Cisco ISE
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.
FortiNAC
FortiNAC is a network access control solution that provides visibility, control, and automated response for every device connecting to your multi-vendor network environment.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cisco ISE | FortiNAC |
|---|---|---|
| Website | cisco.com | fortinet.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Custom |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 90 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1984 | 2000 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, USA | Sunnyvale, USA |
Overview
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.
FortiNAC
FortiNAC gives you complete visibility and control over everything on your network. As your environment grows with IoT devices, BYOD, and guest users, you can automatically identify and profile every single endpoint the moment it tries to connect. You no longer have to wonder what is on your wire or in your air; the system sees it all and applies your security policies instantly.
You can implement micro-segmentation to ensure devices only access the specific resources they need, significantly reducing your attack surface. If a device starts behaving strangely or becomes compromised, the platform can automatically quarantine it or kick it off the network without you lifting a finger. It works across your existing switches and wireless access points, making it a flexible choice for securing complex, multi-vendor infrastructures.
Overview
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.
FortiNAC Features
- Agentless Visibility. Scan and identify every device on your network without installing software on the endpoints themselves.
- Dynamic Segmentation. Assign devices to specific network segments automatically based on their role, type, and security posture.
- Automated Response. Set up triggers to automatically isolate or quarantine devices that show signs of compromise or policy violations.
- IoT Security. Profile and secure headless IoT devices that cannot run traditional security agents or antivirus software.
- Guest Onboarding. Provide a secure self-service portal for visitors to access your Wi-Fi without compromising your internal data.
- Multi-Vendor Support. Manage security policies across hundreds of different third-party switches and wireless access points from one interface.
Pricing Comparison
Cisco ISE Pricing
FortiNAC Pricing
Pros & Cons
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
FortiNAC
Pros
- Excellent visibility into unmanaged IoT and BYOD devices
- Broad compatibility with diverse third-party networking hardware
- Powerful automation rules for instant threat containment
- Granular control over network access policies and segments
Cons
- Initial configuration and setup can be quite complex
- User interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS tools
- Documentation can be difficult to navigate for new users