outside my home
    Here then comes VPN (Virtual Private Network) which is basically establishes a protected network connection when using public networks. I already have relevant experiences with this one as some of my previous projects involves private repositories that can only be accessed by connecting into the client's VPN. There are many solutions for this specific use case like WireGuard, but in this particular blog, I chose... - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • Optimizing My Dev Workflow in 2025
    I had 2 old laptops sitting around, both 10 years old. I turned both into a home server. Installed Ubuntu Server, set up Docker, and now I run all my containers remotely. With Tailscale, I can securely connect to it like it's on the same network. This way, my MacBook doesn't have to run MongoDB, Redis, or RabbitMQ anymore. That alone freed up a lot of memory. I can even run other services like HomeAssistant,... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Again self-hosting! on k3s
    Then I wanted to add Tailscle which besides being a "best in class VPN" for the homelabbers, allows you to add k8s services directly into your tailnet. What does it mean? The Tailscale operator allows you to access your k8s applications only when you are logged into your private Network (tailnet), with the usage of your domain for ended with ts.net. You can configure it in two ways on the resource side, with... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Ask HN: What is the most secure way of baby monitoring?
    I dunno if the CIA would trust them but I like Amcrest cameras https://amcrest.com/ because they have a wide range of different price points and capabilities. Use these with software like https://zoneminder.com/ which you could run on a cheap Linux box. For secure access use https://tailscale.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cisco ASA and TailScale, you can also consider the following products

Forcepoint Web Security - Seguridad Web De Última Generación Para La Fuerza Laboral Global Del Futuro

ZeroTier - Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

Barracuda CloudGen Firewall - Barracuda's cloud-ready firewalls improve site-to-site connectivity and provide enterprises with uninterrupted access to applications hosted in the cloud.

OpenVPN - OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN

Untangle Web Filter - Web Filter from Untangle allows network administrators to enact policies and strengthen security across the network.

WireGuard - Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel