macmon NAC
macmon NAC is a network access control software providing immediate network visibility and security by identifying, authenticating, and controlling all devices connected to your corporate infrastructure to prevent 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 | macmon NAC | Tailscale |
|---|---|---|
| Website | macmon.eu | tailscale.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days 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 | 2003 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany | Toronto, Canada |
Overview
macmon NAC
macmon NAC gives you complete control over your network by providing instant visibility into every connected device. You can see exactly what is on your network, where it is connected, and how it is behaving without needing to install complex agents on every endpoint. It simplifies security by automating the authentication process for both wired and wireless connections, ensuring only authorized devices can access your sensitive data.
You can implement guest management and BYOD policies easily, allowing visitors to connect securely while keeping your core infrastructure protected. The software integrates with your existing switches and infrastructure, making it a flexible choice for growing businesses. Whether you are managing a single office or a global enterprise, you can maintain a high security standard with minimal administrative effort.
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
macmon NAC Features
- Network Overview Get a real-time graphical view of your entire topology so you can see every connected device and switch port instantly.
- Agentless Operation Secure your endpoints without installing software on every device, making it easy to manage printers, medical devices, and IoT.
- Guest Portal Provide secure internet access for visitors through a customizable captive portal while keeping them isolated from your internal network.
- Compliance Enforcement Automatically isolate or block devices that don't meet your security requirements to prevent the spread of malware and threats.
- VLAN Management Assign users and devices to specific network segments automatically based on their identity or department for better data isolation.
- BYOD Control Manage personal employee devices safely by defining clear access rules and authentication methods for your corporate Wi-Fi.
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
macmon NAC 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
macmon NAC
Pros
- Fast implementation compared to other NAC solutions
- Excellent visibility into non-traditional IoT devices
- Intuitive web interface for daily management tasks
- Strong integration with existing network hardware vendors
Cons
- Initial configuration requires deep networking knowledge
- Documentation can be overly technical for beginners
- Pricing is high for very small environments
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