Cisco ISE vs Perimeter 81 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

Perimeter 81

0.0 (0 reviews)

Perimeter 81 is a cloud-native network security platform that provides secure remote access and network management through a unified Zero Trust architecture to protect your distributed workforce and data.

Starting at $8/mo
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature Cisco ISE Perimeter 81
Website cisco.com perimeter81.com
Pricing Model Custom Subscription
Starting Price Custom Pricing $8/month
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 saas on-premise saas mobile desktop
Integrations Cisco DNA Center Splunk ServiceNow Microsoft Azure AD Okta Check Point Palo Alto Networks Rapid7 Tenable Qualys AWS Azure Google Cloud Okta Azure AD OneLogin G Suite Slack Splunk SentinelOne
Target Users mid-market enterprise small-business mid-market enterprise
Target Industries
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 1984 2018
Headquarters San Jose, USA Tel Aviv, Israel

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])

Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 simplifies how you secure your modern, distributed workforce by replacing traditional hardware-based VPNs with a cloud-native Zero Trust solution. You can build a secure corporate network in minutes, connecting your remote employees to on-premises resources and cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud without the need for complex manual configuration.

The platform gives you a single dashboard to manage global gateways, enforce multi-factor authentication, and monitor network activity in real-time. By segmenting your network and applying least-privilege access policies, you reduce your attack surface and ensure that your team stays productive and secure regardless of their physical location or the device they use.

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])

Perimeter 81 Features

  • Zero Trust Access. Verify every user and device before granting access to specific applications to prevent unauthorized lateral movement.
  • Cloud Management. Deploy and manage your entire global network infrastructure through a single, intuitive web-based dashboard.
  • Private Gateways. Create dedicated gateways with static IP addresses to secure your cloud environments and office resources.
  • Device Posture Check. Ensure your team's devices meet security requirements like active antivirus or disk encryption before they connect.
  • Web Content Filtering. Protect your employees from malicious websites and control access to specific web categories across your organization.
  • Network Segmentation. Divide your network into isolated segments so you can grant users access only to the specific tools they need.
  • Always-on VPN. Keep your remote employees protected automatically by ensuring their connection is encrypted whenever they go online.
  • Monitoring and Logging. Track all network activity and generate detailed audit logs to maintain compliance and identify potential threats.

Pricing Comparison

C

Cisco ISE Pricing

P

Perimeter 81 Pricing

Essentials
$8
  • Minimum 10 users
  • Software-defined perimeter
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Single Sign-On (SSO) integration
  • Unlimited data bandwidth
  • Standard support

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

Perimeter 81

Pros

  • Extremely fast setup compared to traditional hardware
  • Clean and modern user interface for admins
  • Reliable connection speeds for remote employees
  • Excellent integration with major cloud providers
  • Responsive customer support for technical issues

Cons

  • Minimum user requirements may limit small teams
  • Dedicated gateways require an additional monthly fee
  • Occasional client software updates require manual intervention
×

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