Cisco Secure Firewall 1120 vs 1140
The 1120 and 1140 are the upper two models of the Secure Firewall 1000 Series and share the same 1RU chassis and interfaces; the 1140 adds roughly 40% more throughput (3.3 Gbps vs 2.3 Gbps) and over double the VPN peers. Choose the 1120 for mid-size branches and the 1140 for larger branches or heavier remote-access needs.
Cisco Secure Firewall 1120
1RU next-gen firewall (Firepower 1120) for mid-size branch deployments.
- 2.3 Gbps FW+AVC and threat throughput
- 1.2 Gbps IPsec VPN, up to 150 VPN peers
- 200K concurrent sessions, 15K new conn/sec
- 8x GE RJ45 + 4x SFP; runs FTD or ASA
Cisco Secure Firewall 1140
Top model of the Secure Firewall 1000 Series for larger branches and higher VPN scale.
- 3.3 Gbps FW+AVC and threat throughput
- 1.4 Gbps IPsec VPN, up to 400 VPN peers
- 400K concurrent sessions, 22K new conn/sec
- 8x GE RJ45 + 4x SFP; runs FTD or ASA
Cisco Secure Firewall 1120 vs Cisco Secure Firewall 1140: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Secure Firewall 1120 | Cisco Secure Firewall 1140 |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 1RU rack-mount | 1RU rack-mount |
| FW + AVC throughput (1024B) | 2.3 Gbps | 3.3 Gbps |
| FW + AVC + IPS (threat) throughput | 2.3 Gbps | 3.3 Gbps |
| IPsec VPN throughput | 1.2 Gbps | 1.4 Gbps |
| Max concurrent sessions (AVC) | 200K | 400K |
| New connections/sec (AVC) | 15,000 | 22,000 |
| Max VPN peers | 150 | 400 |
| Interfaces | 8x GE RJ45 + 4x SFP | 8x GE RJ45 + 4x SFP |
| Onboard storage | 200 GB | 200 GB |
| Software | FTD or ASA | FTD or ASA |
| Redundant power supply | No (single internal PSU) | No (single internal PSU) |
Choose Cisco Secure Firewall 1120 if
Choose the 1120 for mid-size branches where 2.3 Gbps of firewall and threat throughput and up to 150 VPN peers comfortably cover the site. It shares the 1140's chassis and interfaces at a lower price.
Choose Cisco Secure Firewall 1140 if
Choose the 1140 for larger branches, sites with heavier inspected throughput, or deployments needing more remote-access capacity: it delivers about 40% more throughput, double the concurrent sessions, and up to 400 VPN peers.
Verdict
Because the 1120 and 1140 share a chassis, interfaces, and software, this is a sizing call. The 1120 is the value pick for typical mid-size branches, while the 1140 adds meaningful throughput, session, and VPN headroom for larger sites or remote-access growth. If you expect to scale, the 1140's extra capacity avoids an early upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Secure Firewall 1120 and 1140?
The 1140 has higher capacity: 3.3 Gbps throughput versus 2.3 Gbps, 400K sessions versus 200K, and up to 400 VPN peers versus 150. The chassis, 8x RJ45 + 4x SFP interfaces, and software are identical.
Are the 1120 and 1140 interfaces the same?
Yes. Both provide 8x GE RJ45 plus 4x SFP ports in a 1RU chassis, so cabling and uplink options are the same; the difference is throughput and scaling, not connectivity.
How many remote VPN users can the 1140 support?
The 1140 supports up to 400 VPN peers, compared to 150 on the 1120. If you need more than 400, move up to the 3100 Series, which scales into the thousands.
Do the 1120 and 1140 have redundant power supplies?
No. Both 1000 Series models use a single internal power supply. If you need power redundancy, the 3100 Series offers dual hot-swappable power supplies on higher models.
More Security 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.

