Cisco ISE vs Darktrace / NETWORK Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

Cisco ISE

0.0 (0 reviews)

Cisco Identity Services Engine is a network administration product that enables you to create and enforce security policies for users and devices connecting to your organization's network infrastructure.

Starting at --
Free Trial 90 days
VS

Darktrace / NETWORK

0.0 (0 reviews)

Darktrace / NETWORK is a cybersecurity platform that uses self-learning AI to detect, investigate, and respond to sophisticated digital threats across your entire network infrastructure in real-time.

Starting at --
Free Trial 30 days

Quick Comparison

Feature Cisco ISE Darktrace / NETWORK
Website cisco.com darktrace.com
Pricing Model Custom Custom
Starting Price Custom Pricing Custom Pricing
FREE Trial ✓ 90 days free trial ✓ 30 days free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment saas on-premise saas on-premise
Integrations Cisco DNA Center Splunk ServiceNow Microsoft Azure AD Okta Check Point Palo Alto Networks Rapid7 Tenable Qualys AWS Microsoft Azure Google Cloud Microsoft 365 Slack Okta CrowdStrike Splunk ServiceNow SentinelOne
Target Users mid-market enterprise mid-market enterprise
Target Industries
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 1984 2013
Headquarters San Jose, USA Cambridge, UK

Overview

C

Cisco ISE

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) gives you a centralized way to manage security across your entire network. You can see exactly who and what is connecting to your environment, whether they are using a wired, wireless, or VPN connection. By gathering real-time data from users and devices, you can make informed decisions about who gets access to specific resources and under what conditions.

You can automate your network security by creating granular policies that adapt based on the user's role, device type, and location. This helps you stop threats before they spread by automatically isolating suspicious devices. Whether you are managing a corporate office or a distributed workforce, it provides the visibility you need to maintain a zero-trust security posture without slowing down your team.

strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

Darktrace / NETWORK

Darktrace / NETWORK helps you protect your digital environment by learning the unique 'pattern of life' for every user and device on your network. Instead of relying on static rules or historical attack data, it uses self-learning AI to identify subtle deviations that signal a brewing cyberattack. You can visualize your entire enterprise, from cloud and SaaS to corporate networks and industrial systems, through a single pane of glass.

You can stop in-progress attacks like ransomware and data exfiltration in seconds with autonomous response capabilities. The platform doesn't just alert you to problems; it takes targeted action to neutralize threats without disrupting your normal business operations. It scales with your growth, providing continuous visibility and protection whether you are managing a small office or a global enterprise infrastructure.

Overview

C

Cisco ISE Features

  • AI Endpoint Analytics Identify and profile every device on your network automatically using AI-driven behavioral modeling to eliminate blind spots.
  • Zero Trust Access Enforce software-defined segmentation to ensure you only grant users access to the specific applications they need for work.
  • Automated Containment Block or quarantine compromised devices instantly through integrations with your security tools to prevent lateral movement of threats.
  • Guest Access Management Create custom web portals for your visitors to provide secure, time-limited internet access without compromising your internal data.
  • Compliance Monitoring Check the security posture of every device before it connects to ensure they meet your corporate encryption and antivirus standards.
  • Centralized Policy Management Define your security rules once and push them across your entire global network from a single, unified management console.
strtoupper($product2['name'][0])

Darktrace / NETWORK Features

  • Self-Learning AI. Establish a baseline of normal activity for every user and device to spot even the most subtle anomalies.
  • Autonomous Response. Neutralize active threats like ransomware in seconds with surgical actions that keep your business running smoothly.
  • Cyber AI Analyst. Automate your threat investigations to reduce triage time and surface high-priority incidents with human-readable reports.
  • Unified Visibility. Monitor your entire digital estate including cloud, on-premises, and remote workers from one centralized interface.
  • Real-Time Detection. Identify zero-day attacks and insider threats the moment they occur rather than waiting for signature updates.
  • Threat Visualizer. Explore your network topology and replay security incidents visually to understand exactly how a threat moved.

Pricing Comparison

C

Cisco ISE Pricing

D

Darktrace / NETWORK Pricing

Pros & Cons

M

Cisco ISE

Pros

  • Unmatched visibility into every device connected to your network
  • Granular policy control for complex enterprise environments
  • Seamless integration with the broader Cisco security ecosystem
  • Powerful automation for isolating and remediating infected endpoints
  • Highly scalable for global organizations with thousands of users

Cons

  • Significant learning curve for initial setup and configuration
  • Requires substantial hardware resources for on-premise deployments
  • Licensing structure can be complex to navigate and manage
A

Darktrace / NETWORK

Pros

  • Detects novel threats that traditional tools often miss
  • Significantly reduces manual investigation time for security teams
  • Provides deep visibility into previously hidden network traffic
  • Autonomous response prevents ransomware from spreading effectively

Cons

  • Initial tuning period required to reduce false positives
  • Premium pricing reflects its enterprise-grade capabilities
  • Interface requires some time to master fully
×

Please claim profile in order to edit product details and view analytics. Provide your work email @productdomain to receive a verification link.