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.
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 | FortiNAC | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Website | fortinet.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 | 2000 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, USA | Toronto, Canada |
Overview
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.
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
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.
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
FortiNAC 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
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
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