Cisco Duo is a cloud-based multi-factor authentication and device trust platform that adds a second login factor (typically a phone app push) to VPNs, on-premises applications and cloud services. Pricing starts at $3 per user per month with a free tier for up to 10 users.
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Cisco Duo is a multi-factor authentication and device trust platform from Cisco for adding a second login factor to applications, VPNs and remote access tools. It suits MSPs adding MFA to systems that do not already include it well, such as legacy VPNs, on-premises applications or shared logins, since Duo is built to sit in front of almost any authentication flow rather than only Microsoft or Google accounts. The most common second factor is a push notification to a phone app, though it also supports SMS, phone calls and hardware security keys.
Duo works for organisations of any size, from a handful of users needing MFA on a single VPN to larger enterprises standardising MFA across many applications at once. It spans Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and web platforms, so device trust checks work consistently across whatever devices a client's staff use day to day. Beyond MFA, Duo also offers single sign-on and conditional access with device trust policies that adapt access rules based on device health, location and risk signals.
Pricing is per user per month, published in three paid tiers on Duo's website starting at $3 per user per month (USD), billed monthly or annually (checked September 2026). A free tier is available for organisations with 10 or fewer users. Duo integrates with a very wide range of VPNs, firewalls, on-premises applications and cloud services through SAML, RADIUS and dedicated connectors, and with the wider Cisco security portfolio including Cisco Umbrella and Cisco Secure Email for organisations building on Cisco's network and identity products. Duo is based in the United States. MSPs comparing Duo against MFA built into Microsoft Entra ID or Google Workspace should check whether the client's applications actually need Duo's broader protocol support, since Duo earns its cost mainly where an organisation has systems that do not already support modern authentication on their own.
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|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authentication | yes | |
| Single sign-on | yes | |
| Conditional access and device trust | yes | Device trust policies based on device health and risk signals |
| Privileged access management | no | |
| Passwordless and passkey support | yes | Passwordless options available in Premier tier |
| Directory sync | no | |
| Session and risk monitoring | yes | Device trust and risk-based access policies |
| Legacy VPN and app support | yes | SAML, RADIUS and dedicated connectors for legacy VPNs and on-premises apps |
| Self-service password reset | no | |
| Breach monitoring | no | |
| RADIUS and SAML support | yes | |
| Admin audit log | yes | Admin audit log and event tracking |
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Unattended access | unknown |
| On-demand support session | unknown |
| Mobile device support | unknown |
| File transfer | unknown |
| Session recording | unknown |
| Multi-monitor support | unknown |
| In-session chat | unknown |
| Self-hosted option | unknown |
| White-label branding | unknown |
| Wake-on-LAN | unknown |
| Command-line scripted deployment | unknown |
| PSA integration | unknown |
Cisco Duo publishes a free tier on its pricing page for organisations with 10 or fewer users, alongside three paid tiers priced per user per month with more features such as device trust policies and broader application support. The free tier includes strong MFA and a free authenticator app. MSPs can quote a client directly from Duo's published pricing page without needing a sales conversation for smaller deployments.
Cisco Duo connects to a very wide range of VPNs, firewalls, on-premises applications and cloud services through SAML, RADIUS and dedicated connectors, rather than being limited to Microsoft or Google accounts. That breadth of protocol support is one of Duo's main strengths and makes it a common choice for adding MFA to legacy or on-premises systems that do not have modern authentication built in, as well as for hybrid environments using multiple identity platforms.
Cisco Duo can be deployed as a standalone MFA and device trust product without any other Cisco hardware or software. It does integrate with the wider Cisco security portfolio, including Cisco Umbrella for DNS filtering and Cisco Secure Email, for organisations that are already building on Cisco's network and identity products, but this integration is optional rather than required for Duo to function.
Cisco Duo is typically added where a client also needs MFA on systems that Microsoft Entra ID does not cover well, such as legacy VPNs or on-premises applications, rather than as a replacement for Entra ID's own MFA on Microsoft services. Entra ID includes its own MFA for Microsoft 365 and Azure AD-connected applications at no extra product cost in many licence tiers, while Duo's strength is its broad protocol support across heterogeneous environments with non-Microsoft systems.
Cisco Duo is most valuable when a client's applications actually need its SAML, RADIUS or dedicated connector support. If a client is fully on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace and those platforms already cover their MFA needs, Duo may add unnecessary per-user cost. Check whether the client has legacy VPNs, on-premises applications or non-standard authentication flows that would benefit from Duo's broad integration capabilities before committing to a per-user monthly subscription.
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