Cisco ASA 5520 vs ASA 5545-X
The ASA 5520 (ASA5520-K8) is an end-of-life classic firewall; the ASA 5545-X is its modern mid-range successor with much higher throughput plus optional NGIPS, AMP and URL filtering. Migrate to the 5545-X.
Cisco ASA 5520
Classic mid-range ASA stateful firewall and VPN appliance, now end-of-life with no next-gen security services.
- 450 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- Classic ASA software only, no AVC, NGIPS or AMP
- End-of-sale and end-of-support, no current updates
- Four Gigabit Ethernet ports plus a management port
Cisco ASA 5545-X
Mid-range ASA 5500-X Series next-gen firewall with optional FirePOWER Services for AVC, NGIPS and AMP.
- Up to 3 Gbps stateful firewall throughput; 1.5 Gbps with AVC
- Optional FirePOWER Services add NGIPS, AMP and URL filtering
- Eight built-in Gigabit ports plus a six-port expansion slot
- 750,000 concurrent connections and 400 Mbps AES VPN throughput
Cisco ASA 5520 vs Cisco ASA 5545-X: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco ASA 5520 | Cisco ASA 5545-X |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | 450 Mbps | Up to 3 Gbps (1.5 Gbps multiprotocol) |
| Throughput with AVC | Not supported | 1.5 Gbps |
| Throughput with AVC + NGIPS | Not supported | 900 Mbps |
| Maximum concurrent connections | 280,000 | 750,000 |
| New connections per second | 12,000 | 30,000 |
| AES/3DES VPN throughput | 225 Mbps | 400 Mbps |
| Maximum IPsec VPN peers | 750 | 2,500 |
| Integrated interfaces | 4x 10/100/1000 + 1 mgmt | 8x 10/100/1000 + 6-port slot (GE or SFP) |
| Next-gen security (AMP/URL/NGIPS) | None | Optional FirePOWER Services |
| Support status | End-of-sale and end-of-support | Supported ASA 5500-X platform |
Choose Cisco ASA 5520 if
Keep the ASA 5520 only as a temporary bridge while a replacement is procured; it has no active support and cannot run modern threat inspection.
Choose Cisco ASA 5545-X if
Choose the ASA 5545-X for a current internet edge or VPN headend that needs higher throughput and an optional NGFW upgrade path.
Verdict
The ASA 5520 is past end-of-support with no NGFW capability, so it is a liability at the edge. The ASA 5545-X roughly 6x its firewall throughput, nearly triples concurrent connections, and adds optional NGIPS, AMP and URL filtering. Migrate to the 5545-X, or evaluate the Firepower 1100 Series for new builds.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco ASA 5520 end of life?
Yes. The ASA 5520 has passed both end-of-sale and end-of-support, so it no longer receives software or security updates and should be replaced.
What replaces the Cisco ASA 5520?
The ASA 5545-X is the comparable mid-range replacement in the ASA 5500-X family. For new deployments, the Firepower 1100 Series is the current-generation equivalent.
Can the ASA 5545-X handle the same VPN load as the 5520?
Yes, and more. The 5545-X provides 400 Mbps AES VPN throughput and up to 2,500 IPsec peers, exceeding the 5520's 225 Mbps and 750 peers.
Does the ASA 5545-X add intrusion prevention?
Yes. Adding FirePOWER Services enables next-gen IPS, AVC, AMP malware defense and URL filtering, capabilities the classic 5520 never offered.
More ASA comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.