ExtremeControl
ExtremeControl is a comprehensive network access control solution providing automated security policy management and visibility across wired and wireless infrastructures to protect your corporate data from unauthorized access.
Tailscale
Tailscale is a zero-config VPN software that creates secure mesh networks between your devices and cloud resources using the WireGuard protocol to simplify remote access and internal connectivity.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ExtremeControl | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Website | extreme-networks.com | tailscale.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 0 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1996 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Morrisville, USA | Toronto, Canada |
Overview
ExtremeControl
ExtremeControl gives you full visibility and management over every device connecting to your network. You can automatically identify, authenticate, and authorize users and IoT devices across your entire infrastructure from a single pane of glass. This ensures that only the right people and healthy devices access your sensitive data, whether they are connecting via wired or wireless points.
You can implement granular security policies that follow users as they move throughout your organization. The platform integrates deeply with your existing security stack to provide real-time threat response and automated remediation. By centralizing your access control, you reduce the manual burden on your IT team while significantly strengthening your overall security posture against unauthorized lateral movement.
Tailscale
Tailscale makes creating a secure network between your computers, servers, and cloud instances as easy as installing an app. It builds a private mesh network—called a tailnet—that connects your devices directly to each other using the WireGuard protocol. This means you can access your home office computer from a coffee shop or connect to a private database in the cloud without managing complex firewall rules or centralized VPN gateways.
You can manage identity and access through your existing providers like Google, Microsoft 365, or GitHub, ensuring that only authorized users can reach your sensitive resources. It handles the difficult parts of networking, like NAT traversal and key rotation, automatically in the background. Whether you are a developer connecting to a local test environment or an enterprise securing thousands of endpoints, it provides a stable, encrypted connection that works across any provider or location.
Overview
ExtremeControl Features
- Endpoint Visibility See exactly what is on your network at all times with automated discovery of users, devices, and applications.
- Granular Policy Management Create and enforce specific access rules based on user roles, device types, location, and time of day.
- Automated Onboarding Streamline the connection process for guests and employees with self-service portals that reduce IT support tickets.
- IoT Security Identify and profile headless IoT devices automatically to place them into secure, isolated network segments.
- Compliance Assessment Check device health and security posture before granting access to ensure every endpoint meets your corporate standards.
- Threat Response Isolate compromised devices instantly through automated triggers when your security software detects suspicious behavior or malware.
Tailscale Features
- Zero-Config Mesh VPN. Connect your devices directly to one another without manual port forwarding or complex firewall rules.
- Single Sign-On Integration. Use your existing identity providers like Google, Microsoft 365, or Okta to authenticate users and devices.
- MagicDNS. Access your devices using short, easy-to-remember names instead of tracking changing IP addresses across your network.
- Tailscale SSH. Manage SSH access to your servers using your tailnet identity instead of distributing and rotating static SSH keys.
- Split DNS. Configure specific DNS servers for different domains so your internal queries stay private while public traffic flows normally.
- Exit Nodes. Route all your internet traffic through a specific trusted device on your network to stay secure on public Wi-Fi.
- Subnet Routers. Expose entire existing networks to your tailnet so you can access legacy devices that cannot run the software.
- Access Control Lists. Define granular security policies in code to restrict which users can access specific devices or ports.
Pricing Comparison
ExtremeControl Pricing
Tailscale Pricing
- Up to 3 users
- Up to 100 devices
- MagicDNS
- Tailscale SSH
- Community support
- Admin console access
- Everything in Personal, plus:
- Up to 10 users included
- User & group management
- Basic access control lists
- Email support
- 1 identity provider
Pros & Cons
ExtremeControl
Pros
- Exceptional visibility into all connected wired and wireless devices
- Seamless integration with existing Extreme Networks hardware and software
- Highly flexible policy engine for complex user environments
- Reliable automated onboarding for guest and BYOD users
Cons
- Initial configuration requires significant technical expertise and time
- Documentation can be dense for new administrators to navigate
- Higher price point compared to basic access control tools
Tailscale
Pros
- Extremely simple setup process for all devices
- Reliable connectivity even behind strict firewalls
- Generous free tier for personal projects
- Minimal impact on system performance and battery
- Seamless integration with existing identity providers
Cons
- Requires a third-party identity provider login
- Limited advanced routing features for complex setups
- Mobile app can occasionally drain battery
- Admin console lacks some deep auditing logs