Cisco Duo Remote Access vs Cognitas CrossLink ZTNA: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Cisco Duo Remote Access

Security teams managing hybrid workforces across multiple cloud platforms will find Cisco Duo Remote Access valuable for its phishing-resistant authentication, which eliminates the weakest link in most remote access breaches. The solution enforces device trust verification before access is granted, addressing PR.AA identity controls that most VPN replacements handle poorly. Skip this if your organization needs deep network segmentation or advanced threat hunting; Duo prioritizes access decisions over post-breach detection and monitoring.

Cognitas CrossLink ZTNA

SMB and mid-market teams replacing VPNs should pick Cognitas CrossLink ZTNA for its zero-touch deployment, which cuts the implementation friction that kills most ZTNA rollouts. ML-driven access policies and support for legacy applications mean you're not ripping out infrastructure to get zero trust working, just redirecting traffic through identity controls. Skip this if you need deep API-first architecture; CrossLink prioritizes ease of deployment over the policy granularity that enterprise security teams with mature identity programs demand.