# Cisco Secure Workload alternatives: what AI models name instead, October 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition. 201 of the 252 answers in the 1 category where Cisco Secure Workload holds a standing named it neither first nor as an alternative; these are the first choices those answers made. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/vendors/cisco-secure-workload/alternatives/

## Named instead, most often (every category and segment added)

- Illumio Segmentation: 44
- ColorTokens Xshield: 21
- Akamai Guardicore Segmentation: 20
- Zero Networks Segment: 17
- Faddom: 11
- Elisity: 5

## Microsegmentation

**Small business**: 77 of 84 answers did not name Cisco Secure Workload (Cisco Secure Workload is #7 of 10 at 4%).

- Zero Networks Segment: first choice in 14 of those 77
- Illumio Segmentation: first choice in 9 of those 77
- Faddom: first choice in 8 of those 77
- ColorTokens Xshield: first choice in 7 of those 77
- Akamai Guardicore Segmentation: first choice in 6 of those 77
- AWS Security Groups: first choice in 4 of those 77
- 12Port Horizon: first choice in 3 of those 77
- Azure Network Security Groups: first choice in 3 of those 77

**Mid-market**: 69 of 84 answers did not name Cisco Secure Workload (Cisco Secure Workload is #9 of 9 at 0%).

- ColorTokens Xshield: first choice in 12 of those 69
- Illumio Segmentation: first choice in 12 of those 69
- Akamai Guardicore Segmentation: first choice in 7 of those 69
- Faddom: first choice in 3 of those 69
- Calico: first choice in 2 of those 69
- Calico Open Source: first choice in 2 of those 69
- Cilium: first choice in 2 of those 69
- Enclave: first choice in 2 of those 69

**Enterprise**: 55 of 84 answers did not name Cisco Secure Workload (Cisco Secure Workload is #5 of 9 at 2%).

- Illumio Segmentation: first choice in 23 of those 55
- Akamai Guardicore Segmentation: first choice in 7 of those 55
- Elisity: first choice in 5 of those 55
- Illumio Core: first choice in 3 of those 55
- Zero Networks Segment: first choice in 3 of those 55
- ColorTokens Xshield: first choice in 2 of those 55
- CloudGuard Network Security: first choice in 1 of those 55
- Guardicore: first choice in 1 of those 55

Published under CC BY 4.0. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.