Aruba ClearPass vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

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HPE Aruba Networking Logo
19,466 views|13,272 comparisons
95% willing to recommend
Sophos Logo
1,942 views|1,206 comparisons
93% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Aug 11, 2023

We compared Sophos Network Access Control and Aruba ClearPass across several parameters based on our users' reviews. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below:

  • Ease of Deployment: Sophos Network Access Control has a simple and quick initial setup process that usually takes a couple of hours. Aruba ClearPass setup can be more complex and time-consuming, ranging from a few days to several months. The ease of setup varies among users, with some finding it easy and others finding it challenging.
  • Features: Sophos Network Access Control is highly regarded for its effortless implementation, dependability, expandability, and cost-effectiveness. It provides functionalities like blocking IP addresses, safeguarding web activities, filtering URLs, and managing application access. Aruba ClearPass is appreciated for its intuitive interface, user-friendliness, and straightforwardness in utilizing and overseeing the solution. It offers extensive NAC capabilities, seamless integration with Active Directory, and robust security features.
  • Room for Improvement: Sophos Network Access Control needs enhancements in access point range management, firewall plugins, licensing clarity, resource optimization, interface speed, and reporting. Aruba ClearPass requires improvements in SSL certificate handling, monitoring capabilities, onboarding, troubleshooting, documentation, scalability, and additional features.
  • Pricing: Sophos Network Access Control is perceived as having a reasonable and negotiable setup cost, whereas opinions on the affordability of Aruba ClearPass vary. The cost of Aruba ClearPass can fluctuate depending on the region and individual agreements with partners.
  • ROI: Sophos Network Access Control does not provide information on ROI. Aruba ClearPass has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing dissatisfaction and others mentioning achieving ROI after a few years.
  • Service and Support: Sophos Network Access Control receives praise for its customer service, characterized by helpful and timely responses. Some users, however, note a lack of knowledge regarding implementation. Aruba ClearPass also garners positive feedback for its customer service, although there is room for improvement in terms of response time and knowledge.

Comparison Results: Sophos Network Access Control (NAC) is praised for its ease of installation, comprehensive documentation, dependability, and affordable pricing. However, it could benefit from improvements in managing access points, firewall plugins, and resource optimization. Aruba ClearPass receives mixed feedback regarding its initial setup, but is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, extensive NAC features, and integration capabilities. It requires enhancements in SSL certificate management, user interface, and cloud deployment options. Pricing for both products is considered reasonable, although some users find Aruba ClearPass to be expensive. Support for both products is generally positive, with some areas that could be improved.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba ClearPass vs. Sophos Network Access Control Report (Updated: March 2024).
768,740 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It eliminated the management of 10 different individual discrete RADIUS servers.""A mature and functional product.""It's very easy to access support and the documentation is self-explanatory.""The most valuable feature of Aruba ClearPass is the ease of deployment and integration with other equipment in the network.""I would rate the stability a nine out of ten.""The most valuable feature, I would say, is the cost-effectiveness of the solution when compared to others.""It is a very stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.""The most valuable features of Aruba ClearPass are the authentication mechanisms and the integration with Active Directory(AD)."

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"The initial setup is very easy.""We have had interactions with the technical support team through the Xnet platform. It's good.""Sophos' technical support is great, very fast and responsive, and they always know how to fix the problem.""The user interface makes it easy to configure and use.""The wifi control is fantastic and makes it very easy to administer.""The installation is very straightforward.""The pricing is very reasonable and you can negotiate on the price.""Sophos has helped us to save time and money and to better manage web activities. It has also helped us to reduce misuse of the network and restrict hacking attempts."

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Cons
"The initial setup was quite complex, it is not that easy.""I remember our technical team stating that the installation front of the solution was a bit difficult when compared to other solutions.""Licensing cost is extremely high.""The setup of ClearPass can be a bit convoluted at times.""An issue with Aruba ClearPass is the lack of information and poor community support. You can't find the material easily on the internet for any issues. For example, if you're looking for any configuration or exploring any issue, it's not easy to find information, and this is the problem with Aruba ClearPass. Access to helpful information and poor community support could be improved. Another area for improvement in Aruba ClearPass is that some of its advanced features aren't easy to find. For example, my team needed to apply Google single sign-on, but it wasn't easy to find. Aruba ClearPass is a big solution with a lot of capabilities, and it's a very advanced solution, so you need to either have some experience with it or undergo some training. Aruba ClearPass is a very good solution from the network perspective, but the issue is the poor support you get from the community. When you try using the solution, some areas aren't easy. When you search on YouTube, you'll find very few materials about Aruba ClearPass. It isn't like Cisco where you can find information from hundreds of websites, on YouTube, etc. This is bad for Aruba, so this area should be improved. Aruba has a training center, but the usual training offered is only for Aruba Wireless and Aruba Switches. If you have another solution, it's not easy to integrate it with Aruba ClearPass, so this is an area for improvement. You need to do some research to successfully integrate your solution with Aruba ClearPass. We integrated Aruba ClearPass with Ubiquiti WiFi, and it's working fine with no issues. My next project is to start integrating Aruba ClearPass with Cisco Switches. The solution is good, but on the website, there's no book and no video, and you can't find the material on Aruba ClearPass easily. This is one of the issues with Aruba.""Aruba ClearPass has a complex pricing scheme, so that's an area for improvement. The process for setting up Aruba ClearPass also needs improvement. It could be easier.""It should be clearer in the pre-sales stage that clear, documented, executive-supported InfoSec policy is the key to success.""The GUI of Aruba ClearPass could improve, it is not user-friendly."

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"An area that could be improved is the information about licensing, which is fairly confusing at present.""The solution could offer more useful documentation.""The interface on the cloud could be a bit better - just to give more performance on it.""The solution can improve the for applying policies. They can be complex depending don't the group they are applied to.""The user interface, in terms of managing the product, could be better.""Sophos Network Access Control needs improvement regarding its slow interface, loading time, and reporting.""I would like to be able to fully customize the reports.""In order to provide better management, it would be ideal with they offered better plugins for their firewall."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Licensing and pricing are extremely straightforward."
  • "Run a 90 day free Proof of Concept (POC) for each product by implementing and using it fully in your environment. This way you will be educated on its features, functionality, and manageability.​"
  • "​Cost is important. I switched because Aruba's costs were well below Cisco's."
  • "We pay an annual licensing fee for Aruba and there are no additional costs."
  • "The pricing is not bad and everything is included."
  • "It is affordable. In Lebanon, companies are small, and they do not have a big budget. They cannot invest a lot of money, and Aruba ClearPass is quite affordable for them."
  • "The licensing model is very straightforward. There are two types of licensing for Aruba ClearPass, a perpetual license, and a subscription. Both of them are straightforward. We don't need to read an ordering guide, it's very clear."
  • "Aruba is a little more expensive than other products in the market here."
  • More Aruba ClearPass Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Sophos Network Access Control is costly but has a similar price range as CrowdStrike and Check Point. The product can get more market share if Sophos can play around with Sophos Network Access Control pricing and improve it."
  • "I rate the price of Sophos Network Access Control a five out of ten."
  • "Sophos Network Access Control is very cheap compared to other solutions like Cisco, Barracuda, and Palo Alto."
  • "It provides a moderate pricing option for all of its features and benefits."
  • "It is quite expensive."
  • "Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."
  • More Sophos Network Access Control Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer: Aruba ClearPass is a Network Access Control tool that gives secure network access to multiple device types. You can adapt the policies to VPN access, wired, or wireless access. You can securely… more »
    Top Answer:I've done quite a lot of work with ClearPass, and not a lot with FortiNAC/Bradford. ClearPass incorporates a number of different functions including ClearPass Guest for creating complex wireless… more »
    Top Answer:If you are looking at the base installation, then it was a very straightforward process, which I would rate an eight or nine out of ten.
    Top Answer:Sophos Network Access Control has a useful interface, and I like its dashboard, which is very useful for us to check everything.
    Top Answer:I last used Sophos Network Access Control for user access control. I expected the solution to combine all of the network devices in our organization. We sometimes have problems with the solution's… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    19,466
    Comparisons
    13,272
    Reviews
    29
    Average Words per Review
    428
    Rating
    8.4
    Views
    1,942
    Comparisons
    1,206
    Reviews
    9
    Average Words per Review
    464
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Avenda eTIPS
    Learn More
    Overview

    Aruba ClearPass is a network access control (NAC) solution that provides a range of security and access management capabilities for wired, wireless, and VPN networks. ClearPass enables organizations to secure their networks and devices, enforce security policies, and provide secure access to network resources.

    Aruba ClearPass Features

    Aruba ClearPass has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Device profiling: Aruba ClearPass automatically profiles and classifies network devices based on type, manufacturer, operating system, and more, to help organizations secure their networks.
    • Guest management: The solution provides a secure and easy-to-use guest management system for organizations to provide guest access to their networks.
    • User-friendly interface: The Aruba ClearPass includes a user-friendly interface, enabling administrators to easily manage and enforce security policies, monitor network activity, and respond to security threats.
    • Policy enforcement: Users can enforce security policies based on device type, user role, and other factors, to help secure their networks and devices.
    • Threat detection and response: With its real-time monitoring and threat detection capabilities, organizations are able to quickly identify and respond to security threats.
    • Authentication and authorization: Aruba ClearPass offers a range of authentication and authorization methods, including certificate-based authentication and 802.1X, to provide secure access to network resources.
    • Reporting and analytics: The solution Includes real-time reporting and analytics capabilities, enabling administrators to monitor network activity, track security incidents, and improve security over time.

    Aruba ClearPass Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing Aruba ClearPass. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • Comprehensive solution: Aruba ClearPass integrates with a range of network security technologies, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and VPN gateways, to provide a comprehensive security solution.
    • Scalability: Designed to scale from small to large organizations, ClearPass provides a solution that can grow with an organization's needs.
    • Increased visibility: By implementing Aruba ClearPass, administrators can monitor network activity, track security incidents, and improve security over time.
    • Improved user productivity: The solution’s secure and seamless access to network resources helps users be more productive and access the resources they need, when they need them.
    • Better business agility: With the solution, organizations can quickly respond to security threats and enforce security policies, improving overall business agility.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Aruba ClearPass is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it’s easy to use, has a valuable Guest Captive Portal and virtual security enforcement, and has a good web dashboard and policy manager.

    “It is easy to use and more integrated with the Aruba wireless networks,” says Muhammad N., Network & Information Security Engineer at a healthcare company.

    Ammar F., Head of IT at Hubtech, explains, “What I like most about Aruba ClearPass is that it has the best enforcement feature for the network. I also like its Guest Captive Portal and virtual security enforcement features, but the virtual security enforcement feature is still under testing by my company. Aruba ClearPass also has a wonderful UI which I find valuable."

    Another PeerSpot reviewer mentions, "The web dashboard and the policy manager are very intuitive and very easy for the engineers to use."

    Sophos NAC Provides comprehensive, easy-to-deploy network access control that protects enterprise networks from the threats posed by non-compliant, compromised, or misconfigured endpoint computers. The software solution is vendor-neutral and works with existing network infrastructure and security applications. Computers are permitted or denied access to the network, based on a centrally defined, policy-driven assessment - and isolated, quarantined for remediation, automatically remediated, or sent alerts. Administrators can define and manage policies uniquely for managed and guest computers, including checking their security status and ensuring that no unwanted applications are run.
    Sample Customers
    Consulate Health Care, Los Angeles Unified School District, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC), San Diego State University, KFC, ACTS Retirement-Life Communities
    Rushmoor Borough Council
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider18%
    Computer Software Company18%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Healthcare Company11%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Government9%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm43%
    Manufacturing Company29%
    University14%
    Energy/Utilities Company14%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Government9%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Real Estate/Law Firm8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business42%
    Midsize Enterprise23%
    Large Enterprise35%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business23%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise60%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business75%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise54%
    Buyer's Guide
    Aruba ClearPass vs. Sophos Network Access Control
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba ClearPass vs. Sophos Network Access Control and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    768,740 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Aruba ClearPass is ranked 2nd in Network Access Control (NAC) with 75 reviews while Sophos Network Access Control is ranked 7th in Network Access Control (NAC) with 18 reviews. Aruba ClearPass is rated 8.6, while Sophos Network Access Control is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of Aruba ClearPass writes "Easy to use, multifeatured, and reliable policy management platform for identity authentication and new device onboarding". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Sophos Network Access Control writes "An affordable solution that provides web protection, URL filtering, and application filtering". Aruba ClearPass is most compared with Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine), Fortinet FortiNAC, Forescout Platform, Microsoft Intune and F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM), whereas Sophos Network Access Control is most compared with Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine), Fortinet FortiNAC, Forescout Platform, F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) and Ruckus Cloudpath. See our Aruba ClearPass vs. Sophos Network Access Control report.

    See our list of best Network Access Control (NAC) vendors.

    We monitor all Network Access Control (NAC) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.