Cisco Duo

What is Cisco Duo?

Cisco Duo is a leading MFA and secure access platform, strong on easy multi factor authentication, device trust and zero trust access, popular for adding strong authentication quickly. Part of Cisco, it provides simple, user friendly multi factor authentication (with push, passwordless and many methods), device trust (checking device health and posture before granting access), single sign on, and adaptive, zero trust access policies, protecting access to applications, VPNs and resources. Known for being exceptionally easy to deploy and use, Duo lets organisations add strong authentication and zero trust access quickly, which is why it is a favourite for securing access. For MFA and secure access, Cisco Duo is a leading choice.

Cisco Duo's distinction is easy, user friendly MFA and device trust for zero trust access. It makes strong multi factor authentication simple to roll out and pleasant to use (famously easy push based approval), adds device trust and adaptive policies, and protects access broadly, so organisations strengthen authentication and move toward zero trust quickly and with high adoption. That ease, device trust and access focus set it apart.

Who Cisco Duo is best for

Cisco Duo is best for organisations that want to add strong, easy multi factor authentication, device trust and zero trust access quickly, protecting apps, VPNs and resources, often alongside an existing identity platform. It suits MFA and secure access needs. It is a weaker fit for organisations wanting a full identity platform with SSO, lifecycle and the largest app network as the core, where Okta or Entra ID fit, or SMBs wanting an all in one cloud directory, where JumpCloud fits.

Key features

The core strengths are easy multi factor authentication (push, passwordless and many methods), device trust (checking device health and posture), single sign on, and adaptive, zero trust access policies, protecting applications, VPNs and resources. Duo offers broad integrations and simple deployment. Its ease of use, device trust, and zero trust access focus are its defining advantages.

Cisco Duo pricing

Cisco Duo offers a free tier for up to 10 users, with paid plans priced per user per month: Essentials (MFA) from around 3 US dollars, Advantage around 6 (device trust, adaptive policies) and Premier higher, plus a free trial. Pricing is accessible, especially for adding MFA. Costs scale with users and tier. Confirm current figures on the Duo pricing page.

Integrations and ecosystem

Cisco Duo integrates with a broad range of applications, VPNs, SSO and identity platforms, cloud and on premise, with simple deployment and the Cisco security portfolio. Its broad integrations and easy deployment, which let organisations add MFA and device trust in front of almost any app or access point, often alongside an existing IdP, are a signature strength.

Cisco Duo and ease of use

Easy, user friendly MFA and device trust are the signature strength: Duo makes strong authentication simple to deploy and pleasant to use, with famously easy push approval, plus device trust and adaptive zero trust policies, so organisations strengthen access quickly with high user adoption. For teams wanting to add strong authentication and zero trust access fast, this is the main reason to choose Duo.

Ease of use and support

Cisco Duo is highly rated for ease of use, fast deployment, device trust and reliability, among the leaders for MFA and access, with good support. Its G2 reviews praise ease, push MFA and device trust, with it being focused on MFA and access rather than a full identity platform the main consideration.

Is Cisco Duo worth it?

For organisations that want to add strong, easy multi factor authentication, device trust and zero trust access quickly, Cisco Duo is an excellent, highly rated choice, often alongside an existing identity platform. The main caution is that it focuses on MFA and access rather than being a full identity platform, so those wanting core SSO, lifecycle and the largest app network may use Okta or Entra ID, and SMBs wanting an all in one directory JumpCloud, but for MFA and secure access Duo leads.