Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.9
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management offers ROI through compliance, security, cost savings, and efficient PAM benefits on Microsoft Azure.
Sentiment score
7.1
Cisco Identity Services Engine enhances security, simplifies operations, and reduces costs while boosting productivity and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Money saving is the main part because every organization tries to reduce their costs.
System Engineer at Corporate Projukti Limited
Direct comparisons with Forescout reveal up to 30% to 40% difference in cost savings.
Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
We also save money because we increased security, stopped incidents, and reduced breaches and security breaches.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.1
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management support is positively rated for expertise but could improve response times, especially in Pacific time.
Sentiment score
6.7
Cisco ISE support is highly rated for knowledge and responsiveness but struggles with response times and communication challenges.
Support is critical, especially when challenges arise related to PAM.
Solution Architect at FVC
They offer support around the clock, and responses are generally quick.
CEO at a non-tech company with 11-50 employees
BeyondTrust support is reliable.
System Engineer at Corporate Projukti Limited
I rate the technical support as one out of ten.
Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Cisco support has pretty good teams for support and every time we had good answers and we could somehow solve the issues we had.
Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis
TAC support from Cisco is a notable feature; it provides very professional support.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management scales effectively, supports large networks, and integrates easily, meeting enterprise-level needs efficiently.
Sentiment score
7.3
Cisco ISE supports smooth scalability for diverse enterprises, but virtualization and hardware challenges may require strategic solutions.
The initial understanding of the environment is crucial, followed by a simple deployment process.
Solution Architect at FVC
You can run an all-in-one deployment and switch to distributed mode as your company grows, relying on Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) to support your scalability needs.
Cybersecurity Team Leader at EMAK For Integrated Solutions
Factors like architecture, business nature, and legal limitations such as GDPR affect it.
Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
However, you can have some latency issues depending on where your devices are.
Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management is stable and excels in cloud deployments, with minor configuration-related issues noted.
Sentiment score
7.7
Cisco ISE is stable and reliable, but large deployments may face challenges, requiring proper configuration and effective support.
The appliances are stable, and there are no significant issues with backups or recovery.
CEO at a non-tech company with 11-50 employees
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management is very easy to use; if you know the process of cybersecurity, you will not experience downtime.
Presales Engineer at SAUDI PARAMOUNT COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is considered very reliable and stable.
Solution Architect, Presales Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
The stability of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is poor for certain use cases, like authentication.
Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Sometimes when we have upgrades or failovers with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), we had some minor issues.
Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis
 

Room For Improvement

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management needs UI enhancement, better OS integration, smoother deployment, improved support, and streamlined policy management.
Cisco ISE is hindered by complexity, compatibility issues, costly licensing, and needs improvements in usability, support, and performance.
The ability to view recorded live sessions of specific users is a crucial benefit.
Solution Architect at FVC
There is a need for better MQ integration with DevOps and improvements in architecture.
CEO at a non-tech company with 11-50 employees
This product is highly ranked on Gartner, Peers, and other review sites.
System Engineer at Corporate Projukti Limited
The whole setup works well with Cisco access points and Cisco switches, but when you have multiple vendors in the environment, such as HP switches or access points like Aruba, you'll find they will not work well with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE).
Technical Services Lead at Telenet Solutions
Pricing can be more expensive compared to other vendors, and there is a significant price gap observed, which doesn't seem justified by some specific features.
Solution Architect, Presales Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
They are very poor in asset classification and should focus on improving the preauthentication profiling, especially for NAC use cases.
Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
 

Setup Cost

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management offers complex, competitive pricing with varying licensing models, recommended for negotiation and fixed-price deals.
Cisco ISE pricing is complex and costly, with strong vendor partnerships needed for discounts, favoring large enterprises over smaller businesses.
If a solution fits a customer's budget, considerations must be made that it may not have all the features of more expensive solutions.
Solution Architect at FVC
Compared to other solutions like HPE ClearPass, Cisco is more costly, and the conversation suggests a possible forty percent price gap compared to competitors.
Solution Architect, Presales Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
The license costs can range between $50,000 to $100,000 per year for enterprises.
Technical Services Lead at Telenet Solutions
Cloud solutions are expensive, while on-prem setups with shared environments are cheaper but not effective.
Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
 

Valuable Features

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management enhances security with granular control, integration, and features like asset discovery and threat detection.
Cisco ISE excels in security, network access control, and integration, offering adaptability, scalability, and centralized management for organizations.
Another important aspect is the ability to move the solution to the cloud or install it on-premises, offering my customers flexibility.
CEO at a non-tech company with 11-50 employees
When any unauthorized user makes an attempt, it notifies the administrators.
System Engineer at Corporate Projukti Limited
For security purposes in BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management, when employees are working in the system, we can make a recording of the video, showing the modifications and configurations they made, allowing us to see everything.
Presales Engineer at SAUDI PARAMOUNT COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) offers authentication using RADIUS, enhancing network security by separating and segregating networks.
Technical Services Lead at Telenet Solutions
There is value because it helps us secure the network and prevents certain things from happening which could cause financial loss.
Ag Systems & Networks Head at UNBS
The adaptability of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) policy enforcement can fit to the site we have depending on which kind of devices we have on site and then the needs for authentication, granting access and then assigning each device into its correct network for segmentation.
Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis
 

Categories and Ranking

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privil...
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
32
Ranking in other categories
Privileged Access Management (PAM) (9th), Anti-Malware Tools (13th)
Cisco Identity Services Eng...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
145
Ranking in other categories
Network Access Control (NAC) (2nd), Cisco Security Portfolio (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management is designed for Privileged Access Management (PAM) and holds a mindshare of 2.8%, down 4.1% compared to last year.
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), on the other hand, focuses on Network Access Control (NAC), holds 22.4% mindshare, down 28.3% since last year.
Privileged Access Management (PAM) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management2.8%
CyberArk Privileged Access Manager11.6%
WALLIX Bastion5.1%
Other80.5%
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)22.4%
Aruba ClearPass21.6%
Fortinet FortiNAC16.1%
Other39.9%
Network Access Control (NAC)
 

Featured Reviews

Md Abdul Hakim - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer at Corporate Projukti Limited
Offers solid performance and user adaptability but needs better pricing options and local support
BeyondTrust is a strong, compliance-driven solution with excellent market recognition (Gartner, Peers, etc.), making it appealing for Bangladeshi enterprises. However, some key improvements could accelerate adoption: Areas for Improvement: Pricing & Local Affordability While the product’s capabilities justify its value, cost remains a barrier for many Bangladeshi organizations. Competitive pricing or regional discounts would make it more accessible. Local Support & Partnerships Currently, lack of local partners or trainers creates delays in support, implementation, and pricing negotiations. Establishing a Bangladesh-based support team or authorized resellers would improve responsiveness and trust. Enhanced Onboarding & Training Offering localized training programs (in Bengali/English) and documentation would help IT teams deploy and manage the solution more efficiently. Recommendations for Next Release: Introduce tiered pricing for emerging markets like Bangladesh. Develop a partner network in Bangladesh for faster service and sales. Add simplified dashboards for easier monitoring by non-technical staff. Final Note: BeyondTrust is already a top-tier PAM solution, but addressing these gaps would solidify its leadership in Bangladesh’s growing cybersecurity market.
NF
Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis
Has improved authentication management and simplified visitor network access
The log capacity in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be enhanced because today natively on the ISE can only have a look at the logs from the day before. You cannot search into the oldest logs; you have to use another tool for that. This can be blocking if you don't have any log consolidation solution. To do a search for an issue or something that happened two days ago, you cannot search directly in there. The capacity of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be enhanced. Something between one week and one month for the log capacity would be nice.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions are best for your needs.
880,315 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
18%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
9%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Computer Software Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business15
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise15
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business44
Midsize Enterprise32
Large Enterprise91
 

Questions from the Community

Looking for recommendations and a pros/cons template for software to detect insider threats
This is an inside-out --- outside-in --- inside-in question, as an insider can be an outsider as well. There is no short answer other than a blend of a PAM tool with Behavioral Analytics and Endpo...
What do you like most about BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management?
The solution's least privilege enforcement has helped us ensure access is given to only the required people.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management?
BeyondTrust's pricing is premium but negotiable for Bangladesh. Expect 20-30% extra costs from currency/import factors. Start with modular licensing (EPM first), demand emerging market discounts, a...
Which is better - Aruba Clearpass or Cisco ISE?
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 ...
What are the main differences between Cisco ISE and Forescout Platform?
OK, so Cisco ISE uses 802.1X to secure switchports against unauthorized access. The drawback of this is that ISE cannot secure the port if a device does not support 802.1x. Cameras, badge readers, ...
How does Cisco ISE compare with Fortinet FortiNAC?
Cisco ISE uses AI endpoint analytics to identify new devices based on their behavior. It will also notify you if someone plugs in with a device that is not allowed and will block it. The user exper...
 

Also Known As

BeyondTrust PowerBroker, BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management for Windows, BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management for Mac, BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management for Linux, BeyondTrust Endpoint Privilege Management for Unix, Avecto Defendpoint
Cisco ISE
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Aera Energy LLC, Care New England, James Madison University
Aegean Motorway, BC Hydro, Beachbody, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Cisco IT, Derby City Council, Global Banking Customer, Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, Houston Methodist, Linz AG, London Hydro, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Molina Healthcare, MST Systems, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Reykjavik University, Wildau University
Find out what your peers are saying about CyberArk, One Identity, Delinea and others in Privileged Access Management (PAM). Updated: January 2026.
880,315 professionals have used our research since 2012.