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Marty Jefferson

By: Marty Jefferson on March 23rd, 2023

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Webex vs Zoom: Which is Better for State and Local Governments?

Collaboration | Partners | Conferencing

At every level, state and local governments have come to rely on video conferencing solutions. Once considered too expensive and complex for everyday use, the affordability of video conferencing enables organizations of all sizes to improve decision-making, stay connected with one another and their citizens, and empower more effective leadership while reducing travel and office costs.  

Two of the leading video conferencing solutions for public sector agencies are Webex and Zoom. Some agencies also use Slack, but with limited capabilities, it’s not a true contender on its own to securely support cross departmental collaboration. Below, we compare these solutions to see who wins the vote as the best video collaboration tool.    

Comparison 1: Pricing  

With budget restrictions, government agencies must ensure they’re getting the most value from taxpayer dollars.  

Webex 

Zoom 

Free option 

Free option  

Competitive Business and Enterprise plans  

Competitive Pro, Business, and Business Plus plans  

All-in-one platform: Calling, Meeting, Messaging 

Meetings and Chat 

Winner: Tie 

Webex and Zoom are comparatively priced, but Webex delivers a lot more features and unparalleled security. 

Comparison 2: Security  

In 2022 cybergangs, some backed by nation states, made a point of going after poorly resourced local governments across the U.S. In many cases, video conferencing is the open door these cybercriminals are looking to use.    

Webex 

Zoom  

Stellar reputation for excellent security  

Have experienced some serious security problems  

U.S.-based servers 

U.S.-based servers 

End-to-end encryption, data loss prevention, and multi-factor authentication 

Less robust authentication features with single sign-on  

All-in-one solution for messaging, multiple virtual meeting rooms, and calling 

Newly released Zoom Chat security options, including external contact management and chat encryption. 

ISO 27001 certified, Service Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type II audited, StateRAMP certified, Cloud Computing Compliance Controls Catalogue (C5) attestation, Privacy Shield Framework certified, FISMA, GDPR, CCPA, COPPA, FERPA, and HIPAA compliant 

StateRAMP certified, FERPA and HIPAA compliance and provides 256-bit AES encryption 

Locked personal room meetings, password enforced meeting connections, encrypted cloud recordings 

User ID watermarking to help address leaks and unauthorized disclosures 

Winner: Webex 

Backed by Cisco’s leading-edge security innovations, Webex is the undisputed leader when it comes to security. Even prior to the pandemic, Zoom has had its share of problems, though recently they have strengthened their security measures. 

Comparison 3: Video Conferencing Quality 

Video collaboration tools must provide quality to empower collaboration and flexible options to meet the unique demands of each agency.  

Webex 

Zoom 

HD video and audio with broadcast-quality audio 

HD video and audio  

Consistent experience using any device—mobile, tablet, laptop or video device 

Consistent experience using any device—mobile, tablet, laptop or video device 

Single-vendor system with end-to-end integration for seamless interoperability  

Contract with third-party vendors for in-room conferencing solutions which can create ongoing support complexity 

Record lessons for on-demand viewing in easy-to-share MP4 formats 

Session recording 

Switch from chat to a call, or from a voice call to video, with a single tap. 

 

Winner: Webex 

Webex was named a 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for Unified Communications as a Services (UCaaS). 

UCaaS is a cloud-delivered unified communications model that supports enterprise telephony, meetings (audio/video/web conferencing), unified messaging, instant messaging, and presence (personal and team). 

Comparison 4: Ease of Use 

From staff to constituents, technology skill levels vary substantially. But with so many people relying on video collaboration to stay connected, stay safe during emergencies, and stay informed, simplicity matters more than ever.  

Webex 

Zoom 

Uncomplicated user interface (UI) 

Highly intuitive user interface (UI)  

Quickly share desktop, documents, and other apps 

Fewer enterprise features 

Live collaboration feature that allows participants to feel like they are in the same room 

One-click content sharing and real-time co-annotation 

Record meetings  

Record meetings 

Create whiteboard sessions 

Digital whiteboarding 

Facial recognition to identify attendees 

 

No download necessary 

 

Accessible and inclusive experience with keyboard shortcuts, closed captioning, and screen reader support 

Accessible for everyone with closed captioning and keyboard shortcuts 

Winner: Webex 

Due to Webex’s more robust security features, Zoom may appear to be more intuitive to use —but Webex is in no way difficult to use. In fact, they’re consistently improving the experience to ensure usability.  

 Comparison 5: Teams space 

Remote work may have teams working just about everywhere but having a collaborative team workspace is key to keeping government agencies running.  

Webex 

Zoom 

Multi-solution tool: virtual meeting rooms, chat space, calling solutions 

Disparate collaboration solutions with separate video calling and team chat spaces  

Interoperability with common collaboration solutions, including Microsoft Teams 

Third-party chat vendor in Slack 

Committed to open standards and interoperability 

 

Interoperability with Microsoft and Zoom 

 

Wirelessly pair and share directly from your laptop to Webex devices 

 

Winner: Webex 

Small teams to large meetings, Webex creates virtual team spaces that enable everyone to collaborate freely using a variety of tools that bring everyone together, no matter where they are.  

Comparison 6: Integrations 

Toggling between apps and windows not only slows your team down, but it can also create frustration and more errors. This can not only make doing government business difficult, but it can also create security gaps.  

Webex 

Zoom 

Integrates with a variety of third-party solutions, including Microsoft Outlook and soon Microsoft Teams 

Third-party integrations but not as many as Webex 

Securely integrates with Webex devices, including screens, digital whiteboards, video devices, telephones, cameras, and headsets. 

 

Winner: Webex 

Webex integrates with hundreds of industry-leading apps and tools—including Microsoft Teams—so your team can get more done. 

Webex vs. Zoom Buyer's Guide image of an ipad with the book cover

 The Verdict 

The votes have been counted, and Webex is the clear winner. Webex provides all the collaboration tools state and local government agencies need. —secure video conferencing, collaborative chat space, and crystal-clear calling—to keep your staff and citizens connected.  

To learn more about Webex and what it could mean for your organization, visit our Webex Resource Page 

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About Marty Jefferson

Marty Jefferson has worked in IT for over 30 years, with extensive experience in project engineering, management, collaboration technologies, voice solutions and computer networking. He began his career in the military, and after being honorably discharged as an FTG2 Second Class Petty Officer, moved into the private sector where he now works as a Director of Collaboration and Voice Solutions for Internetwork Engineering.