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Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs Fortinet FortiSIEM comparison

The compared Cisco and Fortinet solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #17 in NMS , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 0.6% mindshare in the category. Fortinet is ranked #7 in SIEM , with an average rating of 8.1, and holds a 3.2% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 82% of Fortinet users who would recommend it.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...
Read 25 Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reviews
  • 891 Views
  • 864 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
Fortinet FortiSIEM
Read 75 Fortinet FortiSIEM reviews
  • 5,537 Views
  • 4,042 Comparison Views
82% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) and Fortinet FortiSIEM based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Network Monitoring Software solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. Fortinet FortiSIEM Report (Updated: May 2020).
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. Fortinet FortiSIEM
May 2020
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Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
25
Ranking in other categories
Network Monitoring Software (17th)
Fortinet FortiSIEM
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
5.8
Number of Reviews
75
Ranking in other categories
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) (7th)
 

Mindshare comparison

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) and Fortinet FortiSIEM aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) is designed for Network Monitoring Software and holds a mindshare of 0.6%, up 0.5% compared to last year.
Fortinet FortiSIEM, on the other hand, focuses on Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), holds 3.2% mindshare, up 2.9% since last year.
Network Monitoring Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)0.6%
Zabbix10.1%
SolarWinds NPM4.2%
Other85.1%
Network Monitoring Software
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Fortinet FortiSIEM3.2%
Wazuh9.3%
Splunk Enterprise Security8.7%
Other78.8%
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
 

Featured Reviews

Upul Abhayasena - PeerSpot reviewer
Robust management tool with an easy setup and room for more features
DCNM is used by one of the airline customers in Qatar to manage many data centers and rack switches running on normal Nexus or NX-OS mode. They required a controller platform to manage these Nexus switches, and thus, they utilized DCNM as a Fabric controller. Given that ACI deployment is very low…
Read full review
Oliver Jackson - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems monitoring enhanced by firewall and intrusion detection features
My primary use case for Fortinet FortiSIEM is systems monitoring and alerting. I use it for standard functions like log monitoring, incident detection, and notification.  My customers are mostly medium-sized enterprises ranging from engineering companies, mining companies, independent schools, and…
Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Data Center Network Manager is absolutely stable."
"We use the product to manage access points."
"The monitoring capability is the best in Cisco Data Center Network Manager. It helps me improve network management tasks and optimize processes."
"After installation, you almost forget that it is working."
"I don't have to rely on the on-site engineer who can do the configuration. I can have our team just plug the devices and perform remotely. I can also do the templates."
"The feature I find most valuable, is the stability of the solution."
"The interface of this solution is easy to use overall."
"You can integrate all the networks into the software."
More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) pros
"The stability is very reliable. It offers very good performance."
"The solution is very stable. It's run for years without the need to do anything except, add new patches when they are available, which are always a good idea to install."
"Fortinet FortiSIEM needs to provide better API integrations to users."
"One of the most valuable features is that we can combine SOC and NOC operations in the same tool. We can provide NOC and SOC services in the same tool for two separate teams. There are plenty of third-party solutions that integrate with FortiSIEM. All these solutions already have a ready integration, and we have the possibility to create a custom connector for these solutions. Its reports are also very good."
"The most valuable features of the solution is its integration with other technologies, especially its ability to collect logs from Cisco and Aruba devices along with Fortinet products."
"The most valuable feature is the dashboard. CMDB database collects data from a lot of pre-configured devices."
"Fortinet FortiSIEM is easy to use."
"We find the solution to be stable."
More Fortinet FortiSIEM pros
 

Cons

"If the customer thinks about using additional solutions, Cisco should make sure they are not left out."
"The tool's pricing strategy could be improved to compete more effectively in the market, especially against competitors like Huawei, Aruba, and Juniper."
"The reporting is not very intuitive and has room for improvement."
"It's very costly."
"We need better performance and reliability."
"The visibility of applications is not great."
"Could integrate better with VMware products."
"More integration features would be beneficial."
More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) cons
"The support of the product changed recently, and I don't think it's for the better. They should work to improve the support they offer to clients."
"They could work on their documentation. If there's anything about the solution that needs improvement, it's that. For example, documentation already is on a very high level but specifically on the CLI there are tons of features which can be fine-tuned and thousands of commands are very difficult to document. If they could make this easier, it would improve the overall solution."
"The nodes on our network did not comply with the SIEM solution. They use a different format parking log."
"Their product support, in general, is not that great. The product support is in the same ecosystem. Their support is improving but it's not that great.vvv"
"I would like to see more integration with other platforms."
"They need to integrate better with Cisco and Palo Alto."
"Their technical support is horrible. By horrible, I mean a train wreck of a disaster that has fallen off a bridge and caught fire."
"They should enhance the solution's AI capabilities, including XDR and EDR."
More Fortinet FortiSIEM cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We usually opt for a yearly plan, commonly for three or five years upfront. Some customers may not utilize all the features included in the product, and this can lead to them paying for functionalities they don't need."
"I would say that the pricing offers great value for the money."
"When we purchase a Nexus box, the MDS CM license comes with it."
"The product is licensed with contracts that work on a yearly basis rather than a monthly model."
"The solution is very expensive."
"On average, Data Center Network Manager's pricing isn't too costly unless you choose a premier license."
"The tool is always expensive, but their service, product quality, and support are good. We're happy with it, but it's still an expensive solution. There are cheaper alternatives but no similar platform across all domains."
"The price of Cisco Data Center Network Manager is expensive compared to other vendors on the market."
"We bought the perpetual license, so we own the product, but there is a three-year support renewal fee for that."
"There is a need to make yearly payments towards the licensing charges attached to the product. The free version license of the product is available for two months."
"FortiSIEM's licensing is based on EPS, and its pricing is competitive in the market."
"We pay for a license for FortiSIEM. We pay for the license and renewal."
"The price of Fortinet FortiSIEM is a lot less when compared to other solutions."
"They have a yearly subscription."
"There are additional features that cost more than the standard licensing fees."
"Manageable, however would be better as pay as you go versus CapEX."
More Fortinet FortiSIEM pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Government
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise15
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business34
Midsize Enterprise21
Large Enterprise23
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
It uses push technology, which pushes the changes to all relevant devices to ensure they are updated accordingly.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
The tool is always expensive, but their service, product quality, and support are good. We're happy with it, but it's still an expensive solution. There are cheaper alternatives but no similar plat...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
In a mixed architecture where Nexus switches are used as border devices and are connected to a Palo Alto firewall (e.g., version 9.1 or 10.1), you might encounter issues with BGP peering. For insta...
See all answers
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSIEM?
Fortinet FortiSIEM needs to provide better API integrations to users.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSIEM?
I am not familiar with the price and cost of Fortinet FortiSIEM. I cannot tell you if it is high, expensive, or low. However, I can say that it is cost-effective as it provides everything needed.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSIEM?
Regarding Fortinet FortiSIEM, I cannot identify any specific areas for improvement because I can find everything I need. For the time being, I cannot find a real point for improvement. Everything i...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 54% of the time
Zabbix vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
Zabbix vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 16% of the time
SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 13% of the time
SolarWinds NPM vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
SolarWinds NPM vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 10% of the time
Icinga vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
Icinga vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 8% of the time
More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Competitors
IBM Security QRadar vs Fortinet FortiSIEM Logo
IBM Security QRadar vs Fortinet FortiSIEM
Compared 11% of the time
Splunk Enterprise Security vs Fortinet FortiSIEM Logo
Splunk Enterprise Security vs Fortinet FortiSIEM
Compared 11% of the time
Wazuh vs Fortinet FortiSIEM Logo
Wazuh vs Fortinet FortiSIEM
Compared 10% of the time
ManageEngine Log360 vs Fortinet FortiSIEM Logo
ManageEngine Log360 vs Fortinet FortiSIEM
Compared 7% of the time
LogRhythm SIEM vs Fortinet FortiSIEM Logo
LogRhythm SIEM vs Fortinet FortiSIEM
Compared 5% of the time
More Fortinet FortiSIEM Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
November 2025
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reportDownload Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) product report
Buyer's Guide
Fortinet FortiSIEM
November 2025
Fortinet FortiSIEM reportDownload Fortinet FortiSIEM product report
 

Also Known As

Cisco Data Center Network Manager
FortiSIEM, AccelOps
 

Overview

The Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) offers a comprehensive solution for managing Cisco NX-OS switches in hybrid-cloud environments, providing automation, visibility, and consistent operations. Designed to simplify and enhance data center management, NDFC integrates with Cisco Nexus Dashboard to streamline network connectivity, reduce deployment times, and ensure seamless transitions with minimal disruptions. Its modular architecture, new user interface, and support for non-Nexus OS platforms make it a robust tool for LAN, SAN, and IP Fabric for Media management. Additionally, NDFC enhances fabric reliability, automates workflows, and supports cloud connectivity with AWS and Microsoft Azure, making it ideal for businesses adapting to increasingly complex digital environments.

Cisco

FortiSIEM (formerly AccelOps 4) provides an actionable security intelligence platform to monitor security, performance and compliance through a single pane of glass.

Companies around the world use FortiSIEM for the following use cases:

  • Threat management and intelligence that provide situational awareness and anomaly detection
  • Alleviating compliance mandate concerns for PCI, HIPAA and SOX
  • Managing “alert overload”
  • Handling the “too many tools” reporting issue
  • Addressing the MSPs/MSSPs pain of meeting service level agreements
Fortinet
 

Sample Customers

Banco de Guayaquil, Cox Communications, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Roper St. Francis, University of British Columbia
FortiSIEM has hundreds of customers worldwide in markets including managed services, technology, financial services, healthcare, and government. Customers include Aruba Networks, Compushare, Port of San Diego, Cleveland Indians, Infoblox, Healthways, and Referentia.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. Fortinet FortiSIEM
May 2020
Free Report: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. Fortinet FortiSIEM
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