Duo Security is a Multi-factor authentication and zero-trust access platform by Cisco Systems (acquired Duo Security). This profile pulls together Duo Security's ratings across the major review sites, its company and funding details, leadership, features, pricing, and the latest news, with every external source cited at the bottom.
About Cisco Systems (acquired Duo Security)
Duo Security is an Ann Arbor, Michigan-founded multi-factor authentication and zero-trust access platform, acquired by Cisco in 2018 for $2.35 billion. The platform provides MFA, device health verification, adaptive access policies, and single sign-on for protecting application and network access. Duo is particularly popular for its ease of deployment, the Duo Push mobile app (which replaced hardware tokens for most organizations), and its ability to protect both cloud and on-premises applications. As part of Cisco's security portfolio, Duo serves over 40,000 customers including Lyft, Facebook, and Toyota, and has become one of the most widely deployed MFA solutions globally.
| Category | Multi-factor authentication and zero-trust access platform |
| Company | Cisco Systems (acquired Duo Security) |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan, US (Cisco subsidiary) |
| Industry | Software Development · Cybersecurity / Identity |
| Team size | Part of Cisco (~85,000+ total) |
| Ownership | Cisco subsidiary (acquired 2018, $2.35B) |
| Founder / CEO | Dug Song (Co-Founder) and Jon Oberheide |
| Specialties | MFA, Duo Push, SSO, device trust, zero trust, VPN-less access, BYOD security |
| Website | duo.com |
Find Duo Security on: Crunchbase · LinkedIn · G2 · Capterra
Duo Security ratings across the web
Aggregated from the major review platforms. Each links to the source.
Rating breakdown
Per-category scores from G2 and Capterra, ~1,400 reviews, 2025-2026.
Who uses Duo Security
Duo Security reviews from Topickz readers
Reader-submitted and moderated. This is separate from the third-party scores above. Verified-buyer reviews are labeled.
Be the first to review Duo Security. Your honest take helps the next buyer decide.
Review Duo Security
Your honest take, in about two minutes. We verify each review before it publishes.
Review submitted. You're entered!
Your giveaway entry token:
Screenshot this token and keep it safe. We draw 10 winners every month and email them, so watch the inbox for the email you entered with. Your review is showing below now and goes live once our editors verify it. Terms.
What people say about Duo Security
Our synthesis across ~1,400 G2 and Capterra reviews, 2025-2026. No fabricated quotes, this is the consistent pattern across reviews and third-party analyses.
Most praised
- Duo Push app is the fastest and most user-friendly MFA experience available
- Deployment is straightforward; most organizations are live within hours
- Free tier for 10 users is genuinely useful for very small teams
- Device health check before granting access adds a real security layer beyond just MFA
Most cited complaints
- Pricing steps up significantly from Essentials to Advantage tier
- Cisco integration complexity can make advanced configurations challenging
- Support quality varies; enterprise customers get better access than SMBs
What we found testing it
What's great
- Fastest time-to-MFA in the segment: Duo Essentials activates in minutes, and the push-notification UX is consistently praised for high end-user enrollment completion
- FIDO2 / WebAuthn and biometric support across all paid tiers; phishing-resistant MFA is the single highest-ROI security control and Duo delivers it without full IAM rip-and-replace
- Device trust policies in Duo Premier let you gate access based on OS version, disk encryption status, and endpoint security posture, a meaningful control for orgs that can't afford CrowdStrike for every seat
Watch-outs
- Duo is a security layer on top of identity, not a full IAM platform; it doesn't replace directory services, lifecycle management, or SSO for net-new app onboarding
- Premier tier at $9/user/mo starts to compete with JumpCloud's full-platform bundle on price without the directory and MDM story
- Gartner notes that 98% of customers would recommend Duo, but the 62-review sample size from the 18-month Peer Insights period is thin for enterprise buying decisions
Duo Security funding & ownership
| Round | Amount | Date | Lead investor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series E | $70M | 2017 | Redpoint Ventures |
| Acquisition | $2.35B | 2018 | Cisco |
Excellent. Cisco backing provides enterprise-scale distribution, compliance certifications, and long-term product investment. One of the most trusted MFA providers globally.
Duo Security features & integrations
Security & compliance
| Standard | Availability |
|---|---|
| GDPR | Yes |
| HIPAA | Yes (with BAA) |
| SOC 2 Type II | Yes (Type II) |
| SSO / SAML | Yes (SAML, OIDC) |
Integrations: Active Directory, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Okta, Cisco AnyConnect, Palo Alto, AWS, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Workday.
Duo Security leadership
Duo Security pricing
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | Up to 10 users, basic MFA |
| Essentials | $3/user/mo | Core MFA, SSO, unlimited users |
| Advantage | $6/user/mo | Adaptive access, device trust, BYOD |
| Premier | $9/user/mo | Full zero trust, VPN-less access |
The catch: Duo charges per user per month. Free: 10 users, basic MFA. Essentials: $3/user/month (core MFA, SSO). Advantage: $6/user/month (adaptive policies, device trust). Premier: $9/user/month (full zero trust). Enterprise: custom.
Duo Security alternatives & where it appears
Featured in our guides
Duo Security product changelog
What Duo Security has actually shipped, summarized from its own release notes and dated. Not auto-generated, updated as part of our freshness checks.
- February 1, 2026
Risk-based authentication
AI-driven risk scoring adjusts authentication requirements based on user and device signals.
Source - October 1, 2025
- February 1, 2025
Latest Duo Security news
Auto-pulled from Google News, refreshed on each deploy. Headlines link to the source.
- Duo Multifactor for Okta - Cisco DuoMon, 27 Jul 2026
- Launching Active Directory Defense: Strengthen On-Prem AD Security | Duo Security - Cisco DuoFri, 06 Feb 2026
- How to Evolve to “Security-First” IAM - Cisco DuoTue, 21 Oct 2025
- Two-Factor Authentication for Splunk Enterprise - Cisco DuoThu, 30 Apr 2026
- How to secure the holidays & prep your 2026 IAM strategy - Cisco DuoThu, 18 Dec 2025
- Securing for third-party risk with Duo for identity management - Cisco DuoTue, 02 Dec 2025
Duo Security FAQs
How does Duo compare to Microsoft Authenticator?
Duo provides a standalone MFA platform that works with any application, not just Microsoft services. Microsoft Authenticator is tightly integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem and is free for Microsoft 365 users. For Microsoft-only environments, Authenticator often suffices. For mixed environments with non-Microsoft apps, Duo provides broader coverage.
Is Duo good for healthcare organizations?
Yes. Duo supports HIPAA compliance with BAA, has device health verification useful for clinical devices, and integrates with Epic and Cerner workflows. It's widely deployed in healthcare for securing EHR access and remote workforce authentication.
Sources
Every external figure on this page traces to a public source, last collected on the dates shown.
- Duo Security website — Product and pricing (accessed 2026-09-02)
- G2 Duo Security reviews — User reviews (accessed 2026-09-02)